The Capital Order

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Focusing on the intellectual roots of austerity, Clara E. Mattei reveals how these policies have historically prioritized the protection of capital over social welfare. By analyzing the aftermath of World War I in Britain and Italy, she uncovers how austerity measures were designed to suppress working-class power and maintain economic hierarchies. Utilizing newly discovered archival materials, the book critiques the damaging effects of austerity on labor and presents a compelling argument about its role in reinforcing entrenched privileges and limiting alternatives to capitalism.