| Up to now, both at home and abroad, ad hoc study in late medieval English protectionist policies has not been in full swing. A few special theses, its study could be not deep enough nor be it systematic and the comments about protectionism might not be just and sound. From economic history perspective, combined with European background, the dissertation will make thorough and systematic study in13-15Century British Protectionist Policies, discover the profound causes of its emergence, organize the choroids of its development, reveal its historic significance, probe the origins of modern protectionism and mercantilism, so theoretical value of the dissertation will become apparent. As the first industrialized country, England in14th and15th centuries issued sorts of policies and measures for growth of commerce and industry. During the process of our modernization, if the measures England had taken and policies followed could be referred to, the article certainly has the realistic significance.13-15century English protectionist policies mainly refer to those policies and measures of the period the British government issued to protect and promote national economic development. During the period, Europe was experiencing a series of political, economic and social changes in which the growth of commodity economy, the disintegration of manorial system and the rise of national countries occurred, and European countries sank successively into feudal crisis, also faced great social transformation. While Britain, compared with other European countries, its economic development was relatively backward, particularly affected by Black Death and the hundred year war, the crises England encountered seemed even graver. Start from middle of14th century, nonetheless, the development of commodity economy of England speeded up, the merchant class began to rise, foreign trade further expanded, business capital cumulated, and economy was in overall upward trend, which deeply affected the formulation and implementation of government policies, and offered soil for the emergence of British protectionism.In a self-sufficient society, in order to meet their material and financial needs, the king and city citizens, all loved to recruit and grant foreign merchants, allowed them to trade freely in England, offered special legal positions and economic privileges. As a result, in the Middle Ages, the most part of business was controlled by foreign merchants. With the rise of native merchants’class, Englishman became increasingly aware of the necessity that they themselves should control and explore economic resources, and they began compete with alien merchants with regard to foreign trade monopolies, hostility to aliens increased and constant xenophobia developed, and the long-term antagonism formed. When economic power of native merchants strengthened, their economic and political status heightened, while aliens’declined. The king commenced to rely on natives instead of on foreigners. To be specific, the government took measures and issued policies to prop up domestic industry and commerce. The target of the policy, for the king is mainly to seek economic aids and political supports from the merchant class, and to native merchants, the ends of policies were to blow out foreigners, gain monopoly price and high financial profits. When the home merchant interests and the king’s interests were met, it was logical for the government to establish protectionist principle which mainly reflected the interests of domestic traders.Protectionism did not abruptly emerge overnight. The middle Ages’industry and commerce activities were almost concentrated and confined to the city, and supported or limited by city economic policies. With the feudal balkanization situation broken, the autonomous city waned, economic management function of the forming nation enhanced, more and more urban economic policies were implemented in more vast territory, the original city policies based on internal self protection of craft guilds and merchants associations transferred to state protectionism. In13th century or even earlier, by long and complex process of groping and experiments the English kings, in history first time appeared a protectionist institution from wool trade. It is in this process that England completed the transformation from a primary products exporting country to one that exported industrial finished goods, this process also saw the early growth of protectionism.In British history, protectionism runs at least through five centuries in variable forms at each different stage.14and15centuries, it was policies that were mainly against foreign competition, to protect the rights and interests of native merchants, foster their infant industry. Specific policies involve all aspects of the national economy. In business, by administration, tariffs and legislation to restrict foreign rivals, to consolidate the status of English merchants, and strengthen their competitive strength; Through establishment of wool Staple system the raw materials of wool was monopolized, utility of foreign ships were prohibited for the development of domestic shipping industry; Through commercial treaties signed with other countries the overseas rights were protected. In the industry, by low tax rate levied on cloth the export of cloth expanded, the inspection system ensured the quality of products, enhanced the products’competitiveness on market; through the legislation the export of raw materials and half-finished was controlled, and import of foreign finished products discouraged and even foreign manufactured banned to use; by favorable immigration policies England encouraged foreign skilled artisans and workers to foster its newly reviving industry; those merchants ventured overseas were franchised to establish Merchant Adventurers Company in order to capture overseas cloth market; In the currency circulation field, English government restricted or prohibited exporting currencies, gold and silver, encouraged or even compelled importing gold and silver. Most of protectionist laws issued during the hundred-year war, prolonged war nourished the British national consciousness and inspired the British national emotion, which escalated protectionism, economic nationalism alike diffused in late medieval England, mercantilist characteristics became increasingly conspicuous.British protectionist policies of the time were not only for political, military and diplomatic aims but for grabbing the financial interests. As for the fact that execution of protectionism had somehow protected the British industry and commerce, promoted the development of the national economy, and benefited the growth of capitalism sprout, were only the objective affiliate consequences brought about by measures taken to achieve these goals. Protectionism had enhanced the British commercial competitiveness at home and abroad, promoted her seas’power, accumulated a full amount of money and gold and silver, and laid a foundation for the mercantilist system in future. British national emotion and future state development were closely linked in light of protectionism; protectionism had made a notable impact on national growth. In brief, as mercantile policies of the late medieval Britain, protectionism actively boosted Britain in the rising period. |
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