War and Economic Crisis: What Would Veblen Say? |
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Authors: | Sidney Plotkin |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Political Science, Vassar College, Box 260, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA |
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Abstract: | The nation’s recent experience with war and economic crisis would hardlyshock Thorstein Veblen. America’s most original radical
voice, Veblen has much to teach us about the common predatory origins of war and finance and the tragic consequences of their
pursuit. This brief survey of the contemporary relevance of Veblen’s observations about war and economic collapse emphasizes
the political foundation of his critical theory. Though widely regarded as an economic thinker, Veblen’s critique of modern
business enterprise and its alliance with government rests on an essentially political dissection of what he termed barbaric
exploit, the ancient root of war, power politics, the state, and latter day financial conquest. For Veblen, barbarism did
not end with the coming of liberal democracy, rule of law or capitalism; its habits of exploit, waste and destruction go marching
on. |
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