British Empire, Social Integration and the History of Economic Thought - 9780415516969

Since the authentic volumes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith (1776), many anthers among British economic thought had demonstrated on the scheme of British Empire. During the recent half a century, the historical researches have revealed the meaning and transit of British Empire under the new light. Yet the stream of British economic thought has not been allocated enough under the scope of these new historical angles. The aim of this book is to fill the gap in covering the period from the mercantile system to J.M. Keynes.

In approaching the issue of Empire, this book attaches the importance to the social integration for the scheme of Empire. The book highlights a few dimensions of social integration: producing the political discussion and persuasion both in the parliament and via the public opinion; allocating the merit among the various ranks or interests; demonstrating the influential campaign which might inspire the national sentiments to unity, etc. etc. To concretising these dimensions of social integration, the volume composes of two parts; (Part 1) ‘Territory, Trade and Social Integration of the Empire,’ and (Part 2) ‘Negotiating the Strategy for the British Empire.’

The book originated from the forum organised by Japanese Society of History of Economic Thought. The editors of the book have brought together topics of British Empire and its relevance to the economic thought to illustrate how the British stream of economic thought contributed to designing the Empire outward and inward.