Johan Wahlsten is a 2024–2025 GPEP affiliate fellow, a Fulbright Finland fellow, and a Ph.D. researcher in Political Science at the University of Helsinki.
Wahlsten is interested widely in questions of political economy, with his work focusing especially on the politics of economic policy and governance. In the interview below, learn more about what brought him to the Mortara Center and how is his experience so far.
- What excites you about the GPEP fellowship?
Having done all of my degrees in Finland, I am particularly excited to have the opportunity to witness the academic culture at a top US university in the field of world politics. Also, the fellowship has thus far been very productive for my research: I have proximity to plenty of policymakers central for my research and at the same time the facilities at the Mortara Centre are excellent for focusing and moving forward with my writing and thinking.
- What is your research about?
In my PhD research, I study the global governance of transnational capital mobility. More specifically, I aim to explain why since the 2008 financial crisis has this governance become more open to restrictions on capital flows and less focused on liberalizing said flows.
- How did you become interested in your topic?
After my MA in International Political Economy, I was left wanting a better understanding of international financial and monetary relations and the politics of these relations. Given the described developments in the global governance of capital mobility, I thought focusing on the topic would be a good way to get deeper into the political economy and economics literature on international finance and money. The issue of capital mobility has also important connections to such broader themes as democracy, states’ policy autonomy and sovereignty, and nationalism/globalism.
- How did you like DC so far? And what would be some of the things you still want to try or do in DC?
I did not have any expectations about DC as a city and I have been extremely positively surprised! For a Finn from Helsinki, central DC is of appropriate size, everything is reachable by bike, and so on. As a student and a keen enthusiast of politics, economics, and history, the city’s general milieu is of course of great interest. There is also a sufficient dose of nature and culture to balance the city’s more prominent properties. One thing I will at least want to still experience is Southern US cuisine!
- What is your favorite way to spend your spare time?
Cinema? Tennis? A novel? Music? You name it. I have also picked up going to the gym here in Georgetown, mostly because of the excellent and close by facilities at Yates Field House. Not perhaps the favorite way but getting back to Finland both smarter and fitter then I hope.