Description
Capitalism makes possible a new form of domination by purely economic means, argues Ellen Meiksins Wood; and even the Bush regime would prefer to exercise global hegemony in this way, without costly colonial entanglements. Yet, as she powerfully demonstrates, the economic empire of capital has also created a new and unlimited militarism. In this lucid and lively book, Wood contrasts the new imperialism to older forms, such as the Roman, Arab, Spanish and Dutch empires. Tracing capitalist imperialism back to the English domination of Ireland, she follows its development through the British Empire in America and India. Wood goes on to show how today’s capitalist empire, a global economy administered by many local states, has spawned a new military doctrine of war without end, in purpose or time.
