History of Capitalism

As part of the Stanford Humanities Center Global Humanities Workshops, the History of Capitalism, provides an interdisciplinary forum for faculty and graduate students from both the humanities and social sciences. By examining capitalist development through a historical lens, the workshop bridges diverse research agendas across methods, geographic regions, time periods, and disciplines. Participants will explore how labor, science, environment, politics, and gender have shaped and been shaped by modern economic growth. This dynamic comparative approach unites scholars from varied fields, fostering engagement with new literature, case studies, and methodologies that are often isolated within specific disciplines. 

Beyond fostering interactions among Stanford faculty and graduate students, the workshop welcomes scholars from other institutions, extending its intellectual reach and forging connections beyond the university. Participants also include those who do not specialize in history. Such researchers may find that incorporating historical perspectives could offer new insights to comprehending and tackling contemporary issues such as environmental degradation, socioeconomic inequality, and political upheavals. By facilitating cross-disciplinary conversations and introducing participants to innovative and original research projects, the workshop enriches scholarship at Stanford and contributes to broader discussions on capitalism’s historical development and relevance today.

Co-sponsored by the Stanford Humanities Center and Stanford Global Studies