The introduction starts by explaining the shift towards economic power politics that characterises contemporary international relations. It then provides an overview of debates on geo-economics, beginning in the early 1990s, when the term gained prominence. More recent contributions standing in the tradition of Edward Luttwak’s seminal work and approaches incompatible with his understanding of geo-economics are critically assessed. Conceptual shortcomings of corresponding debates are pointed out, especially the insufficient definition of geo-economics. It is suggested that we should understand geo-economics as both a foreign policy practice (that aims at achieving strategic objectives) and as an analytical concept (that stands in the tradition of IR Realism).