Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare
In this gripping talk based on his bestselling book Chokepoints, Edward Fishman reveals how the United States transformed the global economy into a powerful weapon of war. As America confronted rising threats from Russia, China, and Iran, a small group of diplomats, lawyers, and financial experts pioneered a new kind of economic warfare—harnessing Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and energy markets to target U.S. adversaries. Drawing from firsthand experience and behind-the-scenes stories, Fishman explains how control over chokepoints like the dollar, advanced technologies, and critical supply chains has become central to 21st-century power—and what this new era of economic conflict means for business, government, and the global order.
How Businesses Can Navigate the Age of Economic Warfare
From sanctions and export controls to tariffs and investment bans, geopolitics is now a front-line risk for global business. This talk explains how economic warfare has become a central tool of statecraft—and why no company can afford to ignore it. Attendees will gain insight into the chokepoints shaping today’s global economy, how major powers like China and Russia are fighting back, and what businesses must do to remain resilient in a fragmented world. With real-world examples and practical takeaways, this session offers essential guidance for navigating a future where politics and markets are deeply intertwined.
The End of Exorbitant Privilege? The Future of the U.S. Dollar
The U.S. dollar has long been the bedrock of global finance, but its supremacy is no longer assured. This talk explores how shifting geopolitics, rising backlash against U.S. sanctions and tariffs, and growing concerns over the rule of law are eroding the foundations of dollar dominance. As rivals build alternative financial systems and allies reassess their exposure, the risks to the dollar’s role as the world’s reserve currency are mounting. Fishman breaks down what’s at stake for markets, investors, and institutions—and why the next chapter of dollar leadership will depend not just on economic might, but on trust, transparency, and restraint.
Inside the Economic War Against Russia
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies have launched the most ambitious sanctions campaign in modern history—freezing assets, cutting off critical technologies, and targeting energy flows. In this talk, Edward Fishman—who led U.S. sanctions policy on Russia after the 2014 invasion—takes audiences inside the strategy, explaining why sanctions failed to deter war, how they’ve evolved since, and what it will take to sustain their impact. As Russia adapts and enforcement strains under pressure, Fishman offers a candid assessment of what’s working, what’s not, and what this unprecedented campaign means for the future of U.S. power and the global financial system.
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Edward Fishman is one of the world’s leading authorities on economic statecraft. He teaches at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and is a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy. He also advises companies on geopolitical strategy and invests in early-stage technology startups.
Fishman is the New York Times–bestselling author of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare, which has been hailed as “masterful” by the Financial Times, “a timely, riveting world tour” by The Economist, and “a compelling and dramatic narrative about the new shape of geopolitics” by the Wall Street Journal.
Between 2011 and 2017, Fishman served in key foreign policy roles across the U.S. government. At the State Department, he served as a member of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff, where he advised Secretary John Kerry on Europe and Eurasia and led the staff’s work on economic sanctions, long-range strategic planning, and international order and norms. Fishman was also the Russia and Europe Lead in the State Department’s Office of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation, where he played a central role in designing and negotiating international sanctions in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Earlier, Fishman served as a member of the Iran sanctions team, where he developed policies to strengthen sanctions against Iran and maintain pressure during the negotiations that led to the Iran nuclear deal. Outside of the State Department, Fishman has served at the Pentagon as special assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Treasury Department as special assistant to the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, and at Foreign Affairs as a member of the editorial staff. Fishman is a recipient of the State Department’s Superior Honor Award (twice) and its Meritorious Honor Award, having been recognized for his contributions to U.S. policy toward Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Iran.
Fishman’s analysis is regularly featured by outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and NPR, and he frequently writes for publications such as Foreign Affairs and Politico. He holds a B.A. in History from Yale, an M.Phil. in International Relations from Cambridge, and an M.B.A. from Stanford. He lives with his wife and two children in New York City.
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