States, Markets and Wars in Global History

This wide-ranging book focuses on the economic and political changes that have taken place between the advent of globalization and the COVID-19 pandemic and assesses how this may bring about a profound reconfiguration of the global political system. Sapelli considers a range of developments in different spheres, from international to national politics, military aggressions, and worldwide political trends such as the rise of populism, to illuminate the moment of neoliberal crisis in which we now live. He argues that Europe and its institutions in particular no longer demonstrate a model of diplomacy and statesmanship, with the rise of technocratic structures and elitism reflecting how an ideal of 'global convergence' towards liberalism and democracy no longer holds true. The book then considers how a new international order based on the reason of state can be brought about by global cooperation between the US, Russia and China, along with a return to properly regulated finance and a renewed focus on community in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The book will be of interest to those working in international economics and international relations, as well as academics of economic history and political economy.

Giulio Sapelli has taught Economic History and Political Economy at universities in Europe, in two Americas, Australia and New Zealand. He has worked as a consultant and board member in industrial and financial groups. Among his latest publications is Beyond Capitalism, published by Palgrave Macmillan (2018).