The Cambridge Global Handbook of Financial Infrastructure

Financial infrastructures are the lifeblood of political economies and are consistently considered critical by governments. They encapsulate sociotechnical processes; not merely cables and computer servers, but the relationship of those in finance to these and other physical objects. The Cambridge Global Handbook of Financial Infrastructure consolidates the study of financial infrastructures by bridging political economy, humanities, sociology, and science and technology studies. It delves into the core questions of modern finance, from the effect of digitalization on financial functions to the intricate web of global power dynamics. Drawing together interdisciplinary research, it explores the nuances of inclusivity and exclusivity within financial systems, shedding light on historical inequalities and colonial legacies. Including fresh insights, compelling case studies, and conceptual advances, this essential volume offers invaluable perspectives for informing analysis of the past, present, and future of finance, and shaping policy debates. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Carola Westermeier leads the Lise Meitner Research Group on Technology and Sovereignty at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne. Her research is located at the intersections of economic sociology, security studies, and international political economy.

Malcolm Campbell-Verduyn is Senior Lecturer in International Political Economy and Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations and International Organization at the University of Groningen. His research is generally concerned with the roles of emergent technologies, nonstate actors, and expert knowledge in contemporary global governance.

Barbara Brandl is Assistant Professor of Sociology with a focus on economy and organization at Goethe University Frankfurt. She is Speaker of an interdisciplinary research group on the digital euro. Her research is generally concerned with the intersection of political economy and technology in the field of (digital) finance.