This course focuses on the reciprocal tariffs proposed by Trump and the related international economic and trade issues. It mainly covers the relationship between international political economy and domestic politics. In addition, the course also addresses non-tariff trade barriers and extends the discussion from hegemonic stability theory to the origin, evolution, and reversal of the latest economic globalization, particularly the recent transformation of the international order from multilateral collective norms toward hegemonic unilateralism. At its core, the issue is closely related to the polarization and dysfunction of domestic politics within major powers during the process of global integration. These dynamics manifested in high levels of social inequality, governance deterioration, and the rise of right-wing populism. These factors resulted in what Trump called “Donroe Doctrine”, a synthesis of mercantilism and Monroe Doctrine, to revive America from its decline.

This course aims to achieve three objectives. First, students need to understand the interwoven nature of IPE and domestic politics. Second, they should be able to characterize Trump’s policy in the first and second term and how that would impact the world. Third, specific understanding embedded in different historical contexts will be established in international trade as a contending strategy of great power politics.

•Attendance and Discussion (10%)。 •Midterm Personal Project (essay on Trump’s policy, 5 pages, 40%)。 •Final Group Project (any topics related the weekly topics, 10 pages, 50%)。

1 hour

Week 2: Introduction •Ignatenko, A., Lashkaripour, A., Macedoni, L., and Simonovska, I. (2025). Making America Great Again? The Economic Impacts of Liberation Day Tariffs. Journal of International Economics,157: 104138. Week 3: Nature of Trump’s Reciprocal Tariff •Slaughter, M. J. (2025). The Implications of President Trump’s Economic Policies. Osher SummerLecture Series, “Preserving America’s Four Freedoms”. Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon, NH. July 31, 2025. Dartmouth College. Week 4: Theory of Tariffs •Crucini, M. J., and Kahn, J. (1996). Tariffs and Aggregate Economic Activity: Lessons from the Great Depression. Journal of Monetary Economics, 38(3), 427-467. Week 5: Non-Tariff Measures •Kee, H. L., and Nicita, A. (2022). Trade Fraud and Non-tariff Measures, Journal of International Economics, 139: 103682. Week 7: Free Trade and International Order •Krasner, S. D. (1976). State Power and the Structure of International Trade. World Politics, 28(3), 317–347. Week 8: Weaponization of Trade •Bernstein, M., Meyer, J., O'Rourke, K., and Schularick, M. (2025). Economic Insecurity: Trade Dependencies and Their Weaponization in History. Kiel Working Papers 2295, Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Week 9: Technology, Globalization, and Their Impact on Domestic Politics •Kupchan, C. A. (2012). The Democratic Malaise: Globalization and the Threat to the West. Foreign Affairs, 91(1): 62–67. •Sutter, R. (2020). China’s Multifaceted Challenges to International Governance. American Journal of Chinese Studies, 27(2), 97–112. Week 11: Quality of Governance and Social Inequality •Graham, C. (2014). Do Trends in U.S. Inequality Matter for Norms of Global Governance? Global Economy & Development Working Paper 65. The Brookings Institution. Week 12: Populism and Democracy •Schmitter, P. C. (2019). The Vices and Virtues of “Populisms”. Sociologica, 13(1): 75–81. •Baiocchi, G. (2019). The Problem Is Not Populism, but the Failure of Liberal Democracy: Comments on Schmitter’s Essay. Sociologica, 13(2): 3–5. •Enyedi, Z. (2019). Origins and Effects of Populism. Sociologica, 13(2): 7–8. •Holmes, S. (2019). On Populism. A Comment on Philippe Schmitter’s Essay. Sociologica, 13(2): 9–10. •Lefkofridi, Z. (2019). The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Populisms and Gender Equality. Sociologica, 13(2): 11–18. •Pappas, T. S. (2019). On Populism, Planets, and Why Concepts Should Precede Definitions and Theory-Seeking. Sociologica, 13(2), 19–22. Week 13: Transferal of Political Responsibility •Levitsky, S., and Way, L. A. (2025). The Path to American Authoritarianism, Foreign Affairs 104(2): 36–51. •Kortukov, D., and Waller, J. G. (2025). Authoritarianism, Reform, or Capture?: Democracy in Trump's America. American Affairs, 9 (3): 112–28.