About TAS
I originally launched this Substack with an essay series that developed the use of applied history toward political economy. Economists, historians, and policy experts shared examples from the past that can inspire new ideas today. The Substack now publishes my work on industrial policy and its history.
Contributors to the essay series focused on the practice of political economy in the United States. Politicians, activists, organizations, and schools of thought were reexamined for their insight and achievements. This was done with support from the Common Good Economics Grant Program in 2022 to 2024.
Essays were featured by prominent publications and institutions, such as The American Conservative, American Enterprise Institute, Coalition for a Prosperous America, and Institute for Family Studies. You can read the full introductory essay here. These ideas are now being developed into a book.
The Editor
The editor of The American System is David A. Cowan. He is a PhD Candidate in History at the University of Cambridge where he previously received a BA in History and MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History. David is also a Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham, a non-resident fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation, and currently writing a book with Polity on the applied history of conservative political economy.
David’s academic research has been featured in American Nineteenth Century History, Conservative History Journal, Engelsberg Ideas, History Reclaimed, Journal of the Early Republic, and Parliamentary History. He has presented several papers at conferences and workshops, taught undergraduate students, and was a Visiting Fellow at Yale University’s Lewis Walpole Library in 2023.
David’s political commentary has been published at American Affairs, The American Conservative, FUSION, National Review Online, and elsewhere. He is also a regular contributor at Commonplace.
In addition to several years of experience as a policy researcher in the UK Parliament, David has worked in grassroots campaigning, and co-authored Selecting the Best: Building a Future-Focused Immigration System for the Adam Smith Institute.
Contact
Follow David on X/Twitter at @david_cowan
