| Description |
xiv, 230 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| ISBN |
9780198816713 hardback |
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0198816715 hardback |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 199-224) and index. |
| Contents |
Introduction: Locating the British World of trade -- The importance of being British : networks and the politics of imperial trade, c.1880-1914 -- Between Geneva and Ottawa : the Empire-Commonwealth and the emerging international system, 1915-1939 -- Buying for Britain, China or India? : Forging trade communities during the Great Depression -- 'What are we doing to earn dollars?' : the old and new Commonwealths in an era of internationalism and decolonization, 1940-1960 -- We're all backing Britain? : patriotic trade and the decline of the British World -- Selling washing machines in Düsseldorf : the disintegration of the British World of trade, c.1961-1975 -- Coda. 1186-1932-1973-2016. |
| Summary |
"Brexit is likely to lead to the largest shift in Britain's economic orientation in living memory. Some have argued that leaving the EU will enable Britain to revive markets in Commonwealth countries with which it has long-standing historical ties. Their opponents maintain that such claims are based on forms of imperial nostalgia which ignore the often uncomfortable historical trade relations between Britain and these countries, as well as the UK's historical role as a global, rather than chiefly imperial, economy. Forging a British World of Trade explores how efforts to promote a 'British World' system, centred on promoting trade between Britain and the Dominions, grew and declined in influence between the 1880s and 1970s. At the beginning of the twentieth century many people from London, to Sydney, Auckland, and Toronto considered themselves to belong to culturally British nations. British politicians and business leaders invested significant resources in promoting trade with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa out of a perception that these were great markets of the future. However, ideas about promoting trade between 'British' peoples were racially exclusive. From the 1920s onwards, colonized and decolonizing populations questioned and challenged the basis of British World networks, making use of alternative forms of international collaboration promoted firstly by the League of Nations, and then by the United Nations. Schemes for imperial collaboration amongst ethnically 'British' peoples were hollowed out by the actions of a variety of political and business leaders across Asia and Africa who reshaped the functions and identity of the Commonwealth." -- Provided by publisher. |
| Library Class |
Economics Q133
|
| Subject |
Great Britain -- Commercial policy -- History -- 20th century.
|
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Great Britain -- Foreign economic relations.
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Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- 20th century.
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