The War Against the Commons

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The book explores the historical connection between capitalism and the dispossession of working people from their land over five centuries. It highlights how enclosures transformed common land into private property, forcing peasant farmers into labor. Ian Angus chronicles the persistent resistance against this dispossession, showcasing a range of responses from non-compliance to rebellion, including vivid accounts of protests aimed at reclaiming access to common resources. Additionally, it reveals the links between British enclosures and imperial expansion, challenging traditional narratives of agricultural change.