Deglobalization

This course explores the causes and consequences of the slowdown in global economic integration since the Global Financial Crisis. Following decades of rapid expansion in trade and investment, “hyper-globalization” has given way to “slowbalization,” marked by stagnating trade flows, renewed protectionism, and rising barriers to commerce. Students will examine both the political and economic dimensions of these shifts, tracing the historical roots of globalization from the nineteenth century to the present. Case studies include the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (“Brexit”) and the resurgence of trade tensions amid slower growth, nationalism, and strategic rivalry among major powers. Through weekly readings, discussion, and a term paper, the course equips students to assess whether the recent retreat from globalization represents a temporary adjustment or a structural reordering of the global economy.