British Empire, Social Integration and the History of Economic Thought

Since the appearance of Adam Smith's Wealth of nations in 1776, many British economists have reflected on the costs and benefits of the British Empire. In the last 50 years, historians have undertaken considerable research on the Empire which has produced many new insights - yet they have not given much attention to the thinking of economists in the past about the Empire. The aim of this book is to fill this gap by considering economic thinking about the Empire from the mercantile period to J M Keynes.

In approaching the subject of the British Empire, this book highlights the importance of the social integration in the scheme of advancing the interest of the Empire. The book highlights a few dimensions of social integration: producing the political discussion and persuasion both in the parliament and also via the public opinion; allocating merits among the various ranks or interests; demonstrating the influential campaign which might inspire the national sentiments to unity and so forth. 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 a forum organised by the Japanese Society of History of Economic Thought. The collection brings together topics in the history of the British Empire to show the importance of economic thought to its changing nature.