In the sixteenth century, demand for chinese silk and seramics on the world market exploded. By the eighteenth century, china was absorbing the majority of silver that european colonialists were mining in the americas. And why, given this incredible wealth, wasn't China able to undertake that primitive accumulation required to take that next big step to capitalist take off? That is an interest chapter of history.
Part one of a two-part interview with sociologist Ho-fung Hung on Chinese political economic history from the 18th century to 2008: why capitalism took off in England and then elsewhere but not in China; and then, how Maoist policy laid the groundwork for China’s ultimate capitalist takeoff and boom. Episode two will focus on the 2008 financial crisis, the deepening imbalances and heightened geopolitical conflict that resulted, and the current situation—including the impact of the crises surrounding Russia’s invasion.
Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig