Nationalism and Socialism
Nationalism appears to be a modern phenomenon having its origin in the nationalities constituted in Europe between the 16th and the 19th century concomitantly with the disappearance of feudalism and of the Romano-Germanic Empire that came into being with Charlemagne and was totally liquidated with the unification of Italy.
In fact, however, the spirit of nationalism is very ancient. It has been and still is present as a factor in both political and economic history. The only thing that has changed is its form. It was this spirit that animated the absolutist and totalitarian regime of the Egyptians, that of the decadent Roman Empire, and the mercantilism of the 17th and 18th centuries, and, after a brief eclipse that lasted from the Congress of Vienna to the First World War, revived in the form of the so-called controlled or planned economy under the combined influence of war and socialism. FULL ARTICLE
Comments (2)
Great article on the history of economic thought!
Published: March 5, 2008 5:13 PM
"(Volkswirtschaft), began to question whether Germany was receiving a just compensation for the productive efforts of her people, and created a psychological "complex" with regard to international exploitation that led to the war of 1914 and later to that of 1939."
That is really stretching it.
The Political alliances of Europe pre 1914 were more problematic than economics. Europeans are trying to come to terms with that even today. Think Serbia.
Published: March 5, 2008 10:53 PM