The Concept of the World Economy: Intellectual Histories

In the early 21st century, few would question the existence of a single world economy. Yet this apparently self-evident concept has a history. This conference brings together scholars whose ongoing work contributes to a history of the idea of the single world economy and the processes by which it was made natural in science, policy and popular discourse. The time frame under study will extend from the second half of the nineteenth century when the idea was first discussed formally to the 1970s, a decade in which the idea of the one world economy assumed hegemonic status. A key note lecture will be given by Patricia Clavin (Oxford), author of „Securing the World Economy. The Reinvention of the League of Nations, 1920-1946“ (Oxford University Press).

The workshop is funded by the VolkswagenStiftung.