KQED's Forum Edward Fishman On the Age of Economic Warfare
Mar 20, 2025
Edward Fishman, a senior research scholar at Columbia University and former U.S. sanctions official, explores the current landscape of economic warfare. He discusses how sanctions, tariffs, and embargoes shape global relations, particularly in the context of U.S.-Russia dynamics. Fishman critiques the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia and highlights challenges in achieving political goals through economic means. He also examines the implications of emerging alliances and the role of cryptocurrencies in shifting power dynamics.
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Withdrawal from Iran Deal
- Withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal was a mistake; it shortened Iran's breakout time to one week.
- This increases the risk of Iran developing nuclear weapons without sufficient warning.
Sanctions' Humanitarian Impact
- Sanctions often cause humanitarian harm and should only be used for critical national security threats.
- Regime change is rarely achieved through sanctions, as seen in Cuba and Venezuela.
BRICS and Sanctions
- Countries are developing alternative financial systems to circumvent U.S. sanctions, potentially weakening their power.
- China's creation of a digital currency and platforms like CIPS are examples of this trend.
