"Earlier ages fortified themselves behind the sovereign state, behind protectionism and militarism"

In this quote, Christian Lous Lange is highlighting the frame of mind of previous generations who relied on the concept of a strong, central federal government to protect themselves. This was frequently attained through policies of protectionism, where a country would enforce tariffs and trade barriers to protect their economy from foreign competitors. Additionally, militarism was seen as a method of securing a nation's interests and asserting supremacy over others. Nevertheless, Lange recommends that this approach is dated and no longer efficient in today's globalized world. He promotes for a more cooperative and interconnected technique, where countries work together instead of isolating themselves behind the walls of a sovereign state.