Sven Beckert

Sven Beckert is a prominent historian and the Laird Bell Professor of History at Harvard University, known for his extensive research on capitalism and its historical implications. Born in 1965 in Offenbach, Germany, he studied history, sociology, and political science in Hamburg and New York. Beckert is the author of several influential works, including 'King Cotton' and his recent book 'Kapitalismus. Geschichte einer Weltrevolution', where he explores the global history of capitalism, highlighting its dual nature of fostering productivity and social inequality. He argues that understanding capitalism is crucial for comprehending modern society, as it has shaped human life profoundly over the last millennium.