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Capitalism, Peace, and the Historical Movement of Ideas

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  • John Mueller

Abstract

A logical and causal exploration of the growing acceptance of capitalism and peace, or war aversion, is part of what Robert Dahl has called “the historical movement of ideas.” Although war aversion and the acceptance of free-market capitalism have undergone parallel and substantially overlapping historical trajectories, support for capitalism does not on its own logically or necessarily imply war aversion or support for peace. Not only must capitalism be embraced as an economic system, but at least three other ideas must be accepted as well: prosperity and economic growth must be taken as a dominant goal; peace must be seen as a better motor than war for development, progress, and innovation; and trade, rather than conquest, must be held to be the best way to achieve the dominant goal. Moreover, the causal direction may well be misspecified: it is not that free-market capitalism and the economic development it spawns cause peace, but rather that peace causes—or facilitates—capitalism and its attendant economic development. This also may explain why peace is more closely associated with capitalism than with democracy.

Suggested Citation

  • John Mueller, 2010. "Capitalism, Peace, and the Historical Movement of Ideas," International Interactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(2), pages 169-184, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:ginixx:v:36:y:2010:i:2:p:169-184
    DOI: 10.1080/03050621003785066
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    1. McCloskey, Deirdre Nansen, 2006. "The Bourgeois Virtues," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226556635, January.
    2. Drescher, Seymour, 1987. "Capitalism and Antislavery: British Mobilization in Comparative Perspective," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195205343.
    3. Eltis, David, 1987. "Economic Growth and the Ending of the Transatlantic Slave Trade," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195041354.
    4. Wagner, Alfred, 1891. "Marshall's Principles of Economics," History of Economic Thought Articles, McMaster University Archive for the History of Economic Thought, vol. 5, pages 319-338.
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    1. Michael Mousseau, 2010. "Coming to Terms with the Capitalist Peace," International Interactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(2), pages 185-192, May.
    2. Massoud Tansa G. & Magee Christopher S., 2012. "Trade and Political, Military, and Economic Relations," Peace Economics, Peace Science, and Public Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 18(1), pages 1-39, May.

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