Critiques of Capital in Modern Britain and America : Transatlantic Exchanges 1800 to the Present Day

This book is an innovative collection of essays by a new generation of British and American historians and political theorists. The volume explores how critical traditions and beliefs have helped to shape capitalism. Chapters follow diverse critiques in Britain and America and explore their Atlantic and imperial exchanges. The volume includes chapters on questions of law and property in the Victorian empire; traditions of land reform in 19th century America and Britain; the influence of American romanticism on British socialism; the role of Britain in American progressivism; American and British consumer protection; the evolution of trusteeship and ideas of cosmopolitan democracy; the 'third way' and narratives of globalization. This book is an innovative collection of essays by a new generation of British and American historians and political theorists. Moving beyond a conventional action/reaction view of capitalism and its critics, the volume explores how critical traditions and beliefs have helped to shape capitalism. Chapters follow diverse critiques in Britain and America and explore their Atlantic and imperial exchanges. The volume includes chapters on questions of law and property in the Victorian empire; traditions of land reform in nineteenth century America and Britain; the influence of American romanticism on British socialism; the role of Britain in American progressivism; American and British consumer protection; the evolution of trusteeship and ideas of cosmopolitan democracy; the 'third way' and narratives of globalization. The editors' introduction offers a critical historiographical survey and, by stepping beyond the dogmatic opposition between post-modernists and empiricists, provides a new research agenda for an integrated study of capitalism and its critics. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Critique within Capitalism: Historiographical Problems, Theoretical Perspectives....Pages 1-25 Land Reform and Political Traditions in Nineteenth-Century Britain and the United States....Pages 26-48 Freedom of Contract, the Market and Imperial Law-making....Pages 49-72 British Socialism and American Romanticism....Pages 73-97 Britain, Europe and the Critique of Capitalism in American Reform, 1880–1920....Pages 98-126 Getting Your Money’s Worth: American Models for the Remaking of the Consumer Interest in Britain, 1930s–1960s....Pages 127-150 Trust and Self-determination: Anglo-American Ethics of Empire and International Government....Pages 151-173 Cosmopolitanism, Rawls and the English School....Pages 174-194 New Labour and ‘Third Way’ Political Economy: Paving the European Road to Washington?....Pages 195-219 Back Matter....Pages 221-227 1. Critique Within Capitalism: Historiographical Problems, Theoretical Perspectives / Mark Bevir And Frank Trentmann -- 2. Land Reform And Political Traditions In Nineteenth-century Britain And The United States / Jamie L. Bronstein -- 3. Freedom Of Contract, The Market And Imperial Law-making / Sandra Den Otter -- 4. British Socialism And American Romanticism / Mark Bevir -- 5. Britain, Europe And The Critique Of Capitalism In American Reform, 1880-1920 / Axel R. Schafer -- 6. Getting Your Money's Worth: American Models For The Remaking Of The Consumer Interest In Britain, 1930s-1960s / Christopher Beauchamp -- 7. Trust And Self-determination: Anglo-american Ethics Of Empire And International Government / Kevin Grant. Edited By Mark Bevir And Frank Trentmann. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This is a collection of essays by British and American historians and political theorists. Moving beyond a conventional action/reaction view of capitalism and its critics, the volume explores how critical traditions and beliefs have helped to shape capitalism. Chapters follow diverse critiques in Britain and America and explore their Atlantic and imperial exchanges. The volume includes chapters on: questions of law and property in the Victorian empire; traditions of land reform in 19th century America and Britain; the influence of American romanticism on British socialism; the role of Britain 'Critiques of Capital in Modern Britain and America demonstrates the vitality of the new transnational impulse in modern history and political science. In shifting the focus from Britain to political and intellectual exchanges between Britain and the United States, its essays illuminate afresh the struggles over contract, trust, property, consumer rights, and global crisis that have defined the modern debate over capitalism.' - Daniel Rodgers, Henry Charles Lea Professor of History, Princeton University