#3: The Birth of Capitalism Part 1 - Enclosures and the Theft of the Commons

A question that I asked myself often but never knew the answer to was, "How did our economic structures emerge? Was it by accident, by design or a natural evolution of trades and markets?" I finally began getting the answers I was seeking when I read the book "Less is More" by Dr Jason Hickel, which revealed the history of capitalism and its not-so-gentle rise from the collapse of feudalism. 

 

In this episode, we will embark on a journey through the birth of capitalism, guided by this book and its concepts.

 

Unlike the seamless transition taught in history classes, capitalism's emergence was anything but natural, marked by a violent reshaping of societal norms and an aggressive enclosure of commons. As we delve into the historical struggles for land and autonomy, we uncover the dismantling of a communal society's ideals, setting the stage for the emergence of capitalist structures that prioritise profit at the expense of communal well-being.

 

Let's peel back the layers of our economic foundation and invite a reflection on the implications of capitalism's deep-seated ideologies that continue to shape our world.

 

 

References:

Less is More by Jason Hickel