Bob Allen Nuffield College 2008 Marxist Transitions: Technology, Social Structure, and Inequality from the Neolithic Revolution to Soviet Communism Bob Allen Nuffield College 2008

Marx’s stages were defined by labour and property relations: Socialism/ communism Primitive communism slavery feudalism capitalism peasants control much land and their labour. Support elite with money and labour dues no ownership of land, independent producers, no social stratification elite owns land and labour (slaves) capitalists own capital and employ workers who only own their own labour land and capital communally owned The social relations appropriate for the technological challenges of the period.

The first stage theory of history was biblical: Garden of Eden Life as we know it End of Time Paradise Paradise lost Altered Paradise regained At one with God Other people nature Alienated from God Other people nature Reconciled with God Other people nature

Rousseau provided a secular version: State of nature Life as we know it democracy Noble savage Selfless commitment to the public good Self centred behaviour

Rousseau provided a second version: sex, drugs, rock & roll State of nature Life as we know it Noble savage authentic self- realization Self centred behaviour

Marx addressed issues like these: Socialism/ communism Primitive communism slavery feudalism capitalism Noble savage No alienation matriarchy authentic self- realization Self centred behaviour Alienation patriarchy

Other features of the scheme: pre-capitalist economic systems are not conducive to economic growth. they operate according to their own distinctive, non-rational laws In particular, the determinants of inequality are different in each system and depend on ‘non-economic criteria’. capitalism (and socialism) lead to economic growth

We aim to revisit certain assumptions. Empirical base of pre-capitalist analysis was travellers’ accounts, classical history, and idle speculation. We know much more today. What does it mean? The assumption of different economic laws for different systems has been hotly disputed. How much can be explained with modern theory? Why did capitalism not develop as Marx thought? How did ‘actually existing’ communism work?

Five lectures on: origins of agriculture ancient slavery origins of capitalism and industrial revolution inequality during industrial revolution Soviet communism