Capital and Cotton: Unpacking the Foundations of Global Capitalism

How did capitalism evolve, and what role did the global economy play in its development? In this episode, we explore economic history, focusing on Sven Beckert’s Empire of Cotton and foundational Marxist critiques of capitalism. We uncover how European imperialism, slave labor, and industrial innovation reshaped global economies, creating vast inequalities and modern capitalist structures that persist to this day. Drawing on key insights from Marx's Capital and other writings, we discuss how labor exploitation, commodification, and class struggles became central to capitalism's growth. What can this history tell us about the relationship between power, economics, and inequality? Join us as we dive into the history of capital, empire, and labor to rethink the origins of modern economic systems. Economic history of capitalism Global capitalism origins Empire of Cotton analysis Marxist theory of capitalism Capitalism and imperialism Labor exploitation and capital Global economy and industrialization Economic inequality and capitalism Marx’s Capital Historical evolution of global markets Sven Beckert Empire of Cotton Marx and Engels on capitalism Slave labor in capitalist history Industrial Revolution and capital Class struggle and surplus value Global commodification of labor Cotton industry and modern capitalism Marx’s critique of labor exploitation Capitalism’s imperial roots Labor, capital, and inequality in history