The Origin of Capitalism: A Longer ViewCapitalism is not a natural and inevitable consequence of human nature, nor is it simply an extension of age-old practices of trade and commerce. In this original and provocative book Ellen Meiksins Wood reminds us that capitalism is not a natural and inevitable consequence of human nature, nor is it simply an extension of age-old practices of trade and commerce. Rather, it is a late and localized product of very specific historical conditions, which required great transformations in social relations and in the human interaction with nature. This new edition is substantially revised and expanded, with extensive new material on imperialism, anti-Eurocentric history, capitalism and the nation-state, and the differences between capitalism and non-capitalist commerce. The author traces links between the origin of capitalism and contemporary conditions such as ‘globalization’, ecological degradation, and the current agricultural crisis. |
Contents
The Commercialization Model and Its Legacy | 11 |
Marxist Debates | 34 |
Marxist Alternatives | 50 |
34 | 201 |
Modernity and Postmodernity | 207 |
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Common terms and phrases
absolutist agrarian capitalism appropriation argument basic bourgeois revolution bourgeoisie Brenner capitalist capitalist development capitalist imperatives class struggle coercion coercive colonial commercial society commercial system commercialization model critical cultural development of capitalism direct producers dispossession distinctive domestic dominant Dutch Republic E. P. Thompson early modern economic development emergence enclosure England Enlightenment especially Eurocentric Europe European explain exploitation expropriation extra-economic farmers feudalism France French French Revolution global Hilton historians imperatives of competition improvement increasingly industrial capitalism international trade Ireland Karl Polanyi kind labour-power labour-productivity land landlords laws of motion logic London market dependence market imperatives market society Marxist means merchants military nation natural non-capitalist origin of capitalism peasants Perry Anderson Polanyi politically constituted property postmodernity pre-capitalist primitive accumulation principles productive forces profit rents rise of capitalism role social form social property relations specific surplus labour Sweezy technological tenants tion transformation transition to capitalism Verso wage labour wealth