Chaire de recherche du Canada en ÉPI

Université Laval

Cross-network weaponization in the semiconductor supply-chain

Année: 
Dimanche, Septembre 18, 2022
Type: 
Communications avec arbitrage
Auteur: 
Guillaume Beaumier
Madison Cartwright
Résumé: 

How do states’ positions across multiple and interconnected economic networks affect their power? Globalization was not the great equalizer that some either hoped or argued it would be. Instead of becoming flat, the world is in many ways more asymmetrical than ever. As highlighted by the recent literature on weaponized interdependence (WI), many economic activities have indeed become concentrated in a few geographical hubs, creating bottlenecks and chokepoints that some states can use for coercive purposes. To understand how states gain, wield, and maintain power, WI argues we need to consider the topology of global economic networks, along with domestic institutional capacity. Yet, most research in this emerging literature has examined case studies of examples where WI has been used, with support from qualitative data to establish asymmetry. The effect of the topology of global networks on states’ capacity to weaponize economic hubs remains open to debate. In this paper, we start answering this question by looking at how centralities across multiple networks shape state power. We use network methodology to map the semiconductor supply chain and showcase that more than representing one network, it represents multiple interconnected networks. We then highlight how states’ centrality vary across these networks and how it shapes their respective capacities to coerce others. In so doing the paper makes three contributions. First it demonstrates how network analysis can detect potential (ab)uses of WI, enabling analysist to identify both opportunities and vulnerabilities. Second the paper highlights how ‘layers’ of multiple networks interacting with each other help to determine the ability of states to use WI and how centrality in some networks can provide greater influence than others. Last it contributes to other literature which recently used network analysis to analyse structural power on the global stage.

Référence: 

"Weaponizing Semiconductor Supply Chain: Hierarchy in Global Economic Networks", APSA 2022 Annual meeting, Montreal