Me, Myself, And You? National Self Interest, Global Social Concern, And The Role Of The WTO In International Trade Policy

Abstract

This paper presents a teaching method that meshes the theoretical foundation of the prisoner’s dilemma with a student centered problem-solving approach to address the roles of national self-interest and global social concern in the making of trade policy through the WTO.  The in-class activities introduce the student to the underlying incentive structure of the prisoner’s dilemma and require each student to weigh self-interest and group well-being in his/her decision-making process as a member nation of the WTO.  Through these exercises, students discover the importance of international agreements and the need for a binding set of rules and enforcement mechanisms governing global trade.  In addition, these activities are an effective springboard for a discussion of national sovereignty and the expanding role of the WTO.