The Origin of Capitalism: A Longer View (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781786630681)

An expanded new edition of the classic, pithy account of capitalism's origins--"a must read" for students of political theory and anyone interested in economic thought (Choice)

How did the dynamic economic system we know as capitalism develop among the peasants and lords of feudal Europe?

In The Origin of Capitalism, a now-classic work of history, Ellen Meiksins Wood offers readers a clear and accessible introduction to the theories and debates concerning the birth of capitalism, imperialism, and the modern nation state. Capitalism is not a natural and inevitable consequence of human nature, nor 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 relationship between humans and 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.

Author: Ellen Meiksins Wood
ISBN-10: 1786630680
ISBN-13: 9781786630681
Publisher: Verso
Language: English
Published: 05/02/2017
Pages: 224
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.50lbs
Size: 7.80h x 5.10w x 0.60d