The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: "Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare," with Edward Fishman
Mar 7, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Edward Fishman, a senior research scholar at Columbia University and expert in economic statecraft, shares insights from his book on American power amid economic warfare. He reveals the importance of 'choke points' and how U.S. legal leverage surpasses traditional naval blockades. Fishman explores the evolution of sanctions from the Cold War era to their modern usage and stresses the need for strategic multilateralism and effective domestic communication. He also warns of de-risking risks and discusses the implications of digital currency on U.S. economic dominance.
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Early Career Shaped By Treasury Experience
- Edward Fishman started his sanctions career as a special assistant at the Treasury Department right after college.
- He later served on the Iran sanctions team at State and helped create the initial Russia sanctions program.
Choke Points Enable Modern Economic Warfare
- Choke points are parts of the global economy where one state dominates and substitutes are scarce.
- The U.S. can weaponize choke points using legal power to deny access without naval blockades.
Globalization Plus Enforcement Created Leverage
- Hyper-globalization and an expanded U.S. enforcement state created today's choke points.
- Those forces lowered the threshold for using economic force and increased its impact.
