On writing the history of capitalism.

Political theorist Corey Robin talks to Alex H and Alex G about what is wrong with Sven Beckert's monumental new Capitalism: A Global History.

• Have historians returned to writing about big themes and grand narratives?

• Why does Beckert date capitalism's emergence to 12th century Arabia?

• Is capitalism essentially about free markets and free trade – or about the state, coercion, violence?

• If capitalism has no beginning and no end, then does that mean we're still at the end of History?

Links:

• The Long Revolution, Corey Robin (review of Sven Beckert), The Nation

• /481/ Everything is Plausible: Oligarchy – or Worse ft. Corey Robin