Global Trade Governance

Disputes over the governance of global trade are a core element of international politics. Tariffs and supply chains and cross-border data flows are routinely featured in media coverage and animate geopolitical competition.

How do historical ideas about trade, such as those of Adam Smith, shape contemporary debates over global trade governance?

This one-week intensive course taught by Dr. Tyler Girard during Spring Break (March 2026) to Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland, provided a unique opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the evolution of global trade governance and different perspectives on how to manage both the benefits and challenges of trade.

From a trade negotiation simulation with students at the University of Glasgow to a tour of Adam Smith's house and original works in Edinburgh, this course combined active, hands-on learning with immersive, on-the-ground experiences.