Historical Capitalism with Capitalist Civilization

✍ Scribed by Immanuel Wallerstein

• Publisher: Verso
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 121
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

In this short, highly readable book, the master of world-systems theory provides a succinct anatomy of capitalism over the past five hundred years. Considering the way capitalism has changed and evolved over the centuries, and what has remained constant, he outlines its chief characteristics. In particular, he looks at the emergence and development of a world market, and of labor; in doing so, he argues that capitalism has brought about immiseration in the Global South. As long as they remain within a framework of world capitalism, Wallerstein concludes, the economic and social problems of developing countries will remain unresolved. Historical Capitalism, published here with its companion essay Capitalist Civilization, is a concise, compelling beginners’ guide to one of the most challenging and influential assessments of capitalism as a world-historic mode of production.

✦ Table of Contents

About the Author......Page 2
Title Page......Page 3
Copyright......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
Historical Capitalism......Page 6
Introduction......Page 7
The Commodification of Everything: Production of Capital......Page 10
The Politics of Accumulation: Struggle for Benefits......Page 34
Truth as Opiate: Rationality and Rationalization......Page 54
Conclusion: On Progress and Transitions......Page 70
Capitalist Civilization......Page 81
A Balance Sheet......Page 82
Future Prospects......Page 102

✦ Subjects

Historical Capitalism, Capitalist Civilization