The World We're in [Hardcover]

Written with typical passion and command of a battery of facts, Will Hutton's The World We're In is a fierce attack on the politics of Euroscepticism and US economic conservatism. Hutton has already established his credentials as one of the leading liberal economic thinkers on the British State with his bestselling The State We're In. In The World We're In he widens his focus to discuss the global economy and the fraught relations between the US and Europe in the aftermath of September 11.

Hutton argues that "if the rest of the world is not careful, our future will be to accept globalisation almost entirely on American conservative terms." He believes that the great tradition of liberalism in the US is in retreat, that "America is the most unequal society in the industrialised West", and that claims regarding its economic supremacy and efficiency have been hugely exaggerated. For Hutton, the future lies with the European Union's more inclusive and liberal approach towards politics and economics.

The book skilfully charts its way through the different historical, economic and philosophical approaches to land, law and profit that have defined the European and American traditions, concluding that Europe offers a better "scope within globalisation for different cultures and approaches to capitalism to flourish." For Hutton, this involves a philosophical belief in the existence of a civic society and a flourishing society, a "decentralised State, consensual labour relations" and a stakeholder ethos that America has always lacked. He admits that this "is a book for the idea of Europe", that also envisages the United Kingdom at the heart of Europe, not Washington. Marshalling an impressive array of economic data alongside an impassioned belief in radical democracy, The World We're In is an important addition to the urgent discussions regarding the world we want. --Jerry Brotton

"a timely and forward-looking book...Hutton's powerful and flawlessly argued assertion is that to opt for dependence upon America is madness"

"His first blockbuster - THE STATE WE'RE IN...was timed to perfection...His new book is as exquisitely sited."

"Hutton's great strength is that he is a provocateur and a learned one. The argumentative heft of the book is impressive...this book will get people talking."

"A worthy successor to the bestselling THE STATE WE'RE IN, this will be the pro-European text for years to come."

Widening his perspective from country (examined in previous volume, "The State We're In") to world, Will Hutton calls for Britain and Europe to offer alternatives to the American Way. Under President Bush America has been forthright in it's isolationism - until the attack on the World Trade Center - but whatever happens next, it is undoubtedly true that Bush will pursue a policy of America first. Hutton argues for a countervailing balance - economically and socially - to the American model. Only, he argues, by making Europe a strong bloc - and that means adopting the euro - will we have the levarage to influence the USA as we would wish, in an attempt to make Europe a safer, more prosperous place.

Will Hutton was Editor of the Observer for 3 years and now runs the Industrial Society.