Capitalism and its Critics offers an accessible account of major
theories of capitalism from the industrial revolution to the present
day. The book provides a comprehensive account of the economic and
social thought of key theorists from Adam Smith and Karl Marx to David
Harvey and Thomas Piketty.
Capitalism has long been the subject of passionate debate, and today
such contestations are perhaps more timely than ever. For its advocates,
capitalism brings democracy and freedom and is the cornerstone of
modernity and of progress. For its critics, capitalism is based on the
exploitation of labour and is responsible for the destruction of the
environment as well as colonialism. Whether capitalism survives the
century, or whether an alternative social system emerges, may very well
determine the fate of humanity. Capitalism and its Critics gives a
comprehensive critical analysis of the most important theorists of
capitalism, including Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Max Weber, Joseph
Schumpeter, Karl Polanyi, F.A. Hayek, J.M. Keynes, David Harvey, and
Thomas Piketty. The book discusses some of the main debates about
capitalism and considers alternatives in the twenty-first century. The
12 chapters are loosely chronologically organised around the main
approaches and historical phases in the history of capitalism. Central
themes of the book are the ideas of capitalist crisis and of tensions
between democracy and capitalism in the making of modernity.
A highly readable, informative and engaging text, Capitalism and its
Critics is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding
capitalism and its alternatives.
