Capital as Power: A Study of Order and Creorder

Capital as Power challenges conventional theories about capitalism by proposing a new framework for understanding capital, power, and accumulation. The authors argue that capital is not a material-economic entity but rather a symbolic representation of power. The book traces the historical development of political economy and critiques both liberal and Marxist approaches to capital theory. Through empirical analysis and theoretical discussion, Nitzan and Bichler develop their concept of "differential accumulation" as a way to understand how capitalist power operates. The work examines real-world examples and data from global markets, corporations, and political institutions to demonstrate its theoretical framework. The analysis spans multiple scales, from individual firms to entire economies, showing how power relations shape market valuations and capital flows. This radical reconceptualization of capital theory raises fundamental questions about the nature of modern capitalism and the relationship between economic and political power. The book presents an alternative way to understand social order and transformation in capitalist societies.

Readers describe this book as a dense academic text requiring significant background knowledge in economics and political economy. Many note it presents a radical critique of both mainstream economics and Marxist theory. Likes: - Fresh perspective on capital and power relations - Rigorous mathematical and empirical analysis - Clear historical examples and case studies - Thorough documentation and citations Dislikes: - Very complex writing style and technical language - Length and repetition of certain concepts - Assumes familiarity with economic theory - Some readers found the theoretical framework hard to apply Ratings: Goodreads: 4.19/5 (32 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (11 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Challenging but rewarding read that completely changed how I view capitalism" - Goodreads "Too academic for general readers but valuable for specialists" - Amazon "Brilliant analysis buried under needlessly complex prose" - LibraryThing

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📚 The authors openly reject both liberal and Marxist theories of capital, proposing instead that capital is not a material-economic entity but a symbolic representation of power. 🔄 The term "creorder" in the title is a neologism combining "create" and "order," suggesting that social order is never static but constantly being created anew through power struggles. 💡 The book was released free online under a Creative Commons license, reflecting the authors' commitment to making their ideas widely accessible. ⚡ The work draws surprising connections between the price of oil and military conflicts in the Middle East, suggesting that energy prices are more about power than supply and demand. 🎓 Despite its radical approach, the book has gained attention in mainstream academic circles and has been taught in university courses at institutions including York University and the University of Helsinki.