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Power is a broad and complex concept that cuts across all fields in humanities and social sciences. Written by a leading historian of economic thought, Power and Inequality presents a wide-ranging and multi-disciplinary analysis of power as an economic and social issue. Its aim is not to formulate a new abstract theory of power but rather to illustrate the different ways in which power is used to exacerbate social and economic inequality. Issues such as division of labour and its evolution, different forms of capitalism up to the money-manager economy, the role of networks (from the family to mason lodges and the mafia), the state and the international arena, culture and the role of the masses are considered. The analysis of these elements, causing inequalities of various kinds, is a prerequisite for devising progressive policy strategies aiming at a reduction of inequalities through a strategy of reforms.
List of contents
1. Introduction; Part I. The Colours of Power: 2. Interpretations and fields of application: the multiple faces of power; 3. The origin of inequalities: the division of labour; 4. Modern capitalist property and finance; 5. The networks; 6. The state; 7. Culture and power; 8. The spatial dimension of power; Part II. Ethical Assessments and Policy Perspectives: 9. The ethics of power between the common good and equality; 10. The strategy of structural reforms; 11. Materials for a reasonable utopia; References; Index.
About the author
Alessandro Roncaglia is Emeritus professor of Economics, Sapienza University of Rome, and member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (since 2018 in its Presidency Council); has been President of the Italian Economists Society. His book The wealth of ideas (2005) received the Blanqui Prize. He also won the Guggenheim prize in the History of Economic Thought for 2019.
Summary
Power is a multi-dimensional notion, involving politico-institutional, social, economic and cultural elements, leading to a multi-dimensional set of inequalities. Analysis of these elements is a prerequisite for devising policies aiming to reducing social inequalities through a strategy of reforms
