Podcast: Economic historian Martin Daunton on the threat to world peace

Is the increasing tension between nationalism and globalisation pushing the world toward war?

That's the question Professor Martin Daunton addressed while delivering the annual Charles Goode Oration at Melbourne Business School in late 2019.

His insights make for compelling listening as America seeks to be great again, US–China relations hit new lows and Britain prepares to leave the EU.

In his address, titled Nationalism versus multilateralism: how does globalisation end?, the University of Cambridge emeritus professor says rising nationalism threatens to destroy 75 years of global peace.

"After the Second World War, the Bretton Woods regime struck a balance between the two forces," he says.

"The world now faces a critical moment as it did at the end of the previous era of globalisation, before the First World War – a multilateralism that could be overturned by economic nationalism."

Professor Daunton has written extensively on the global economy, especially Britain's rise from the 1700s to its dominance and slide in the 20th century.

His talk was heard by prominent Melbourne business leaders, including Charles Goode, AC, the former ANZ Bank chairman, who established the annual oration in 2013 to give the Australian business community access to the world's best thinkers on major issues.

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