In recent decades there has been a renewed focus on international economic integration, both in the United States and in the rest of the world. Dealing with globalization – the increased flow of ideas, of goods and services across international borders, labor migration, international movement of capital, and technological spillover – has become one of the central issues for academics and policymakers.

Both international economists and political scientists have traditionally studied various aspects of globalization, but have too often suffered from what IPE scholar Susan Strange once called “a case of mutual neglect.” Given its long-standing interdisciplinary approach to the study of international relations, SAIS is perhaps the ideal place to bring economists and political scientists together to examine the various aspects of globalization in order to gain a better understanding of what is a complex and multifaceted process. Co-chaired by an economist (Pravin Krishna) and a political scientist (Matthias Matthijs), the aim of the SAIS Globalization Initiative is to serve as a platform for high-level academic research and policy discussion that will engage the major issues of the day.

The activities of the Globalization Initiative include a Distinguished Lecture Series in International Political Economy which will bring in world-renowned thinkers to address our students and faculty as well as members of the broader policy community in Washington DC, academic conferences focusing on important current topics in the study of globalization and development, and an academic seminar series featuring policy relevant research presentations by major scholars in the field. Through these activities, the SAIS Globalization Initiative aims to contribute to the debates on international political economy and improve our understanding of the critical challenges policymakers face in today’s international environment.

The Globalization Initiative at SAIS was made possible by the generosity of Bernard Schwartz, chairman and CEO of BLS Investments, LLC, a private investment firm based in New York City.