Capitalism
Capitalism has been the engine of unprecedented economic growth and social transformation. With the fall of the communist states and the triumph of "neo- liberalism," capitalism is by far the world's dominant ideology. But how much do we understand about how it originated, and what makes it work?
CAPITALISM is an ambitious and accessible six-part documentary series that looks at both the history of ideas and the social forces that have shaped the capitalist world.
Blending interviews with some of the world's great historians, economists, anthropologists, and social critics (view the complete list of participants), with on-the-ground footage shot in twenty-two countries, CAPITALISM questions the myth of the unfettered free market, explores the nature of debt and commodities, and retraces some of the great economic debates of the last 200 years.
The Capitalism series includes the following titles:
Adam Smith, The Birth of the Free MarketCapitalism is much more complex than the vision Adam Smith laid out. Indeed, it predates Smith by centuries and took root in the practices of colonialism and the slave trade. (Episode 1 of the Capitalism series)
The Wealth of Nations: A New Gospel?Adam Smith was both economist and moral philosopher. But his work on morality is largely forgotten, leading to tragic distortions that have shaped our global economic system. (Episode 2 of the Capitalism series)
Ricardo and Malthus: Did You Say Freedom?The roots of today's global trade agreements lie in the work of stockbroker David Ricardo and demographer Thomas Malthus. Together, they would restructure society in the image of the market. (Episode 3 of the Capitalism series)
What If Marx Was Right?Have we gotten Marx wrong by focusing on the Communist Manifesto instead of on his critique of how capitalism works - a critique that is relevant and as penetrating as ever? (Episode 4 of the Capitalism series)
Keynes vs Hayek: A Fake Debate?The ideological divide between the philosophies of John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich Hayek has dominated economics for nearly a century. Is it time for the pendulum to swing back to Keynes? Or do we need a whole new approach that goes beyond this dualism?(Episode 5 of the Capitalism series)
Karl Polanyi, The Human FactorAn exploration of the life and work of Karl Polanyi, who sought to reintegrate society and economy. Could the commodification of labor and money ultimately be as disastrous as floods, drought and earthquakes?
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