Finance Capital

New translation of a crucial study of modern capitalism, famously used by Lenin as his basis for analyzing imperialism.

This is a new translation by Ben Fowkes of the classic book by the twentieth century German socialist leader Rudolf Hilferding, first published in 1910.

Finance Capital offers an unusual Marxist pathway towards an understanding of macroeconomics and financialisation.  But the study also illuminates the background to the First World War (and indeed wars in general). It was famously used by Lenin as  the basis for his analysis of imperialism. Hilferding’s three-way comparison between the US, UK and German systems of finance and economics is given extra zest by his concentration on specific firms, banks, and banking systems. He pursues capital through its manifold configurations, always stressing the social meaning of individuals’ actions. He demonstrates how the industrial, commercial and financial sectors of the economy became increasingly intertwined during the late 19th century, showing the impact of changes in the financial sphere on the policies of the European powers towards the non-European world, including colonial expansionism in Africa and Asia.

Hilferding’s book ends with a moving exhortation to his readers to end wars by ending the rule of finance capital. This didn’t happen, but his work continues to have relevance over a hundred years later.