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The Institute for Free Trade and the Vinson Centre for the public understanding of economics and entrepreneurship are proud to collaborate in hosting the inaugural IFT/Vinson Lecture Conference on the 16th of October 2024.

Before Free Trade became a staple of right-wing economic movements across the West, it was the rallying cry of the left. It was taken as given that Free Trade was the necessary result of a respect for equality and a desire for peace among nations. It roots, and some of its strongest proponents, have come from the political left. Broad interests, from humanitarians to socialists, saw free trade as a necessary condition for the amelioration of social ills. Some saw it as a panacea.

In his new book, “Pax Economica: Left-wing visions of a Free-Trade World”, Dr Marc-William Palen FRHS expertly charts the ideological and political history of free trade in Britain, her Empire, and beyond. Overturning decades-old myths, Palen invites us to see Free Trade through the lenses of our forebears - anti-imperialism, humanitarianism, christian pacifism. On our panel, Palen will be joined by Lord Hannan, President of the IFT and Juan Castaneda, President of the Vinson Centre, with further expert panellists to be announced.

Tickets will be free of charge. Please sign up here.

Programming

This year’s IFT-Vinson lecture will begin with an interview with Dr Marc-William Palen, followed by a coffee break, before opening to an expert panel discussion and the floor to audience engagement. Guests are invited to arrive for a 10am start, at the Library of the Reform Club, 104 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5EW.