Occasional Papers
The Anti-Capitalist Mentality: Post Mortem for an Ideology
In the Second John Bonython Lecture, Professor R. M. Hartwell traces the history of the anti-capitalist mentality back to myths surrounding the Industrial Revolution in England. He shows that the rise of capitalism, far from plunging the working classes into misery and degrading working conditions, meant a better life for everyone. Capitalism is unique in history because it allows living standards to rise for all at the same time the population grows. The declining influence of the main proponents of the anti-capitalist mentality is a hopeful sign that capitalism’s positive contributions are being recognised.
