The Atlantic Economy: Britain, the Us and Ireland

This remarkable book examines how the economic power of Britain and the US limits the opportunities for small states to develop. Following the history of the Atlantic economy since the 16th century, Denis O'Hearn shows how Ireland's repeated attempts to industrialize were frustrated 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, this book addresses the most important question in developmental politics--how can a developing country emerge from a historical cycle of underdevelopment?