Geopolitical Risks in Intl Bus

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

In this seminar course, students will gain a detailed understanding of how 20+ companies have managed a variety of geopolitical risks. These risks include war, maritime attacks, insurgency, export controls, energy and banking sanctions, data and digital services controls, investment restrictions, and expropriation, tariffs, and other risks. We study the strategy each company pursued in managing a particular risk. Here are some examples of the cases we will cover: 1. How did Danish shipping and logistics company Maersk respond to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea? 2. How did HSBC respond when Hong Kong enacted its National Security Law? 3. How did Microsoft respond to growing European demands for data sovereignty? 4. How has Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) responded to increased Taiwan Straits security risks? 5. How did Nvidia respond when the U.S. imposed export controls on chip sales to China? 6. How did aircraft lessor AerCap respond when Russia blocked its ability to recover leased aircraft? In studying these and other cases, students will learn how to use key company and official information sources. For each case, students will meet in small class groups to answer a set of questions, before regrouping to share answers. We will have two quizzes, covering certain patterns visible across certain cases. Finally, each student will make a presentation on an additional company/risk case of their choice.