Geoeconomics of the Deep: Governing Power, Resources, and Biodiversity on the High Seas
This capstone explores the governance of the high seas as a global commons—the vast ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction that cover nearly half the Earth’s surface and belong to all of humanity. Students will examine the geostrategic, environmental, and technological challenges of protecting vulnerable marine biodiversity while satisfying growing global demand for ocean resources such as seabed minerals, marine genetic resources, and fish. The course will consider how existing and emerging legal frameworks, such as the International Seabed Authority and the UN treaty on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction(BBNJ), intersect with state interests, corporate actors, and global sustainability goals. Particular attention will be paid to the Asia-Pacific region, including China’s leading position in exploratory seabed mining contracts, Japan’s edge in subsea technology, and the concerns of smaller stakeholders such as Pacific Island Nations, many of whom are on the frontlines of both resource exploitation and climate change. Students will engage with the topic through an interdisciplinary lens, drawing on insights from the fields of international law, environmental science, and political economy as they conduct their policy analysis of one of the most consequential frontiers of ocean governance.
