Dietmar Rothermund broadens the conventional focus of the great depression to include its impact on the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. He explains key areas, such as Keynesian theory and the role of the international gold standard.

Preface, 1 INTRODUCTION: ECONOMICS AND THE DEPRESSION, 2 THE TRAGEDY OF THE INTERNATIONAL GOLD STANDARD, 3 THE DILEMMA OF WAR DEBTS AND REPARATIONS, 4 WORLD PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, 5 THE ORIGIN OF THE DEPRESSION IN AMERICA, 6 THE TRANSMISSION OF THE CRISIS TO EUROPE, 7 TURKEY AND EGYPT: MODERNISING STATES AT THE EUROPEAN PERIPHERY, 8 AUSTRALIA'S REACTION: OVERPRODUCTION AND DEVALUATION, 9 COLONIAL CRISIS MANAGEMENT: THE INDIAN EXPERIENCE, 10 THE NEW ROLE OF THE STATE IN LATIN AMERICA, 11 CONTRASTS IN EAST ASIA: CHINA AND JAPAN, 12 REACTIONS TO THE DEPRESSION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, 13 THE FATE OF AFRICA, 14 THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE DEPRESSION: FASCISM IN EUROPE, POPULISM IN LATIN AMERICA AND FREEDOM MOVEMENTS IN THE COLONIES, 15 FROM DEPRESSION TO WAR: REARMAMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH, 16 THE AFTERMATH, Bibliographical notes, Index