Norman Angell -- IR

Question 1

Norman Angell

Answer 1

• 1872-1967
• British journalist, lecturer, activist
• Major work: “the Great Illusion” 1910
• Nobel peace prize winner 1933
• Economic liberal
• Comparative advantage, free trade, & global production chains (–> world economically interconnected

Question 2

The “Great Illusion”? War and economic interdependence – Key Arguments

Answer 2

Back to the world of 1913: An age of progress and tensions – Situation in which Norman Angell writes

o Wealth in modern economies cannot be produced by conquest, only by commerce (trade & production are interconnected)
o Economic interdependence is profitable to all and makes war hurtful to all (nobody benefits from war)
o Tribute (regular payments by a gov’t) is unprofitable for it undermines the market
o Competition cannot be removed by conquests (if you do you undermine economy as a whole)
o Smaller nations -> (Belgium), are often richer per capita than larger ones that spend heavily on their militaries
o Owning colonies is not profitable either (colonies cost a lot to maintain)

Question 3

Angell 1910 quote

Answer 3

“…it is a logical fallacy & an optical illusion in Europe to regard a nation as increasing its wealth when it increases its territory, because when a state or province is annexed, the population, who are the real & only owners of the wealth therin, are also annexed, and the conquerer gets nothing”

• (War is not a good idea)
• (Angell’s argument)
• (War costs and nobody profits)

Question 4

Economic Liberalism

Answer 4

Higher degree, higher economically dependent