A Brief History of Globalism

How did the world become so interconnected, and what ideas have driven the movement towards greater international cooperation, economic integration, and global governance?

A Brief History of Globalism explores the origins, evolution, and enduring influence of the belief that the world's nations, economies, and societies are connected by interests and challenges that extend beyond national borders.

From the ancient trade routes that linked distant civilisations to the expansion of international commerce, diplomacy, and political cooperation, this book traces the historical developments and intellectual movements that have shaped globalist thought.

Discover how the Enlightenment, industrialisation, imperial expansion, and the rise of international institutions contributed to changing ideas about global interconnectedness. Explore the emergence of internationalism, the development of multilateral organisations, and the growing influence of global trade, finance, technology, and cultural exchange.

Through an accessible examination of economic globalism, political internationalism, cosmopolitanism, and global governance, this book explores the competing visions of a more integrated world. It considers the influence of institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization, alongside debates about national sovereignty, democracy, economic inequality, and cultural identity.

From the aftermath of the World Wars and the expansion of the postwar international order to the acceleration of globalisation in the late twentieth century, A Brief History of Globalism examines the opportunities, tensions, and controversies associated with increasing international integration.

As societies confront climate change, technological transformation, migration, geopolitical competition, and renewed nationalism, the relationship between global cooperation and national independence remains a defining question of contemporary politics.

Engaging, informative, and thought-provoking, this book provides readers with an introduction to the ideas, movements, institutions, and historical forces that have shaped globalist thought.

Explore the history of globalism—and discover how the tension between international integration and national sovereignty continues to influence the modern world.