INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

This book originated in my fascination with international economic integration as one of the most important global forces of our time. My motivation for writing it drew strength from my conviction that a phenomenon so central to our daily lives deserves study in all its present facets and in its many historical dimensions.

Ideally, this work should exhaustively analyze all those present facets and many historical dimensions. Realistically, here I can make only a beginning. So I present a basic book that can be profitably read by anyone interested in the major issues of the day. The work is not a textbook, but it lends itself as supplementary reading to students taking courses in various subjects. These include courses in globalization, political economy, international economic relations, international economic history, international business history, international trade, international organizations, global economics and poverty, international economic integration and, of course, the history of international economic integration.

CONTENTS

Preface
Introduction: International economic integration as economics, politics, and political economy

1. Colonial empires
2. Merchant associations
3. Religious empires
4. Criminal empires
5. Free trade areas
6. Customs unions
7. Common markets

Retrospective as prospective
Notes
Bibliography
Index