POLI 311a - Thorstein Veblen and the Politics of Capitalism

Institution:

Vassar College

Subject:

Description:

Among the critics of American capitalism, Thorstein Veblen produced an original and penetrating study of American society. Veblen's critique focused on capitalism as a business culture whose archaic political habits distort its economic promise. This course surveys Veblen's critique as a guide to the politics of contemporary American capitalism. Themes include connections between money and the price system, consumption, waste, absentee ownership, democracy, militarism, and gender. Veblen's influence on such later critics of the system as C. Wright Mills and Herbert Marcuse are examined, along with trenchant critics of Veblen, such as Theordor Adorno. Mr. PlotkinPrerequisite: by permission of instructor. Two 75-minute periods. Not offered in 2008/09.

Credits:

1.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.vassar.edu

Phone Number:

(845) 437-7000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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