Episode

12/8 Sven Beckert: Empire of Cotton

December 8, 2015

Harvard historian Sven Beckert, author of Empire of Cotton: A Global History, tells us why cotton helps us understand capitalism. How Europe was able to dominate the global cotton trade. The difference between “mercantile” capitalism and “war” capitalism. Slavery and the growth of global cotton. How Southern slavery is a part of national and global history. Why the British Empire focused cotton production on India. How nation states were central to the development of capitalism and modern sweatshop labor and the history of capitalist development.

On The Fun Half: Debating Donald Trump’s Muslim ban with our “Constitutionalist” caller Doug. Ted Cruz surges in Iowa. Donald Trump goes full Fascist and Sam gets into a heated debate with Michael Steele and your calls and IMs.

Members make the Majority Report possible. Please join us by becoming a MEMBER. You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation. Thanks!


Past Episodes

It's Casual Friday. On today's program: JD Vance is asked by Kaitlin Collins about the widow of an airman who was killed in the War on Iran, struggling access to benefits due to there being no real declaration of war. Vance says he is grateful for the sacrifice and offers his love. That ...
It's an Emmajority Report Thursday On today's program: Trump suspends tariffs on imported beef from South America at a devastating cost to American ranchers. According to the Wall Street Journal, the plan to flood the markets with foreign beef was influenced by a Brazilian billionaire, ...
It's Hump Day and we're back with another Majority Report On today's program: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson melts down after CNN's Manu Raju asks him if the public should judge Johnson for his lies about the war on Iran. Senator Ed Markey trounces Seth Moulton in the Democratic ...