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Chokepoints

How the Global Economy Became a Weapon of War

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Chokepoints

By: Edward Fishman
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
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Featured in THE REST IS POLITICS newsletter – Rory Stewart’s Book Recommendations

SHORTLISTED FOR THE FINANCIAL TIMES BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

AN ECONOMIST and FINANCIAL TIMES ‘BEST BOOK OF 2025’

‘Chokepoints is a masterful narrative of US economic warfare in the 21st century.’ Financial Times

‘A timely, riveting world tour … absorbing’ The Economist

‘Compelling and dramatic’ Wall Street Journal

’A gripping, firsthand account. Unparalleled.’ Chris Miller, author of Chip War

If you want to understand what’s happening to the world economy, start right here.

It used to take blockades and sieges to ravage a rival’s economy. Now, a single statement posted online by the US government can bring a nation to its knees.

Chokepoints is a gripping behind-the-scenes account of one of the most pivotal geopolitical shifts of our time. Drawing on extensive research, personal experience and interviews with key players, Edward Fishman, a former top US State Department official, takes us deep into the back rooms of power around the world. He reveals how sanctions, tariffs and control over modern-day chokepoints – such as the US dollar, advanced microchip technology and critical energy supply chains – have become the primary weapons of twenty-first-century geopolitics.

This is the epic story of how America turned economics into a weapon – and how China, Europe and Britain are now doing the same. Urgent and brimming with rare insight, Chokepoints is the definitive guide to the Age of Economic Warfare.

In this new geopolitical era of blockades and oil price shocks, find out how the global economy became a weapon of war:
  • Explains how sanctions, tariffs and price controls became part of America's economic arsenal.
  • Authoritative analysis of US economic warfare against Iran, Russia and China.
  • Unique behind-the-scenes insights based on previously unpublished sources.
  • Short chapters tell the story in breathtaking clarity and detail.
  • A gripping page-turner for fans of Material World by Ed Conway and The World for Sale by Javier Blas & Jack Farchy.
 Economics International Macroeconomics Politics & Government United States World War Russia China Middle East Wall Street Iran Military Taxation Socialism Capitalism Imperial Japan Cyber Warfare American Foreign Policy Soviet Union
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This is a very thorough look at how the US has used the dollar, being adopted as the global reserve currency, as a way to get other countries to fund its perpetually growing budget deficit, and as a way to force other countries to bend to its will, with threats of being excluded from the global banking system. It’s apparent that, should the dollar ever fall from grace as the global reserve, the US would be in serious trouble.

Fascinating glimpse at US dollar hegemony

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very interesting on how things happening now started developing 10,20,30 years ago. personally I preferred the first 3 parts.

very insightful

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It’s an interesting and informative book but the author repeats himself too much and the timeline sometimes feels strange. In the absence of other good books on modern economic warfare, this is a good read. But you can really just read only the conclusion chapter - which first summarises the entire book(?)

Good but too long

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Good book. Too obvious author is a democrat. More neutrality wanted as you'll see in the conclusion. Trumps use of sanctions criticised whilsted gushing of Biden...

Good overview. Too obvious author is a democrat. More neutrality wanted

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Complex and interesting from the beginning and I will look out for part two. I wonder what it will look like?

Fascinating facts that so many people should know

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