The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University held a conference on “Weaponized Interdependence in World Politics” on October 10-11, 2019. In their recent paper in International Security, Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman challenge traditional ways of thinking about complex interdependence by explaining how global economic networks shape state coercion. This reformulation affects how scholars and practitioners may think about hegemonic power in the 21st century. What areas of the global political economy are likely to be vulnerable to chokepoint effects and panopticon effects?
This paradigm shift also informs policy debates about how to approach everything from energy pipelines to developing the infrastructure for 5G. How sustainable is the open global economy if weaponized interdependence becomes a regular tool of statecraft? What are the possible responses from non-hegemonic actors? How does weaponized interdependence tie in with other research into economic power, and what are the policy implications? These questions were addressed at the conference.
The conference consisted of a keynote address and five panel discussions on weaponized interdependence and international relations theory, cyberspace, finance, energy and transit, as well as resistance and reaction to weaponized interdependence. The event was organized by the Fletcher Russia and Eurasia Program and sponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New York. We are thankful for the support of our partners, sponsors, and volunteers. When tweeting about the event, please use #WeaponizedInterdependence. Please see the conference agenda, speakers, contact information, directions, registration link, suggested readings, program booklet, as well as photos and videos.
