A wonderfully written, captivating story about how globalization has failed in the past, serving as a cautionary example for the present. Zahra's research is outstanding, and her characters are unforgettable. Even during the first wave of globalization, dangerous undercurrents emerged. Migration and economic interconnection triggered resentment and existential fears. Nationalism and isolationism became the mantra of numerous politicians. With the outbreak of World War I and the Spanish flu, the first wave of globalization came to an end for the time being. The parallels to today are striking: the pandemic, the upheavals in the global economy, the rhetoric of "Take back control" – it seems as though the early 20th century has become our present.

In "Against the World," American historian Tara Zahra presents a fantastically written account of anti-globalist, anti-internationalist thinking and actions during the period between World War I and World War II. She illustrates how a mix of nationalism, protectionism, and xenophobia swept across the globe, dominating politics and thought. Her equally gripping and disheartening portrait of a world on the brink of collapse serves as a warning: the order we take for granted can be fragile.