Cobdenism is economic theory, focusing on the free market and free trade named for the British statesman and economist Richard Cobden. Whilest the term Cobdenism is largely unused nowadays, and has been substituted largely for the term Laissez-faire, Cobdenism traditionally has a stronger focus on international free trade and a belief that a result of free trade is world peace. A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy... Free trade is an economic concept referring to the selling of products between countries without tariffs or other trade barriers. ... Richard Cobden Richard Cobden (June 3, 1804 - April 2, 1865) was an English manufacturer and radical politician. ... Laissez-faire is short for laissez faire, laissez passer, a French phrase meaning to let things alone, let them pass. First used by the eighteenth century Physiocrats as an injunction against government interference with trade, it is now used as a synonym for strict free market economics. ... Free trade is an economic concept referring to the selling of products between countries without tariffs or other trade barriers. ... World peace is a future ideal of freedom, peace and happiness among and within all nations. ...
Richard Cobden (1804-1865) was born at Dunford, near Midhurst, Sussex on 3 June1804 and died in London on 2 April 1865.
Cobden's attack on what he saw as the local example of feudal governance was followed by his taking up the leadership of Manchester's campaign against the Corn Laws, which he saw as the outstanding bastion of aristocratic self-interest within the British state.
At his death, Cobden was widely recognised by continental Liberals as the model of a 'European' statesman and as 'The International Man' while in Britain he epitomised the ideas of the 'Manchester School'.
Cobden was thus relegated to private life, and retiring to his country house at Dunford, he spent his time in perfect contentment in cultivating his land and feeding his pigs.
Cobden had married in 1840 Miss Catherine Anne Williams, a Welsh lady, and left five surviving daughters, of whom Mrs Cobden-Unwin (wife of the publisher Mr Fisher Unwin), Mrs Walter Sickert (wife of the painter) and Mrs.
Cobden, and what is was called "Cobdenism" and later identified with laissez-faire, was subjected to much criticism from the school of English economists who advocated a national policy, on the ideas of Alexander Hamilton and Friedrich List.
Feeds |
Contact