Dobb ¿Cómo nació el capitalismo?

New Section

In this section, the speaker introduces the topic of how capitalism originated and discusses the underlying debate with Paul Sweezy.

The Proposal of Paul Sweezy

• Paul Sweezy suggests that capitalism originated after the economic boom following the conquest of America and the influx of precious metals.

• This economic growth led to positive effects on precious metal inflow, currency devaluation, increased monetary circulation, and enhanced trade opportunities between America and Europe.

Capitalism's Emergence

• Sweezy's proposal emphasizes the significance of capital accumulation in marking the transition to capitalism.

• The discussion involves a critical analysis by Maurice Dobb on what defines capitalism and its origins.

Exploring Marxist Theory

This part delves into Marxist theoretical concepts regarding modes of production and specifically focuses on defining capitalist production.

Structural Conflict in Capitalism

• Marx's theory highlights the structural conflict between capital and labor as fundamental to capitalist production.

• A comparison is drawn between capitalism and other class-based societies like slavery and feudalism, emphasizing dominant classes exploiting surplus labor.

Extraction of Surplus Labor

• Slavery and feudalism extract surplus labor through legal compulsion from subordinates, contrasting with capitalism's economic compulsion for surplus value extraction.

Industrial Revolution from Below

The discussion focuses on the strategy of an industrial revolution from below, particularly examining the English model that facilitated the emergence of capitalist production through distinct stages.

Emergence of Capitalist Production

• The transition involves small producers emancipating from feudal obligations while gradually losing access to means of production, transforming into wage laborers.

• This process includes the expulsion of peasants by feudal lords, leading to impoverishment and a shift towards becoming wage earners seeking sustenance.

• Expulsion results in impoverishment due to lack of access to essential resources for subsistence, prompting individuals to seek employment for survival.

Accumulation and Transition to Capitalism

• Marx termed this process as "primitive accumulation," where land concentration occurs alongside technological innovations, paving the way for capitalist production.

• England's unique characteristics in the 16th century included nascent wage relations and a culture of capital investment, setting it apart for transitioning towards capitalism.

Factors Facilitating Transition

• England's readiness for capitalism stemmed from established wage relations and a class accustomed to investing capital fearlessly for profit generation.

• Presence of significant merchant capitals within England's economy, along with internal markets and commercial circuits, fueled capital investment and trade activities.

Development of Productive Forces

• Noteworthy advancements in mining sector technologies contributed significantly to enhancing productive forces crucial for industrial progression.

• Besides technological innovations, skilled laborers capable of handling new machinery played a pivotal role in advancing productive forces within England.

Artisanal Textile Base

Delving into the artisanal textile base prevalent during the 16th century in England as a foundation for subsequent industrial developments.

Artisanal Textile Industry

• A robust artisanal textile base existed during the 16th century as groundwork preceding the Industrial Revolution emerging around the mid-to-late 18th century.

• Small-scale artisan workshops faced challenges in sourcing raw materials and marketing finished products independently, often relying on merchant-manufacturers' support.

Role of Merchant-Manufacturers

• Merchant-manufacturers aided artisans by providing raw materials and distributing work-at-home tasks to facilitate production processes effectively.

Desarrollo de la Producción Artesanal

In this section, the speaker discusses the development of artisanal production and its significance in societal evolution, contrasting it with earlier economic systems like feudalism.

Importance of Artisanal Production

• During feudalism, most productive activities focused on food generation. However, a new sector is emerging that promotes the development of society's productive forces without directly producing food.

• This phase is termed "manufacture" by Marx as it involves a significant reliance on manual craftsmanship. It raises questions about whether this stage signifies capitalism.

• Workers in artisanal industries are not fully proletarianized; many still possess tools and work for merchants alongside sustaining themselves through agriculture.

Transition to Capitalism

The discussion delves into the transitional phase towards capitalism, highlighting key indicators such as dispersed production and the evolving relationship between capital and labor.

Characteristics of Non-Capitalist Phase

• Workers engaging in artisanal work have not completely severed ties with means of production; they maintain land for sustenance alongside crafting for merchants.

• Capitalists are more akin to traders at this stage rather than controlling the entire production process, delaying clear conflicts between capital and labor.

Emergence of Machine Production

The narrative progresses towards machine-based manufacturing, marking a shift towards centralized production and a clearer division between entrepreneurs and workers.

Shift Towards Capitalist Structures

• A separation between entrepreneurs mobilizing capital and workers performing tasks emerges, indicating a growing divide within production processes.

How Capitalism Emerged

The discussion delves into the emergence of capitalism, focusing on how technical innovations led to the decline of artisans and the rise of a proletariat class.

Artisan Decline and Proletariat Growth

• Artisans unable to engage in technical innovations fall behind, reducing competition and allowing remaining producers to accumulate capital for employing more workers or investing in innovations.

• Increase in population leads to more property owners due to natural growth and social changes like peasants being displaced from their lands, driving agricultural bourgeoisie's interest in investing in food production.

• Artisanal decline results from inability to invest in technical innovations, leading them to join the workforce as laborers for sustenance.

Proletariat Expansion and Machinery Introduction

• The combination of artisanal decline and population growth increases the supply of labor, keeping costs low for the upcoming shift with machinery introduction powered by hydraulic or steam energy.

• Two clear stages mark capitalism's birth: manufacturing law followed by machine law. Understanding primitive accumulation and land concentration is crucial during the manufacturing phase.

Key Elements in Capitalism's Birth

Exploring critical aspects that define capitalism's inception including artisanal foundations, emergence of machinery, and the conflict between capital and labor.

Transition from Manufacturing to Machinery Era

• Acknowledging artisanal textile base during manufacturing era is essential. Understanding home-based work systems helps grasp machinery's emergence.

• Identifying characteristics marking capital-labor conflict such as increased capitalist production control and worker separation from means of production signifies a pivotal shift towards machinery era.

Loss of Production Control