Capitalism and its critics

John Cassidy

At a time when we are facing fundamental questions about the sustainability and ethics of the economic system, Capitalism and Its Critics offers a colorful history of global capitalism, from colonialism and the Industrial Revolution to the environmental crisis and artificial intelligence.

John Cassidy takes a bold new approach: he tells the story through the eyes of critics of the system. From the eighteenth-century weavers who revolted against early factory automation, to the transformative work of Eric Williams on slavery and capitalism, to Latin American acolytes, the international "wages for housework" campaign of the 1970s, and the modern degrowth movement, this captivating narrative travels the globe. It examines familiar figures—Smith, Marx, Luxemburg, Keynes, Polanyi—from a fresh perspective, but also focuses on lesser-known figures, including William Thomson, the Irish socialist whose work influenced Marx; Flora Tristan, the French advocate for a global labor union; John Hobson, the seminal theorist of imperialism; and J.C. Kumarappa, the Indian thinker of Gandhian economics. Blending biography, comprehensive history, and a lively exploration of economic theory, Capitalism and Its Critics illuminates the deep roots of many of our time's most pressing issues.