La pensée économique allemande

After 1945, German economic thought disappeared from the intellectual horizon, even in Germany, as if the political legacy of the Third Reich required us to (demanded that we) turn our backs on traditions whose offspring had been misguided by (lost its way and strayed into) totalitarianism. However, culturally, German economic thought has deep roots, has been well grounded in 18th century cameralism, through the German political economy of the 19th century and into the social market economy. The book provides elements of understanding that make it possible to avoid too many approximations in the usual accounts of these oppositions. The German economic thought referred to here ranges from Hegel to Eucken, and reflection on methods occupies a prominent place in German economic thought, which undoubtedly stems from the importance of philosophical reflection and in particular from reflection on history. Above all, it is more "political" and insists on the relationship between Territory-Economy and Social Justice State(s). This is sufficient to meet the challenges of globalization and shed light on the way Germany has built its relationship to the world of the 21st century.