IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/hal/wpaper/hal-05553419.html

GEOLOGISTICS AND THE RECONFIGURATION OF AFRICA-AMERICAS TRADE CORRIDORS IN 2026 Introducing the Geologistics Quadri-Pillar Framework (GQF) - A Conceptual Paper
[La Géologistique : un nouveau cadre analytique pour la reconfiguration des corridors Afrique-Amériques en 2026 Proposition du Cadre Quadri-Pilier de la Géologistique (GQF)]

Author

Listed:
  • Mahmoud El Hassouni

    (MFMDI - Laboratoire MFMDI, SUP MTI Rabat)

Abstract

The fragmentation of global supply chains, the securitization of critical minerals, and the reconfiguration of transcontinental trade corridors in a multipolar world demand analytical frameworks that transcend the disciplinary boundaries of classical geopolitics, geoeconomics, and supply chain management. Existing theoretical models address these dimensions in isolation, producing fragmented insights that fail to capture the integrated power logic now structuring international trade flows. Contemporary realitiesfrom China's Belt and Road Initiative reshaping Eurasian connectivity to the reconfiguration of Africa-Americas trade corridors driven by critical mineral competitionreveal a systemic gap: no existing framework simultaneously integrates geological constraints, logistical architecture, geopolitical strategy, and cultural capital as co-determinants of corridor power. This article addresses this gap by introducing geologistics as an original transdisciplinary concept, defined as an integrative analytical discipline that examines how the control of physical flowsfrom geological extraction to final marketconstitutes the primary determinant of state power and industrial sovereignty in an era of structural interdependence. Unlike purely descriptive constructs, geologistics operates across the full strategic spectrumfrom operational ground-level decisions to macro-strategic positioningenabling decision-makers to diagnose vulnerabilities, anticipate disruptions, and design terrain-grounded solutions. To operationalize this concept, the article proposes the Geologistics Quadri-Pillar Framework (GQF), a novel analytical matrix articulating four structural pillarsgeological endowment, logistics infrastructure, geostrategic governance, and cultural & epistemic capitalacross three levels of analysis: macro-strategic, managerial, and operational. These pillars are activated by a cross-cutting dimension of strategic flow control that renders the framework dynamic rather than static. The GQF's compatibility with network theory and game theory further positions geologistics as a prospective strategic instrument. The article contributes to supply chain theory, economic geography, and strategic studies by positioning geologistics as a foundational research field, and concludes with a structured agenda for future empirical investigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahmoud El Hassouni, 2026. "GEOLOGISTICS AND THE RECONFIGURATION OF AFRICA-AMERICAS TRADE CORRIDORS IN 2026 Introducing the Geologistics Quadri-Pillar Framework (GQF) - A Conceptual Paper [La Géologistique : un nouveau cadre analytique pour la reconfiguration des corridors A," Working Papers hal-05553419, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-05553419
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-05553419v1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://hal.science/hal-05553419v1/document
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-05553419. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: CCSD (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.