Norman Angell

British politician, writer, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate

Norman Angell, born Ralph Norman Angell Lane on 26 December 1872, was a British politician, writer, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He is best known for his influential book The Great Illusion, published in 1910, which argued that war was economically and socially irrational.

Early Life and Education

Norman Angell was born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England. He was educated in France, where he attended the Lycée de St. Omer and the University of Geneva. His early exposure to different cultures and political systems influenced his later work on international relations and peace.

Career

Angell began his career as a journalist, working in the United States for several newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle and the Boston Globe. Upon returning to Europe, he became the editor of Galignani's Messenger in Paris.

Political Involvement

Angell was a member of the Labour Party and served as a Member of Parliament for Bradford North from 1929 to 1931. He was an advocate for international cooperation and disarmament, and he was actively involved in the League of Nations Union.

The Great Illusion

The Great Illusion is Angell's most famous work, in which he argued that the economic interdependence of nations made war futile and counterproductive. The book challenged the prevailing belief that military conquest could lead to economic gain. Angell's ideas were influential in the development of liberal internationalism and the concept of collective security.

Nobel Peace Prize

In 1933, Norman Angell was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in promoting peace and international understanding. The Nobel Committee recognized his efforts to educate the public on the economic and social costs of war.

Later Life and Legacy

Angell continued to write and lecture on international relations and peace throughout his life. He published several other books, including The Unseen Assassins and The Steep Places. He passed away on 7 October 1967 in Croydon, London.

Angell's work remains relevant in discussions of international relations and the economic implications of war. His ideas have influenced both policymakers and scholars in the field of peace studies.

Also see

• Liberal internationalism
• League of Nations
• Collective security
• Economic interdependence