Perspectives from Academia

In Episode 5 of the Trade for Peace podcast, our host, Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator for WTO accession of Liberia, sat down with two renowned academics: Dr. Patrick Low, Fellow of the Asia Global Institute and former Chief Economist of the WTO and Dr. Achim Wennmann, Advisor to the Director of Strategic Development and Partnerships at the Graduate Institute and former Executive Coordinator of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform.

 

Patrick and Achim argue that although there is a discernible relationship between trade and peace, determining the causal directions can be challenging. On the one hand, it can be argued that new markets and economic opportunities arising from reforms could be realised by the cessation of conflict and thus trade could contribute to the maintenance of the newfound peace. On the other hand, while the revenues generated from trade could make people and societies better-off, they could also be used to finance conflict, if placed in the wrong hands.

 

To make trade work for peace, our guests suggest a range of accompanying infrastructures aimed at reducing inequality, improving predictability, transparency, and security in the trade and business environment.  They also make the case for granular research on post-conflict transition processes, bridging knowledge between the trade and humanitarian communities, better understanding of the relationship between trade in natural resources and civil strife, and exploration of the different impacts of multilateral and regional trade arrangements, etc.

 

Guests:

• Patrick Low, Fellow of the Asia Global Institute and former Chief Economist of the WTO 
• Achim Wennmann, Advisor to the Director of Strategic Development and Partnerships at the Graduate Institute and former Executive Coordinator of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform

Host:

• Axel M. Addy, Former Minister of Commerce and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's Accession to the WTO