Includes bibliographical references (p. 327-349) and index.

Europe's laissez-faire system and its impact before World War I -- The rise of Britain and the laissez-faire system -- Rising modern sectors -- Europe's position in the world -- Rising disparity within Europe -- The beginning of Scandinavia's catching-up -- The Southern and Eastern peripheries remaining behind -- The challenge of globalized laissez-faire -- Decline of laissez-faire and the rise of the regulated market system -- The turning point : war economy 1914--18, postwar chaos, and the agony of laissez-faire -- Failed attempts to return to 'normalcy' -- The death of laissez-faire, and extreme state regulations during the Great Depression -- The theory of regulated market -- War economy 1939--45 -- The impact of the regulated market economy : European economic performance -- Europe's deteriorating role in the world -- Economic dirigisme in authoritarian--fascist regimes -- The origins and characteristics of economic dirigisme -- Functions and programs of the state -- Self-sufficiency, planning and the populist welfare system -- Dictated regional economic integration -- Economic results -- The centrally planned economic system -- Marxist theoretical legacy, Lenin, and the Bolshevik program -- Forced industrialization and central planning : "socialism in one country" -- From an isolated Soviet system to the Soviet bloc -- The characteristics of the centrally planned economic system -- Safeguarding and attempts to legitimize the regime -- Regional integration system of planned economies -- The goal and balance sheet of the centrally planned economy -- Rapid growth and industrialization : reproduced backwardness -- Reform attempts that failed -- Crisis and collapse -- Mixed economy and welfare state in an integrated post-World War II Western Europe -- Postwar international regulations -- Economic integration and the rise of the European Union -- The emergence of Sozialpartnerschaft and the mixed economy -- Planning in mixed economies -- The rise of the welfare state -- Educational revolution -- Economic growth and structural changes -- Globalization : return to laissez-faire? -- Globalization and its characteristics -- Globalization of the laissez-faire ideology and system -- The impact of globalization on Europe -- The challenge of mixed economy and welfare state -- Globalization and inequality -- Rising global environmental considerations and regulations -- Europe : a rising economic superpower.