Citizenship, national belonging and the grain regulation question in Britain and France, 1750-1780
During the prelude to the industrial revolution, as Britain and France experienced the first age of globalisation, with its associated expansion of markets and regional specialisation, certain assumptions were called into question. These included the traditional mentaliteÌs of trust in local markets; belief in the economic responsibilities of political authorities; and the idea of 'the economy' itself in relation to the region and nation. While globalisation could offer increased income and consumer choice, this could come at the cost of restricting the life and autonomy of regional economies. Historians have explored these tensions in treatments of the friction between capitalism and adherence to a moral economy. However, even capitalistic ideas about free trade were heavily concerned with national economic competitiveness. This thesis addresses this dynamic by examining theoretical and practical approaches to the grain trade. It aims to unravel contemporary interpretations of the role of government, regions and individuals in national economic stability and growth, which in turn informed ideas about national belonging. It explores attempts by French and British writers, legislators, and people to assert
Gibbs, D. H.
Citizenship, national belonging and the grain regulation question in Britain and France, 1750-1780. During the prelude to the industrial revolution, as Britain and France experienced the first age of globalisation, with its associated expansion of markets and regional specialisation, certain assumptions were called into question. These included the traditional mentaliteÌs of trust in local markets; belief in the economic responsibilities of political authorities; and the idea of 'the economy' itself in relation to the region and nation. While globalisation could offer increased income and consumer choice, this could come at the cost of restricting the life and autonomy of regional economies. Historians have explored these tensions in treatments of the friction between capitalism and adherence to a moral economy. However, even capitalistic ideas about free trade were heavily concerned with national economic competitiveness. This thesis addresses this dynamic by examining theoretical and practical approaches to the grain trade. It aims to unravel contemporary interpretations of the role of government, regions and individuals in national economic stability and growth, which in turn informed ideas about national belonging. It explores attempts by French and British writers, legislators, and people to assert
citizenship national belonging grain regulation question britain_france prelude industrial_revolution britain_france experience first age globalisation associated expansion market regional specialisation certain_assumption call_question include traditional trust local market belief economic responsibility political_authority idea the economy relation region nation globalisation could offer increased income consumer choice could come cost restrict life autonomy regional_economy historians explore tension treatment friction capitalism adherence moral economy however_even idea free_trade heavily concern national_economic address dynamic examine theoretical_practical approach grain trade aim unravel contemporary interpretation role government region individual national_economic stability growth turn inform idea national belonging explores attempt french_british writer legislator people assert