We were thrilled to present these videos at the T4P: Future Leaders event on 18 October 2024, where participants joined an engaging online discussion on the role of youth in promoting trade and peace, especially in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS). This event featured firsthand accounts from youth engaged in trade and peacebuilding, alongside expert insights on the historical relationship between trade and peace. Researchers from St. Gallen University and the Geneva Graduate Institute presented their findings through videos and discussions, offering a unique blend of academic insights and real-world experiences. Participants explored how research could inform policymaking and empower youth to become agents of change. We invited everyone to join this important conversation and contribute to the ongoing effort to foster sustainable peace through trade.
The event highlighted youth actively engaged in trade and peacebuilding, with students from St. Gallen and the Geneva Graduate Institute sharing their insights on the critical connection between trade and conflict resolution. By combining academic research with real-world experiences, this session explored how youth can help shape policies that promote stability and peace through economic integration. Participants also engaged in discussions on how research could inform policymakers and create actionable steps to empower youth as catalysts for change.
Led by Prof. Simon Evenett, the St. Gallen students were selected for their outstanding papers, which were then developed into videos. The students worked closely with Prof. Evenett and his team to refine their scripts, which were then produced by Markus Wellstein, an HSG MIA graduate. The videos explore real-world case studies, analyzing the intricate ways trade can influence peace and conflict.
Trade as a Catalyst for Peace
These videos provide a glimpse into the broader relationship between trade and peace, illustrating how economic integration can promote stability or, if mismanaged, exacerbate conflict. The students' research, developed under the guidance of Prof. Evenett as part of the WTO’s Trade for Peace Programme, highlights the importance of governance, transparency, and equitable development in ensuring that trade contributes to lasting peace.
Ieva Laila Kalnina focused on the Russia-Georgia conflict, examining how Georgia’s pivot to the West left it vulnerable to Russian trade manipulation. Her video highlights the role of trade in the ongoing conflict, such as Russia's ban on Georgian wine exports.
Marie-Helena Peeters explored Haiti’s trade liberalization in the late 20th century, showing how the influx of subsidized American rice undermined local farmers and increased Haiti's reliance on foreign imports. Her video draws attention to Haiti’s vulnerability to external market fluctuations, as seen during the 2008 Global Food Crisis.
Eleni Michelioudaki analyzed trade and conflict in Cyprus, focusing on the 1974 Green Line Regulation intended to foster economic ties between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Her video reveals how trade barriers and social factors have limited its potential to promote reconciliation.
Christoffer Platou Bjornsen examined the role of regional trade agreements in the East African Community, particularly how economic integration helped de-escalate conflicts between Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. His video also addresses the challenges posed by trade imbalances and unequal development among member states.