Property rights and economic nationalism

This article explores the policies adopted and implemented against enemy property from the beginning of the Great War to the signing of the peace treaties in Europe. Breaking a long-standing tradition of respect for individual property and inspired by economic nationalism, the countries at war not only ceased trading with the enemy but resorted to legal means and dedicated bureaucracies to seizing, controlling, confiscating and, at a later stage, liquidating assets – real estate, capital invested in business activities, banks, ships, infrastructure and networks in addition to patents and trademarks or personal possessions – belonging to enemy aliens found in their respective territories.