Episode Details

In this recorded IEA Book Club event hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs, author Marc-William Palen and IEA Managing Editor Dan Freeman explore Palen's book "Pax Economica: Left-Wing Visions of a Free Trade World."

The conversation delves into the overlooked history of left-wing free traders from the 1840s to the present, challenging common narratives about free trade ideology. Palen examines how figures like Richard Cobden, Karl Marx, and Cordell Hull shaped leftist free trade thought, and how it intersected with anti-imperialism, peace movements, and workers' rights. This thought-provoking discussion offers fresh perspectives on the history of economic thought and its relevance to contemporary debates on globalisation and trade policy.