Global Commerce and Economic Conscience in Europe, 1700-1900: Distance and Entanglement

In the twenty-first century, acting in the economic sphere to avoid or reduce harm to others is widely acknowledged as an ethical imperative. This volume examines the evolution of economic conscience in Europe, from the emergence of the modern global system to the age of high imperialism and industrial capitalism. It considers how changing structures of sentiment and knowledge made possible new articulations between moral obligation, locality, the spaces of humanity, and the economic, but also how colonialism and imperialism re-framed and channelled impulses to ethical and humanitarian action.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 26 May 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

In the twenty-first century, acting in the economic sphere with the intention of avoiding or minimizing harm to others is widely recognized as an ethical imperative. Ethical investment, fair trade, the politics of boycott, and corporate greenwashing have become well-established aspects of corporate and individual action and public debate. It is important to note that this repertoire has a historical foundation; neither moral indifference nor ethical engagement is inherent or self-evident. The essays in this volume explore the evolution of economic consciousness in Europe, spanning from the emergence of the modern global system, characterized by the growth of joint-stock maritime trading companies, the financial revolution, and transatlantic slavery, to the era of high imperialism and industrial capitalism. These essays, drawn from various disciplinary perspectives, examine how changing structures of sentiment and knowledge facilitated new connections between moral obligation, locality, the spaces of humanity, and the economic realm. They also consider how colonialism and imperialism re-framed and channeled impulses to ethical and humanitarian action.

The essays are organized into ten sections, primarily focusing on British and German actors both at home and abroad. They are framed by a comprehensive introduction and a reflection on the historical dimensions of current debates on slavery in business supply chains.

In conclusion, the essays in this volume provide valuable insights into the evolution of economic consciousness and the complex interplay between moral obligation, locality, the spaces of humanity, and the economic realm. They shed light on the historical roots of contemporary debates on slavery in business supply chains and offer valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for ethical and sustainable business practices in the twenty-first century.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192867858