In Conversation: The Antinomies of Afropessimism

In 'Slavery and Social Death,' Orlando Patterson conducts a comprehensive comparative study of slavery across various historical and geographical contexts, including ancient, premodern, and modern societies. He argues that slavery is not merely an economic system but a complex institution characterized by violent domination, natal alienation, and social debasement. Patterson rejects the traditional view of slavery as a relation of property, instead emphasizing the sociological, symbolic, and ideological factors that underpin the master-slave relationship. The book is praised for its interdisciplinary approach, using qualitative and quantitative methods to highlight the universal structures and cross-cultural variations in slave systems.