Through the Prism of Slavery: Labor, Capital, and World Economy

“The thoughtful essays in this volume address the large-scale relationships of slavery and early modern capitalism.” ―David Northrup, Boston College, American Historical Review

“Recommended.” ―Choice Reviews

“Tomich’s approach proves very fruitful. . . . Historical and comparative sociologists of all specializations will do well to come to terms with the many methodological and theoretical insights that Tomich offers throughout the book. . . . [Makes] outstanding contributions to historical sociology.” ―American Journal of Sociology

“I commend the author for a well written and clearly organized text. . . . Tomich makes the reader rethink the totality of the relations of capital as presented by Marx.” ―Contemporary Sociology

“Not only a stimulating and rich use of the Atlantic history framework, but a muscular defense of the validity, even the necessity, of world history as a serious methodological project that can begin to breach [the] theoretical void. . . . Tomich brings a rigourous and exacting focus to the capitalism and slavery debate with particular attention to the role of the Caribbean as a test case for the uneven historical trajectory of modernity. . . . The essays . . . make a compelling case for using a world history framework that should be read not only by Atlanticists, but by any modern historian. . . . For students of international economy, Tomich’s work provides a historical context for current inequalities and development trajectories, and actively challenges any two-dimensional view of the world.” ―Itinerario

“A provocatively illuminating book. This work opens new windows into the wider frameworks within which New World Slavery might be placed and better understood.” ―David Barry Gaspar, Duke University

Dale W. Tomich is professor of sociology and history at Binghamton University.