The Wealth of (Some) Nations: Imperialism and the Mechanics of Value Transfer

by Zak Cope

Overview

In this provocative new study, Zak Cope makes the case that capitalism is empirically inseparable from imperialism, historically and today. Using a rigorous political economic framework, he lays bare the vast ongoing transfer of wealth from the poorest to the richest countries through the mechanisms of monopoly rent, unequal exchange, and colonial tribute. The result is a polarized international class structure with a relatively rich Global North and an impoverished, exploited Global South.
            Cope makes the controversial claim that it is because of these conditions that workers in rich countries benefit from higher incomes and welfare systems with public health, education, pensions, and social security. As a result, the internationalism of populations in the Global North is weakened and transnational solidarity is compromised. The only way forward, Cope argues is through a renewed anti-imperialist politics rooted in a firm commitment to a radical labor internationalism.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780745338859
Publisher:	Pluto Press
Publication date:	04/15/2019
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	583,205
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Zak Cope is the author of Divided World Divided Class: Global Political Economy and the Stratification of Labour Under Capitalism.

Table of Contents

Part I: The Mechanics of Imperialism 1. Value Transfer 2. Colonial Tribute 3. Monopoly Rent 4. Unequal Exchange Part II: The Econometrics of Imperialism 5. Imperialism and its Denial 6. Measuring Imperialist Value Transfer 7. Measuring Colonial Value Transfer 8. Comparing Value Transfer to Profits, Wages and Capital Part III: Foundations of the Labour Aristocracy 9. Anti-Imperialist Marxism and the Wages of Imperialism 10. The Metropolitan Labour Aristocracy 11. The Native Labour Aristocracy Part IV: Social Imperialism Past and Present 12. Social Imperialism before WWI 13. Social Imperialism after WWI 14. Social Imperialist Marxism Conclusion: Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism Today

Editorial Reviews

This is simply the most significant book published on the political economy of imperialism in the twenty-first century, written by the foremost scholar of global imperialism today. Cope lays bare the fundamental structural contradiction in contemporary global capitalism: the pervasive class divisions which divide the Global North from South and are indelibly imprinted in the historical legacy of Western imperialism.” 
 

Immanuel Ness

""'The most significant book published on the political economy of imperialism in the 21st century, written by the foremost scholar of global imperialism today.'"" - Immanuel Ness, author of 'Southern Insurgency: The Coming of the Global Working Class' ""'Global inequality isn't natural; it's created. Zak Cope explains how the rules of the international economy have been designed to benefit a few powerful nations in the Global North at the expense of most of the rest of the world. A' brilliant intervention from one of the best scholars in the field"" - Jason Hickel, Goldsmiths, University of London ""'Highly important and timely. Required reading for anyone interested in understanding the nature of current global capitalism, rather than remaining hoodwinked by the mythology of equality and liberty'"" - Amiya Bagchi, Monash University ""'Powerfully challenges the imperialism-denial dominating Marxist theory and practice in Europe and North America and influential elsewhere. Whether or not you agree with all its arguments and conclusions, you'll find this to be a stimulating and thought-provoking book'"" - John Smith, author of 'Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century'

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