The Retreat of the State

This original study asks who is really in charge of the world economy.

Who is really in charge of the world economy? Not only governments, argues Susan Strange. Big businesses, drug barons and accountants all encroach on the so-called sovereignty of the state. Professor Strange examines this rivalry and points to some important new directions for international relations, business and economics.Adopting new and much more comprehensive concepts of both power and politics, The Retreat of the State develops a theoretical framework to show who really governs the world economy. It goes on to explore some of the non-state authorities, from mafias to the Big Six accounting firms and international bureaucrats, whose power over who gets what in the world encroaches on that of national governments. The book is a signpost, pointing to some promising new directions for the future development of research and teaching in international political economy. Its originality and scope make The Retreat of the State of great importance for scholars and students of international relations, business and management.