This conference aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of economic statecraft, encompassing its theoretical underpinnings, legal and practical applications, and implications for international law. We seek to foster a dialogue on the evolving landscape of economic statecraft in the 21st century.
The conference will bring together leading scholars and practitioners working at the intersection of international economic law, trade, and policy. The panelists will explore, among others, the evolving practice of economic statecraft, including geoeconomics, sanctions, trade remedies, digital trade, dispute settlement, critical theory and interdisciplinary perspectives vis-à-vis economic statecraft, as well as selected case studies. It will feature a keynote address by Gregory Shaffer, as well as expert roundtables, and aims to foster dialogue between renowned scholars, early-career researchers, and practitioners.
Often defined as the use of economic means to pursue foreign policy and security objectives, economic statecraft has become an increasingly prominent feature of international relations. States engage with and are affected by a wide array of economic tools, from sanctions and export controls to trade agreements, tariff barriers, investment policies, and digital trade restrictions.
This conference will explore the legal, political, and economic dimensions of these practices, with a particular focus on their impact on global governance, international or regional security, and the international trading system. The rise of China, the growing influence of groups such as the BRICS, the increasingly assertive policies of the United States, and a shifting emphasis on security in the European Union have introduced varying dynamics into the landscape of economic statecraft. Increasingly so, economic influence is used to challenge established norms and institutions, for creating alternative trade and investment frameworks, as well as for promoting ones’ own models of development. Simultaneously, Latin American and African countries are developing their own infrastructures and ways of shaping the multipolar order.
Among others, they navigate the complexities of economic statecraft by leveraging their resources and strategic partnerships in order to advance their interests and promote regional integration. At the same time, the increasing economic engagement of third countries in those regions presents both opportunities and challenges for targeted countries, as these influence their trade relations, infrastructure development, and geopolitical positioning, while simultaneously leading to debates about debt sustainability, resource extraction, economic coercion, and the potential for neocolonial practices. The conference also aims to explore the weaponization of interdependence and infrastructural power. Further areas of interest include digital trade, data policy, the intersection of economic statecraft and climate change, shadow fleets, and the implications of digital currencies and central bank assets.
Panelists:
Joost Pauwelyn; Sergio Puig; Natalia de Lima Figueiredo; Michelle Ratton Sanchez Badin; Niall Moran; Daniel Esty; Elena Cima; Jennifer Tridgell; Aikaterini Koinaki; Juan Ignacio Signes de Mesa; Francesco Giumelli; Peter van Elsuwege; Dimitrios Panousos; Lukas Schaupp; Clara Portela; Rachel Brewester; Ntina Tzouvala; Lauge Paulsen; Marios Tokas; Negan Mansouri; Jan Lepeu; Tim Ellemann; Sonia Rolland; Fabio Morosini; Jean Ho; Anna Ventouratou; Valerijus Ostrovskis; Alexandros-Catalin Bakos; Astrid Iversen; Tillmann Rudolf Braun; Sara Poli; Valentin von Stosch; Dorin-Ciprian Grumaz; Divesh Kaul; Julia Emtseva; Maria Anna Corvaglia.
Keynote Address: Gregory Shaffer.
Poster Presentations: Arianna Abitante; Weiyi Zhang; Mohammadreza Eghbalizarch; Dao Tan Anh; Maria Perfetto.
The Working Group is grateful for the support of the following firms and institutions, whose donations made this conference possible:
This event is only on-premises. Registrations are open until 15 May; seats are limited, so we invite you to register as soon as possible and update your registration if you are no longer able to attend.