Economic Security

The Center’s economic security program explores the nexus between international financial, trade and technology flows and traditional U.S. national security policy concerns. The economic element of national power is the leveraging of a nation’s wealth to influence the behavior of others. The more the world’s economy becomes global, the more important and effective the use of economic power becomes in regards to National Security. Unlike the ideological conflicts that dominated the world throughout the entire 20th century, economic concerns now tend to dominate decisions and priorities.

A nation can choose a variety of methods in applying economic power. Liberal or restrictive trade policies can open up or deny markets to the other nations of the world. Restricting odious foreign organizations from raising money from US sources and forbidding US companies from doing business with state sponsors of terrorism are two currently used economic tools.