WEBINAR (4/2/25): Contemporary Economic Warfare with Dr. Alicia Ellis, Director of the MAGS Program at ASU
The era of free trade that characterized the last 75 years is rapidly shifting into an era of geoeconomics. Geopolitical competition and conflict increasingly play out in the economic domain, catching firms, markets, and people in the crosshairs. What is driving this trend? What does it mean for the future of global commerce? Join us on April 2nd to learn how states use the economic tools at their disposal for geopolitical ends, incorporating economic strategies into both kinetic and grey zone warfare in the struggle for global dominance.
This is part of a series of events featuring faculty from the ASU Online M.A. in Global Security (MAGS) and the Future Security Initiative at Arizona State University.
Date: April 2, 2025
Time: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Arizona Time (7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern)
Online: Via Zoom
Alicia Ellis
Director, MA in Global Security
Teaching Assistant Professor, Future Security Initiative
Dr. Alicia Ellis is an Assistant Teaching Professor and Director of the Master of Arts in Global Security program at Arizona State University. She develops coursework on national and international security, economic statecraft, geopolitics, and war & conflict.
Alicia was appointed as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2012, during which she served as an analyst at the Department of Treasury’s Office of Financial Research and later as a policy analyst for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. She studied Russian language at the Institute of World Politics, including six weeks immersion training in Odessa, Ukraine. A former Air Force officer, she served two deployments as an Air Battle Manager in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, including three months as the Joint Air Operations Center Liaison Officer. She received her B.S. in Political Science from Northern Illinois University, her M.A. in International Relations from St. Mary’s University, and her PhD in Political Science from Arizona State University.
Here is a short survey of this webinar:
Introduction to Economic Warfare
Economic warfare has emerged as a sophisticated and potent instrument of national strategy. Dr. Alicia Ellis’s presentation deconstructs the evolving mechanisms by which nations weaponize economic tools, fundamentally challenging traditional notions of international commerce and conflict.
Russia’s Economic Coercion Strategies
Russia has masterfully demonstrated economic warfare through strategic manipulation of critical global commodities. The fertilizer market serves as a prime example of calculated economic pressure. In 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s actions led to widespread fertilizer shortages. This caused significant agricultural disruptions. Farmers experienced up to 30% reduction in crop yields, revealing the profound second and third-order effects of economic warfare.
The wheat market represents another critical domain of Russian strategic influence; having surpassed the United States as the world’s largest wheat exporter in 2017, Russia has positioned itself to potentially control 25-30% of global wheat supply. This capability extends beyond economic power, touching on fundamental human security—a strategy with roots in historical precedents like the Holodomor, the state-induced famine in Ukraine during the 1930s.
China’s Complex Economic Warfare Model
China’s approach to economic warfare differs markedly from Russia’s commodity-focused strategy. The nation has systematically positioned itself at the center of global supply chains, with a multifaceted approach targeting technological and manufacturing dominance.
Rare earth elements epitomize China’s strategic economic positioning’ controlling approximately 60% of global rare earth element production and over 85% of processing capabilities, China has created a near-monopoly on materials critical to advanced technologies. These elements are fundamental to everything from consumer electronics to advanced military systems, including munitions, lasers, fighter jets, semiand communication technologies.
The microchip industry represents another critical battleground. China seeks to develop domestic advanced chip manufacturing capabilities, challenging US technological supremacy. By targeting legacy chip markets and selling at significantly reduced prices, China employs a strategic playbook of market penetration and eventual dominance.
Geopolitical Implications and Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
The presentation illuminates the profound interconnections between economic activities and national security. Supply chain vulnerabilities have become increasingly apparent, with microchip shortages demonstrating how a single component can paralyze entire industries. The Kentucky Motor Speedway incident of 2019, where thousands of vehicles remained unsellable due to microchip shortages, serves as a stark illustration of these vulnerabilities.
The Shifting Global Economic Landscape
Dr. Ellis’s analysis reveals a fundamental transformation in international economic engagement. Economic activities are no longer purely commercial transactions but have become intricate instruments of geopolitical strategy. Both Russia and China view economic tools as extensions of state power, challenging the Western liberal economic model and creating unprecedented strategic complexities.
Key Strategic Observations
- Economic interdependence no longer guarantees peace or mutual cooperation
- Commodity control can be weaponized to exert geopolitical pressure
- Technological supply chains are critical national security assets
- Economic warfare operates across multiple domains: trade, technology, resources
Conclusion: A New Paradigm of Global Competition
The presentation underscores an emerging reality: economic interactions have become a primary arena of international competition. Nations are increasingly using economic tools to achieve geopolitical objectives, blurring the lines between commercial engagement and strategic conflict.
For a comprehensive understanding of these nuanced and complex dynamics, we strongly recommend watching Dr. Ellis’s full presentation, which offers unprecedented insights into the evolving landscape of contemporary economic warfare.
