Economic and Financial Statecraft

A seminar on the contemporary history and practice of economic statecraft. The course focuses on how the United States and other countries weaponize economic, financial, and technological interdependence to advance strategic objectives. Topics include economic sanctions and restrictions on trade and investment, and case studies include efforts to use economic statecraft to curb Iran’s nuclear program, counter Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and interference in democratic elections, and check China’s 5G ambitions. The course also explores how new technologies and sovereign initiatives, including cryptocurrency and other alternatives to dollar-based payment systems, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, could impact economic statecraft in the future.