There’s a very lucid and internally coherent column in today’s Guardian from Larry Elliott entitled Edwardian Summer, drawing parallels between today’s economic stuggles (oil prices, flexiblility, worker backlash etc.) and the period pre-1914, the first era of globalisation. You have to take what Elliott says with a pinch of salt – his opposition to the Euro is well know for example. Further, his column is effectively a stream of criticism and proposes little in the way of solutions. It’s well worth 10 minutes of your time to consider his arguments.