Economic Warfare in the 21st Century: Are the UK, NATO, and EU fit to Fight?

by Greg Kennedy (Editor)

Overview

This volume critically examines whether the United Kingdom, NATO, and the EU are equipped to engage in both defensive and offensive economic warfare. In an era where economic leverage is increasingly used as a tool of statecraft, nations worldwide are struggling with the complexities of economic warfare. The book discusses contested terminology and concepts, often blurred with geoeconomics, economic statecraft, and weaponized interdependence.

Through a thorough analysis of organizational structures, doctrines, and strategic cultures, the book explores the legitimacy and implications of using economic means to influence state behavior. As global actors ramp up their economic warfare capabilities, it questions whether such strategies are a necessary evolution or a disruptive force to international norms.

The book will appeal to students, researchers, and scholars of international relations, political science, security studies, and defence studies, as well as policy-makers and practitioners interested in a better understanding of the future of global economic security.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783031905896
Publisher:	Springer Nature Switzerland
Publication date:	09/17/2025
Series:	Contributions to Security and Defence Studies
Pages:	238
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Greg Kennedy is Professor of Strategic Foreign Policy at King's College London (UK) and Director of the Economic Competition and Conflict Research Group. He joined the Defence Studies Department at King's College in June 2000. He has taught at the Royal Military College of Canada, in Kingston, Ontario (Canada), for both the History and War Studies Departments, where he is an Adjunct Professor. Kennedy holds a PhD from the University of Alberta (Canada), an MA in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, and a BA (Hons) in History from the University of Saskatchewan (Canada). He has published internationally on strategic foreign policy issues, economic warfare, maritime defence, disarmament, Anglo-American strategic relations, diplomacy, and intelligence.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. The Problem, The Need, The Condition.- Part I: Evaluation of UK Condition.- Chapter 2. Can Britain Weaponize its Economic Interdependence.- Chapter 3. Is UK Ready to Conduct Economic Warfare in the 21st Century.- Chapter 4. UK Machinery and Ethics of Economic Warfare.- Part II: Evaluation of NATO Condition.- Chapter 5. The Forgotten Arsenal: Advocating for NATO's Strategic Use of Economic Warfare.- Chapter 6. Athena’s Shield Is Brittle: Why and How NATO Needs to Get Serious About Economic Warfare.- Part III: Evaluation of European Union Condition.- Chapter 7. Who Wins and Who Looses Waging Economic Warfare Against Russia.- Chapter 8. The Two Faces of Coercion: Comparing China and Russia's Economic Coercive practices and approaches in Europe.- Chapter 9. Switzerland and Sanctions Against Russia: lessons for the EU from a non-member state.