Economic Statecraft and Public International Law (SC)

This course will examine the legal tools and frameworks available to United States government policymakers in dealing with threats from states and non-state actors. These tools allow the government to use coercive measures to promote peace and security, further foreign policy objectives, and stem the rise of terrorism. We will focus on multilateral sanctions imposed through the U.N. Security Council, but will also explore the history of sanctions, sanctions theory, how sanctions are used to achieve national security goals, and identify best practices to maximize their effectiveness. This course will also explore alternative levers of power -- including trade measures and taxation -- that the U.S. government often employs alongside more traditional "sticks" to further policy goals. At the conclusion of the course, students will use this information to participate in a simulated United Nations Security Council negotiation; they will receive a hypothetical scenario in which they are invited to reach consensus on measures to address a crisis in a Middle Eastern country. Students need not have a background in public international law to participate in this course.