ABSTRACT
Insofar as fascist economic theory was coherent it revolved around the central principle of economic autarky. The economic theory of imperialism with which it was connected was in a sense merely a refinement of this autarky, albeit very important. The doctrine of economic autarky, or self-sufficiency, may be traced back as far as ancient times. Indeed the feudal system, mercantilism and the self-sufficiency of the polis may be regarded as examples of economic autarky in widely separated periods of time. The opinions of List were taken up and developed by a whole school of economists in Germany, known as the Historical Economists. The views of the protectionists were given further reinforcement by economic developments after 1873. The behaviour of other countries in relation to the worsening economic position of England began to have some influence upon economic and intellectual thought in England in the 1890s.
