The Political Economy of Imperialism

The political economy of imperialism emanates from several concerns and interests. First, it departs from the fundamental premise that capitalism in its evolving forms and consolidation underlies questions and theories of imperialism and development. Second, it assumes that the foundations for a theory of imperialism and development trace to early classical writings on political economy and, in particular, to David Ricardo, Adam Smith, and Karl Marx. Third, this volume acknowledges that both positive and negative consequences accompanied the penetration of capitalism and the development of the forces and means of production throughout the world.