word
Economic Coercion
ee-kuh-NOM-ik koh-UR-shun
/ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk koʊˈɜːrʃən/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
economiccoercion
Dictionary meaning
The use of economic instruments — such as sanctions, tariffs, trade bans, investment restrictions, or debt leverage — by one state to pressure another to change its policies or behaviour
History and origin
Post-WWII practice formalised through US and UN sanctions regimes; escalated in frequency in the 2010s–2020s
Examples
- China's trade restrictions on Australian exports were widely characterised as economic coercion.
- Economic coercion has replaced military action as the primary tool of great power competition in many regions.
Synonyms: economic statecraft, sanctions pressure, financial warfare
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