Borderlines: The Hidden History of Tariffs and Trade Wars

In a world where trade headlines often provoke alarm but rarely offer clarity, Borderlines takes a step back to examine the long and often overlooked story behind tariffs and economic protectionism. Rather than offering sweeping conclusions or rigid ideologies, this book invites readers to explore how nations have drawn—and redrawn—the lines between open markets and economic borders.Through historical episodes, forgotten debates, and quiet shifts in global policy, Borderlines follows the many ways in which trade has shaped—and been shaped by—politics, ambition, fear, and hope. It does not claim to have all the answers, but it seeks to ask better questions: Why do countries impose barriers? Who benefits? And what have we learned—if anything—from centuries of repeating the same arguments?This is not a book for experts only, but for anyone curious about how trade became a battleground that continues to define our economies, our alliances, and our futures. Read more