Alfred E. Eckes, Jr., is Ohio Eminent Research Professor of Contemporary History at Ohio University and a former Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission. He has published a number of books on international trade and finance, the competition for world resources, and globalization. Eckes is a former president and executive vice president of the International Trade and Finance Association (IT&FA), an organization of academics and professionals from 25 countries. He has served as editor of its journal, the Global Economy Journal.