The Retreat of the State
The Diffusion of Power in the World Economy

This original study asks who is really in charge of the world economy.

Susan Strange (Author)

9780521564403, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 14 November 1996

240 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.4 kg

'Susan Strange's latest work, The Retreat of the State, goes a long way to breaking the bounds of traditional analyses of the international political economy. Instead of concentrating on well-covered ground involving trade relations and balances between states … the book takes a much broader look at the functions of the world economy and the diffusion of authority within it to legitimately perform those functions.' The Review of Politics

Adopting new and much more comprehensive concepts of both power and politics, The Retreat of the State develops a theoretical framework to show who really governs the world economy. It goes on to explore some of the non-state authorities, from mafias to the Big Six accounting firms and international bureaucrats, whose power over who gets what in the world encroaches on that of national governments. The book is a signpost, pointing to some promising new directions for the future development of research and teaching in international political economy. Its originality and scope make The Retreat of the State of great importance for scholars and students of international relations, business and management.

Part I. Theoretical Foundations: 1. The declining authority of the state
2. Patterns of power
3. The limits of politics
4. Politics and production
5. The state of the state
Part II. Some Empirical Evidence: 6. Authority beyond the state
7. Telecoms - the control of communication
8. Organised crime - the Mafias
9. Insurance business - the risk managers
10. The Big Six accountants
11. Cartels and private protectionism
12. International organisations - the econocrats
Part III. Conclusions: 13. Pinocchio's problem and other conclusions.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS]