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Karl Polanyi (1886-1964) was one of the most influential political economists and economic historians of the last 100 years. His book The Great Transformation, which deals with the emergence of modern market societies, is a modern classic and is widely used and discussed in sociology, anthropology, history and economics.
List of contents
Preface by Kari Polanyi Levitt
Introduction by Giorgio Resta
I. Economy, technology and the problem of freedom
1. For a new West
2. Economic and freedom to shape our social destiny
3. Economic history and the problem of freedom
4. New frontiers of economic thinking
II. Institutions matter
5. The contribution of institutional analysis to the social sciences
6. The nature of International understanding
7. The meaning of peace
8. The roots of pacifism
9. Culture in a democratic England of the future
10. America
III. How to make use of the social sciences
11. How to make use of the social sciences
12. On political theory
13. Public opinion and statesmanship
14. General economic history
15. Market elements and economic planning in antiquity
IV. Crisis and transformation
16. What matters now. A reply.
17. Conflicting philosophies in modern society
18. The eclipse of panic and the outlook for socialism
19. The passing of 19th century civilization
20. The trend towards an integrated society
Postface by Mariavittoria Catanzariti
About the author
Karl Polanyi (1886-1964) was one of the most influential political economists of recent times. His book The Great Transformation is generally acclaimed as being among the most important works of economic history in the twentieth century.
Summary
At a recent meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, it was reported that a ghost was haunting the deliberations of the assembled global elite D that of the renowned social scientist and economic historian, Karl Polanyi.
Report
This collection of Polanyi's writings addresses his significance for the world today more completely than any other. We encounter him here as an essayist, lecturer, social theorist and above all as an engaged public intellectual. The selection speaks very directly to our own concerns: on economy, history and freedom; on institutionalism as a method; on general economic history; on world crisis and transformation. This really is a Polanyi for our times.
Keith Hart, London School of Economics
I am delighted to see the publication of this collection of writings (many unpublished) of Karl Polanyi over a very long period. It is more than welcome. Karl Polanyi is one of a very rare breed - important thinkers who are always intelligent, incisive, and wide-ranging, and who ground their arguments in a deep knowledge of history. Even when one disagrees with him, one has to take his views into account, lest you miss out on a long-term perspective.
I personally was profoundly affected by his marvelous book, The Great Transformation, both for its substantive arguments and its epistemological framework. That Polanyi is having a revival today is one of the most encouraging things about the current epoch.
Immanuel Wallerstein, Yale University
