How have states shaped economic life? The disillusionment with neoliberalism and fracturing of the “Washington Consensus” has reopened a conversation about the relationship between governments and markets. The question of “development”—and particularly proactive “developmental states” leading a nation towards a more prosperous, egalitarian, and sustainable future—has been vigorously studied and debated in the social sciences. Historians have recently turned their attention to the matter, asking how states have orchestrated transformative change despite social, political, and economic headwinds. Historical methods and inquires have begun to shed new light on the debate.

This roundtable brings together historians who focus on several regions in the world – East Asia, North America, and Latin America – and on several historical periods – from the early twentieth century to the twenty-first – to reflect on the long and complicated history of state-led development efforts from global and comparative perspectives. With emphasis on late developers, the panel allows insights from the Global South to frame the broader understanding of this history, asking how and why countries around the world have tried to transform their economies and reposition themselves in the global division of labor. Furthermore, what can we learn from successful and less successful efforts in this vein? How can historians, as opposed to economists, sociologists, political scientists, contribute to the study of development? What did older historical literature on development get right and/or wrong? With these questions the panel aims to position different national and regional cases alongside one another

In addition to historians of the regions and eras represented by the speakers, this roundtable will also be of interest to historians engaged in the study of capitalism, political economy, and globalization. The conversation here will serve as a foundational point of departure to inspire future studies in comparative perspective and enable historians to more fully participate in a growing interdisciplinary discussion.