The Nationalist Dilemma
A Global History of Economic Nationalism, 1776–Present

Analyses economic nationalism as a set of ideas and policies that have shaped the modern world economy over the past 250 years.

Marvin Suesse (Author)

9781108831383, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 May 2023

434 pages
23.7 x 16.3 x 2.6 cm, 0.74 kg

'This dazzling history by Marvin Suesse focuses squarely on the clash between nationalist passions and economic interests. Through a collection of brilliant case studies spanning time, region, and level of development, Suesse explores how political pressures for national advancement and security have always shaped countries' approaches to engagement with world markets. The current downswing in the globalization cycle - apparent in a series of disintegrative events since 2016 - supports Suesse's argument that nationalism is here to stay. Anyone hoping to understand and navigate that reality will find this book to be an indispensable resource.' Maurice Obstfeld, University of California, Berkeley

Nationalists think about the economy, Marvin Suesse argues, and this thinking matters once nationalists hold political power. Many nationalists seek to limit global exchange, but others prioritise economic development. The potential conflict between these two goals shapes nationalist policy making. Drawing on historical case studies from thirty countries – from the American Revolution to the rise of China – this book paints a broad panorama of economic nationalism over the past 250 years. It explains why such thinking has become influential, despite the internal contradictions and chequered record of many nationalist policy makers. At the root of economic nationalism's appeal is its ability to capitalise upon economic inequality, both domestic and international. These inequalities are reinforced by political factors such as empire building, ethnic conflicts, and financial crises. This has given rise to powerful nationalist movements that have decisively shaped the global exchange of goods, people, and capital.

1. Introduction: nationalists think about the economy
2. The American community of the common man, 1776–1860
3. The birth of the national economy in Europe, 1789–1860
4. The globalisation of the nation, 1861–1913
5. The nationalist as saviour, 1914–1945
6. Policy in a world of nation-states, 1946–1978
7. The incomplete building of a global economy, 1979–2001
8. Populist discontents, 2002–2021
9. Conclusion and outlook: explaining economic nationalism
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Economic history [KCZ]