Summary:
The book traces the rise of cotton as a pivotal commodity in the global economy, exploring its role in industrialization, empire-building, and capitalism's development. It examines the social, economic, and political transformations driven by cotton production, from slavery and colonialism to labor struggles and innovation across various continents.
Key points:
1. War Capitalism: Beckert describes "war capitalism" as the violent methods used by Europeans to establish the global cotton industry, including colonization, slavery, and economic destruction.
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