The Atlantic Economy: Britain, the Us and Ireland

Description

This title examines how the economic power of Britain and the US limits the opportunities for small states to develop. The work follows the history of the Atlantic economy since the 16th century and shows how Ireland's repeated attempts to industrialize were transformed by British and American power. After partition, Ireland tried to industrialize but was transformed into a platform for US companies seeking access to European markets. Irish attempts to follow the development paths of the wealthier Atlantic regions were limited by power structures, many of which were created when it was integrated into the Atlantic economy in the 16th and 17th centuries. Explaining the problems of economic growth and industrialization from the perspectives of both the developed and developing countries, the text addresses the most important question in developmental politics - how can a developing country emerge from a historical cycle of underdevelopment? The work ends with a radical critique of the Irish 'celtic tiger' phenomenon of the 1990s. It argues that Ireland's recent economic success is not a decisive break with past patterns because economic growth is concentrated in a limited area. This title is suitable for final year undergraduates, postgraduates and academics in the fields of Irish studies, development economics and comparative history.

Denis O'Hearn is Reader in Sociology at Queens University, Belfast and Chair of the West Belfast Economic Forum -- .