MITRANY, David, 1888-1975, Professor of Political Economy

Papers of Professor David Mitrany, [1920-1965], mainly comprising research papers and drafts of published works, notably articles, notes, lecture notes, reviews and index cards relating to international organisation, political science, international relations, functionalism, international law and economics, human rights, federalism and nationalism, as well as material concerning the League of Nations, the United Nations, and peace aims post World War Two; reference material compiled by Mitrany, including bibliographies and working papers; drafts, proofs and offprints of published books and articles, mainly concerning international government; personal correspondence and papers relating to his academic and journalistic work, notably regarding Yale University, the Manchester Guardian , Political and Economic Planning, and work during World War One and World War Two.

Born in Bucharest, Rumania, in 1888; educated at the London School of Economics and Political Science, 1912-1914; undertook war work at the Romanian Legation in London, the Foreign Office and the War Office, 1914-1918; Member, Labour Party Advisory Committee on International Affairs, 1918-1931; Editorial Staff, Manchester Guardian , 1919-1922, with special responsibility for foreign affairs; Assistant European Editor, Economic and Social History of the World War , sponsored by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1922-1929; Visiting Professor, Harvard University 1931-1933; Dodge Lecturer, Yale University, 1932; Nielsen Research Professor, Smith College, 1951; Member, British Co-ordinating Committee for International Studies, 1927-1930; Professor in School of Economics and Politics, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, 1933-1939 and 1946-1956; Member, Foreign Research and Press Service, Foreign Office, 1939-1942; Adviser on International Affairs to Board of Unilever & Lever Brothers Ltd, 1943-1962; Member, Executive Committee, Political and Economic Planning; died 1975. Publications: The functional theory of politics (Robertson, for the LSE, 1975); American interpretations; four political essays (Contact Publications, London, 1946); The effect of the War in south eastern Europe (Yale University press, 1936); Food and freedom (Batchworth Press, London, 1954); Greater Rumania: a study in national ideals (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1917); The land and the peasant in Rumania: the War and agrarian reform, 1917-1921 (Oxford University press, London, 1930); Marx against the peasant: a study in social dogmatism (George Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1951); The problem of international sanctions (Humphrey Milford, London, 1925); The progress of international government (Allen and Unwin, London, 1933); The road to security (National Peace Council, London, 1944); Rumania, her history and politics (1915); A working peace system (Royal Institute of International Affairs, London, 1943); World unity and the nations (London, 1950).

The collection retains the order imposed by Mitrany, mainly in files according to subject.

Apply to Archivist.

Given by David Mitrany in 1972, and his family in 1981. A collection of notes by Mitrany on political subjects was given to the Library in 1980. Further papers of Mitrany were transferred from Messrs Braby and Waller, Solicitors, in 1981.

Unlisted, though incomplete box-list available on application.

Sources: British Library of Political and Economic Science Archives catalogue; Who's Who 1897-1996 (A & C Black, 1996); British Library On-Line Public Access Catalogue 97. Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Copyright held by the British Library of Political and Economic Science. Some documents may be photocopied.