Educational Objectives

The course examines the ways in which firms not only react to the geopolitical environment, but actually shape it, including how they impact bilateral relationships, contribute to power shifts, and act as vectors for the promotion of values and ideologies. The course will consist of three modules:

1. Historical examples of firms impacting geopolitics, especially relations between developed and developing countries;
2. Recent and contemporary instances of business and investment decisions that have geopolitical effects;
3. Focus on the US-China relationship, and look at how business is both impacting and being impacted by the struggle for hegemony currently underway.

Grading

Grades will be based 50% on participation and 50% on a ten-page paper on a firm facing a decision with geopolitical aspects.

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