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SUMMARY:Illusionary Trends in Strategic Studies Seminar - Claas Mertens (U
 niversity of Oxford)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20240424T171500
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20240424T184500
UID:https://new.talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/e8daeab9-fe97-4997-88c8-bd651f5e8d
 eb/
DESCRIPTION:Recent weaponized interdependence research has focused on mapp
 ing international economic structures to explain states’ capacity to inf
 lict costs on foreign actors. This paper proposes a different approach tha
 t integrates weaponized interdependence research with microeconomic concep
 ts of substitution. If an international economic exchange is restricted\, 
 actors on either end turn to the best available alternative. Substitution 
 costs describe the utility loss actors incur when doing so. The extent of 
 these costs determines whether either side can ‘weaponize’ the exchang
 e. Monopolies and monopsonies are instances where buyers and sellers face 
 high substitution costs as they lack alternatives. The theory delineates t
 hree determinants each for international monopolies and monopsonies\, offe
 ring a nuanced understanding of why states can weaponize the economic exch
 anges of some market actors but not others. Various cases illustrate the t
 heory\, drawing on in-depth interviews. For instance\, the cases contrast 
 the know-how and intellectual property underlying technological monopolies
  in semiconductor production with the international network effects that b
 olster several monopolies in the realm of international finance. The devel
 oped theory reframes and refines the weaponized interdependence discourse 
 and has important implications for policymakers’ ongoing efforts to ‘d
 e-risk’ international economic exchanges without comprehensively ‘deco
 upling’ them.\n\nClaas Mertens is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for Net
  Zero Governance systems. His research focuses on the international politi
 cal economy of climate change and international economic conflicts\, such 
 as economic sanctions and weaponised interdependencies. It also explores i
 ntersections between these two areas. His work is published or forthcoming
  in International Studies Quarterly and The Review of International Organi
 sations.\n\nBefore joining the Blavatnik School\, Claas was a DPhil studen
 t in International Relations at Oxford University’s Department for Polit
 ics and International Relations. He also holds an MPhil in Politics from O
 xford and a BA in Business from the University of St. Gallen and was a vis
 iting student at Harvard. Before his DPhil\, he worked as a management con
 sultant. Claas was Rowing World Champion in 2015 and represented Oxford in
  the 2018 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race. Now\, he enjoys surfing\, where his 
 passion far exceeds his skills.\nSpeakers:\nClaas Mertens (University of O
 xford)
LOCATION:All Souls College (Wharton Room)\, High Street OX1 4AL
TZID:Europe/London
URL:https://new.talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/e8daeab9-fe97-4997-88c8-bd651f5e8d
 eb/
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DESCRIPTION:Talk:Illusionary Trends in Strategic Studies Seminar - Claas M
 ertens (University of Oxford)
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