The World Economic Forum in Davos starts next week. Ahead of that-- the forum said the risk of international conflict is now the biggest threat for businesses in the coming decade.

It is the first time the survey has headlined conflict as the top risk. The previous nine editions of the Global Risks report singled out economic threats such as fiscal crises, the collapse of asset prices and widening income disparity. This time, it's political as nearly 900 experts in the survey showed worries about the uprising in Ukraine, the rise of the Islamic State militant group and other geopolitical tensions.

The economic picture has clouded significantly, with oil tumbling below 50 dollars a barrel, the euro zone dipping into deflation and copper prices crashing this week. The survey also sees fears over major clashes between states, including cross-border cyberattacks, drone strikes and the increased use of economic sanctions.