The Tyranny of Nations: How the Last 500 Years Shaped Today’s Global Economy

by Palak N Patel

The Tyranny of Nations places the ground-shaking political and economic events of modern times in context. Palak Patel draws on his experience investing in government bond markets to demonstrate how the present fits a specific historical pattern that has defined the past 500 years. Modern-day trade liberalization and financial expansion all share distinct parallels with similar events in the 1600s and 1800s. Likewise, China's economic trajectory matches that of 19th-century Prussia and 17th-century France. And a certain British Prime Minister, foreshadowing Donald Trump's populism 150 years later, launched a similar attack on globalization after the financial crisis of 1866.

In The Tyranny of Nations, there are no "isms"—no capitalism, socialism, or feudalism—but instead, only privileged interests vying for power. Challenging both the mainstream and its critics, Palak Patel shows how an endless cycle of cooperation and conflict between nations drives societal change. This unique perspective on the intersection of macroeconomics, history, and politics offers the reader a compass for navigating the future.

Genres: History, Economics, Business

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 24, 2021

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enlightening and well-researched, but this thing is an absolute slog. The writing style is downright painful at times! Still, I came away with a much clearer understanding of the history of capitalism and I’m glad I finished it.

[Robert Stutchbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bond vigleantee gone Minskyist tells it how it is. As real as macroeconomics gets (4 stars real but yk)
Last section was a hilight for the radical call to action in econspeak. v good