

Sven Beckert
Harvard history professor and author of Capitalism, A Global History, known for scholarship on the global history of capitalism and the economic history of cotton and business elites.
Top 10 podcasts with Sven Beckert
Ranked by the Snipd community

45 snips
Dec 18, 2025 • 53min
How Capitalism Became Global ft. Sven Beckert
Sven Beckert, a Harvard historian and expert on capitalism, breaks down the complexities of capitalism's definition and history. He argues that capitalism isn't just about markets, but rather a specific logic of privately owned capital. Beckert challenges the idea that capitalism opposes the state, showing their historical interdependence. He explores capitalism's adaptability across political systems, its role in the Industrial Revolution, and the dynamics of wealth concentration versus social mobility. He emphasizes the need for democratic reforms to shape capitalism's direction and benefits.

42 snips
Jan 8, 2026 • 3h 3min
#802 - Historiker Sven Beckert über die Geschichte des Kapitalismus
Sven Beckert, Historiker und Professor an der Harvard University, diskutiert die komplexe Geschichte des Kapitalismus. Er erklärt, wie Neoliberalismus seit den 1970ern entstanden ist und analysiert die Hintergründe des amerikanischen Regimewechsels in Venezuela. Beckert thematisiert die Rolle von Sklaverei in der Kapitalismusgeschichte sowie den Einfluss von Harvard auf die Elitebildung. Zudem beleuchtet er den Zusammenhang zwischen Kapitalismus, staatlicher Gewalt und Kontrollmechanismen über unsere Aufmerksamkeit, während er einen Perspektivwechsel hin zu einer globalen Geschichte des Kapitalismus fordert.

19 snips
Dec 31, 2025 • 24min
What Is Capitalism?
Sven Beckert, a Harvard historian and author renowned for his work on global economic history, teams up with John Coates, a Harvard Law professor focused on corporate governance. They delve into capitalism's evolution, highlighting its global roots and the diverse figures who have shaped it—from entrepreneurs to enslaved workers. Coates discusses the alarming rise of concentrated financial power and how index and private equity funds dominate corporate influence, raising democratic concerns. Their conversation urges a reconsideration of capitalism's future amidst pressing environmental and social challenges.

19 snips
Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 15min
"The Secret Economic History of the World" with Pulitzer finalist Sven Beckert
Sven Beckert, a Harvard history professor and Pulitzer finalist, dives deep into the intricate evolution of capitalism. He explores how historical contexts shaped our current economic systems, challenging the myth of capitalism’s inevitability. Beckert discusses the adaptability of capitalism across political regimes and its intertwined relationship with state power. He emphasizes the potential for reimagining capitalist structures to align with moral and ecological principles, all while examining capitalism's complex roots in global trade and the impact of worker movements.

13 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 1h 9min
Capitalism Is Not What You Think
Sven Beckert, Harvard history professor and author of Capitalism, A Global History, offers a concise mini bio: historian of global capitalism and cotton. He traces capitalism’s non-Eurocentric, networked origins and merchant innovations. He explores merchant trust networks, state and capitalist coevolution, Atlantic expansion’s role, and capitalism’s clash with environmental limits.

12 snips
Nov 29, 2025 • 1h 14min
Sven Beckert on How Capitalism Made the Modern World
Sven Beckert, a Harvard historian and expert on global capitalism, brings a wealth of knowledge to his discussion. He explores capitalism's deep roots, emphasizing its emergence long before the Industrial Revolution. Beckert debunks common misconceptions, highlighting the role of merchants as early capitalists across various cultures. He argues that capitalism is not static and challenges the idea of 'late-stage capitalism' by showcasing its dynamic evolution. Through engaging examples, he underscores that capitalism is human-made, inviting collective change.
11 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 40min
A global history of capitalism
Sven Beckert, Laird Bell Professor of History at Harvard and author of Capitalism: A Global History, offers a globe-spanning, centuries-deep take on capitalism. He traces merchant origins, colonial and Atlantic transformations, the role of silver and plantations, and how institutions and ideas normalize capitalist orders. The conversation moves between local case studies and sweeping global synthesis.

9 snips
Dec 25, 2025 • 1h 1min
Sven Beckert, "Capitalism: A Global History" (Allen Lane, 2025)
Sven Beckert, Laird Bell Professor of History at Harvard, offers a sweeping view of capitalism's evolution in his latest work. He challenges conventional Eurocentric narratives, arguing that capitalism was born global, emerging through diverse merchant communities. Beckert discusses the critical roles of labor, state-merchant coalitions, and how colonial practices propelled capitalism's expansion. He highlights the intertwined fates of technology and economics, all while advocating for a broader understanding that includes nonmarket domains like family and welfare.

Mar 25, 2026 • 39min
Sven Beckert: How capitalism made the world
Sven Beckert, Harvard history professor and author of Capitalism: A Global History, explores capitalism as a man-made system shaped by trade, coercion, and politics. He traces global origins beyond Europe. He discusses labor mobilization, child labor, AI’s risks to work, rising authoritarian tendencies, and whether alternative economic logics are possible.

Feb 22, 2026 • 1h 1min
How Capitalism Began — A Global History | Sven Beckert with Javier Mejia
Sven Beckert, Lerbelle Professor of History at Harvard and author of Capitalism: A Global History, offers a panoramic take on how capitalism arose unevenly across the globe. He discusses capitalism as a radical historical rupture. He traces merchants, state power, plantations like Barbados, European Atlantic expansion, industrial transformation, resistance, and capitalism’s adaptability.


