Angus, you recently reviewed Polanyi's "The Great Transformation," and discussed his view on the origins and nature of fascism that appeared post-WWI. How do you see the relationship between his views and Mattei's in "The Capital Order?"
There is some Polanyi in The Capital Order - Mattei's angle on the recasting the post-WW1 world certainly fits within his framework. But I thought Mattei's book was much more Marxist than Polanyian in framing - class struggle tout court, more than conflict over 'market society', drives her narrative. The question of fascism you pointed to is a great example of this: Mattei's narrative puts (early Italian) fascism as closely aligned with austerity and 'market reform', with business and economists, and not as a misguided anti-market movement. Subtle differences, but differences nonetheless... at least in my reading!
Angus, you recently reviewed Polanyi's "The Great Transformation," and discussed his view on the origins and nature of fascism that appeared post-WWI. How do you see the relationship between his views and Mattei's in "The Capital Order?"
There is some Polanyi in The Capital Order - Mattei's angle on the recasting the post-WW1 world certainly fits within his framework. But I thought Mattei's book was much more Marxist than Polanyian in framing - class struggle tout court, more than conflict over 'market society', drives her narrative. The question of fascism you pointed to is a great example of this: Mattei's narrative puts (early Italian) fascism as closely aligned with austerity and 'market reform', with business and economists, and not as a misguided anti-market movement. Subtle differences, but differences nonetheless... at least in my reading!