Economic Security: A Comparative Perspective

This paper examines the varying uses of the term ‘economic security’ in theory and practice. Identifying independent economic capability as the economic security paradigm in the International Relations literature, the paper proceeds to provide a representative cross-section of how countries understand and deploy economic security policies within their strategic contexts. After examining the United States and China, we consider a range of middle powers (Japan, the European Union, Australia, Singapore and Indonesia), underscoring their distinct policy approaches to avoiding sudden supply disruptions and structural overdependence in critical resources. While the discussion is not intended to be exhaustive, the paper intends to bring analytical clarity to economic security debates, enabling participants to better understand the common economic instruments—and their differing functions—that countries deploy to preserve strategic autonomy.