The international economic order is changing
The international economic order is undergoing a radical transformation, with many speaking of a new geo-economic era. For decades, global interconnectedness and market integration were regarded as a guarantee of prosperity and peace. However, the current polycrisis clearly demonstrates that self-regulating markets are incapable of tackling global challenges such as poverty, climate change and political crises. Rather, blind faith in unregulated globalisation has created systemic risks and exacerbated inequalities in prosperity. A return to active economic policy is therefore a necessary response to the realisation that free trade alone leads neither to global prosperity nor to international stability..
It is therefore to be welcomed that states are rediscovering their central role in shaping the global economic order and are engaging in geo-economics – the use of economic instruments to achieve political goals. However, this positive development is overshadowed by the fact that, in international politics, the law of the jungle is replacing the rules-based global economic order. States are misusing economic dependencies as a weapon and prioritising the use of their economic influence for security policy considerations: economic security is rightly the order of the day. What is often overlooked, however, are important social and climate policy perspectives that are essential for a resilient economic order. Responsible economic policy requires a comprehensive approach to establish a resilient, competitive, fair, inclusive and sustainable global economy.
Project objectives
Against this backdrop, the ‘Inclusive Geoeconomics’ project aims to establish a geoeconomic practice that ensures resilient trade relations whilst taking social justice and planetary boundaries into account. By analysing geoeconomic challenges through two case studies, we are developing concrete policy recommendations for decision-makers in the EU and Germany. The aim is to establish an inclusive geo-economic practice that links economic and social factors at the international level. Our analysis covers two case studies: firstly, we examine the security of raw material supplies, the handling of tariff disputes and the importance of green technologies in the development and production of electric cars; and secondly, we look at the role of foreign direct investment and investment screening in ports as a key critical infrastructure for international trade. Furthermore, the project promotes interdisciplinary dialogue on inclusive geoeconomics. Through dialogue with experts, the aim is to develop a fairer and more sustainable economic model that combines economic security and social justice.
Project Overview
The “Inclusive Geoeconomics” project is scheduled to run for two years, until June 2026. It is led by Dr Elisabeth Winter, Programme Director for Global Markets and Social Justice, supported by project assistant Lea Holst. Through various formats such as background discussions and specialist publications, as well as events and a podcast due to be released in autumn 2025, the findings will be shared with experts and made accessible to the general public.
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