Protectionism of Modern States: New Logic in the Age of Geo-Economic Competition Modern protectionism, unlike its historical equivalent in the 19th and early 20th centuries, is not just a set of tariffs to protect "infant" industries. It is a complex, multi-level, and strategic policy deeply integrated into national models of innovative development, security, and the fight for technological leadership. Its main motivation has shifted from the pure economic benefits of individual industries to geopolitical and geo-economic competition, especially in the fields of high technology and supply chain resilience (resilience). Evolution of Goals: From Industry to Security and Sovereignty Classical protectionism (such as in the United States or Germany at the end of the 19th century) was aimed at creating a national industry. Modern protectionism pursues broader goals: Ensuring technological sovereignty and leadership. Countries strive to protect and develop critical technologies (artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology) considered the foundation of economic and military power in the 21st century. Protectionism here is an instrument of techno-nationalism. Example: The CHIPS and Science Act of the United States (2022), with a budget of $280 billion, aims to attract semiconductor production to the United States and directly limits recipients of subsidies for investments in advanced technologies in "concerning countries" such as China. Creating resilient supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic and the logistics crisis exposed the vulnerability of global supply chains. Modern protectionism often takes the form of "friend-shoring" or reshoring — transferring production to politically close countries or back home to reduce risks. This is not a rejection of globalization, but its segmentation by political criteria. Protecting national security. The interpretation of security has expanded to economic and technological security. Foreign investments, esp ... Read more