Global Economic History: Bretton Woods to the Uruguay Round

How did the modern global financial system come to be? To understand today's international trade agreements, economic policies, and global financial crises, you must first understand the foundational agreements that structured the post-war world. This course offers a clear, reading-focused journey through the landmark decisions that established our current global economic architecture. You will start by exploring core economic concepts and key terminology before tracing the history of international cooperation. Through structured text lessons, you will examine the origins, debates, and outcomes of pivotal historical meetings. What you'll learn: Understand the core economic principles behind international trade and global finance; Analyze the creation, purpose, and evolving roles of the IMF and the World Bank; Examine the negotiations of the Uruguay Round and how they led to the establishment of the WTO; Explore how modern trade disputes and global financial policies root back to these historical agreements; Evaluate the impact of global economic institutions on developing and developed nations today. The course begins with foundational definitions of international trade terms, then guides you step-by-step through the Bretton Woods negotiations, and concludes with the transition to modern trade frameworks under the WTO. This text-only course is designed for absolute beginners, students, and curious professionals with no prior background in economics. Start reading today to build a solid foundation in global economic history.