Accursed Share Bataille

The Accurs ed Share
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/-J1lr}'J.lIJt{'J 1')8~ tl"
I ~ Q'"941"~,,1O II
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buberam:c uocaun.
\ VII J IM .\ H I AKJ
Contents
Preface s
PA IlI" UN I III H "lIt HI C A I I I'.I HO D II C lI O N
-/ he .llr n fliTl8 of Geflem/l:coTlom} 19
t.o..~ of General f conv my 27
rwo I H I- H IS 1 0 IUCA L n ,\l ,\ I
SOcrIJU::I!: I and H'o r:\, oj the A l tcO' 4~
The Gifr oj &'-(l !ry: "Por/me-h" 63
I H REF I H E HI ST O RIC Al n AT II II
The COIlC/ lJeriflfj Soc;erl': Mam 8 1
The Unarmed .'lacier I': Lamaism 93
lO U R I H I Il lS TO R le A I D ATA III
The Onflim oj Cvpi/<llisUl <Jnd Ilj /! RefomJ< J/rOIl 1 I t,

The IJourlJCois ll orM 1 29
rtv t; T il l: PRFSFl"T DA TA
So>';ff l"dllS!r;al17lJl;OTl 1., I

rhe llartbatt Ptan 169
Nau .. 1 '" 1
Prefa ce
r'Or some years. being o b liged o n .x;, ·;\.\i o n 10 answe r th e (ju~l ion
" ' Vha r a rt" you wo rk ing on?" I Wd:> clllba l~ 10 h.n e 10 ~).
"A book o f poBIN:,,1 f'CDnom)." Comi!'\!. from me. wi!. n ;llt llrt" W;K
llisconcc rtl ng. ill !cm to t11QSf' who di . I nol know me well. (The:
ilUt"rtlI that is u~uall y confcrn-ll Ull Ill) books is of a lire rar) \OM
a nd thi s wor. rlolll:J l l~ 10 be expec ted- O ne Cil n110l as a maltl'"r
o(f<tct c lass them in a pn--dcfina l !,>t'fue.) I ;u n \Till llnllO)cd "hen
, recall the sU J*rfk ilil aston ish menl 111111 g reet oo m~ re pl)'; I h'll!
to explain m)'k lf; .. nd what I was abl e 10 !>a) in a r....... worrh \ \,1'
neither precise ncr i nid Iigiblc. lurle t,.l, I 1,;wI 10 arid that the boo k
I was w ritilllol (whidl ! am now pll bli~l,i llg) (lid Illl i constdcr the
fact s the Ilia) <Jua li fito<l economists <1 0. rhat I had" potru <If ,·i.·"
from which a hu man sec nfice, t he tflmr n .etinn o f a c hurch or
the gift o f a jewel we re no less intL"Tcsti ng than tilt' "" Il" uf w 11(',)1 .
In short. l had to II) in , din ro ITIolk clear the nol ion of a "b'Clleral
economy" in which the Ke.xpc ndiltlt,... (l he "eonsumptlOn"j of
,,,~,alth. rarher tNn prod uction. w""' the pr ima, ) o b jece. My rlif-
oculi) IIICrc~ ill was Hoo thr bock's ti tle. Thr An l.101f'd !lhmr:
II mi~ht be i nnifo(Lli'll' but it "~Il't il\lUrmari\t·~ fer I soouKt han:
gone fun. he r. Ibe n, "n<! .affinnctl t he rld"~ to lift t he CUDf' t hal
t his nrlc COl lis inw (Illotion. O &!rI). m r project ...as too > a<;( ;mtl
9
t Ilt"' olIl11 0 UllLt"m t' llt of J '- J' f prujtT{ i, ., lwJ~-' its bet ra yal. t\u one
c an 'N!} w ithou t being <;",,,; <:,,1 th ,t h.. i, !,f' n ing re.l d y In '"... f-
l um th ing " H e m us t ",·crL u no. ami tlldL i, "II .
ToeJ<lY the book is the re . But a book is nothi ng if iLis n o t .'i/u-
alcd. if c riticism has not d et e rm in e d the place t be t bd u ng~ to it
in the co mmo n mcae m eru o fideas , ;\gain.l find my.elff<lCcd with
rho !><Ime d iffic ulu '. lhc' book is there. hut at th e m o me nt 01 "ril-
ing in pre f.l{t~ I cannot ... n '" a~k rha r it he ~iH' n th e attention 01
'1Je<:iali st s in a ,ci" "l:e. rhi, fiT'it .. s~ay "d rh .." ..,. fmm Ollt"clc
t ilt' s"p<i ratt: rli ",:ipl i".." .. p ro b le m rhar still h1., rKl t I).... n fr., m ..'"
<IS it shou ld 1Jf'. one Ih..11 rnilY hold the kev to all the problem'
po sed IJ~' '$Cr; discipline concerned \\ ith th.. movement o ff'l1er~

0 11 the eart h - [rom gn.Jph}sln 10 polirical ~collomy. b} ",]~ 01
<>uI; io logy, hi~lO~Y <uul uio l,'g). MO~~lJ\T~, neither psyd lO log ' nlJ ~,
in general, p hiloso phc ca n be considered fret' of dlis pr ima~~ {jtte.-
tio n o f economy- b vcu what may' b e said 0 1 an. o f litcr aunc . of
poel ~y h as all essent ial c onn e ction w ith the mo\"Cmcn t I 'Iudy:
that o f excess energ~, transla ted into the dlen'escenc e 01 life. T he
i re'ul r is th J( such a boo k, b d ng o f interest to cvc eyo ne, could

wd l b t' " I illt..rt'SI 10 no o ne.
Ce rTain!>', it is d Jn).!t"mll~, ill ex rt' llrl ill~ t h.. fri).! irl r" ' t'J rl·h of
t he s<:i.. IK ..S, to co m .. to iI po inl wh..,n, 0""" o bjt'C1 no l o n gt' ~
lea ve s o ne unaffected, " hu e . on the Cllnlr,]r;; it i5 wha t illllamt"'.
I nd e ed , the eb ulhuon I cons ider, wh ich animates the g lo ue. is
also my e bull it io n. Thus. the objec t o f m~ research can nu t be d i ~
ti ng ttish ed JroIlllhe 5uLp'-1 al it, Lvilm8 poilll _ rn Ih is way, even ue fu rc
RrKling a d ,ffiClll ~- in receiving its pla c e in rhc c o m mon move-
m e n l of ideav, my ente rprl \e cemc up ag ainst the m ost perso na l
obstacle , w hic h moreover gh'e,s rhe boo k its fi m d amenral mea ning.
As I c()ll~i rl ..rM t ilt' object Ollll~' ~tlJdy, I could not personally
~c,i,t till' d Tc.-vt:st -"11(;" in w hi<"h I disc o....roo 1h.. ulla ~~ )i d'lb l .. pu r-
po St', the val ue 01 th.. cohl an d cak u l'lted " 1)t:rdlilJll. IVI) rnt;;lr< ;h
,"
aimed at the acq uisi t ion o f a k n{)\\If'(I~' ; it demaoded coldness
ar~ cak u lOilion, but the lJIoo.ICf\,O(: acqui red "'"as tha t of an error.
MI error impl it'C1 in t he coldness lha t i:. inhere nt 111 .11 u ku l.l-
ti "n. In o ther WOI...tS. Ill} worL. tended li....[ of all to 'IlCtroSit' lhe-
sum ol'bema n rcsot.llCC\. but irs 1I1l1IirJf..>!> ~owe-d me that this ;)LLU-
ffiub t io n was onl) a rlela}. a sh rink "l~ back Irom t he ;1lC\-iuLle
t"rm , " he re ttw acc urn ulared weal th ha s ' aim: onl) in the in' tant .
Wri l ing t11i s ho" L. in wh ic h I was saying tha t " " e rg) lin<t ll ) can
o nl)' be wasted, I m) sdl W ;lS lL~inJo: my e ne rg)', m) ume, worL.-
illJ.!; m y rCSC<l rc h ans we red in a funda me-nral wa} the dl"!o l r~' 10 Ml'"
10 t he a mo un t ol" we.alt h acq uired for llI;lIlkin' l. Shou ld I 5.1) Il,,,"[
under we"o(' condirions I scmcu mcs could o nl} respond to t he
tru t h of m) 1>001; anll co uld not go on "' ri li~ it ?
A book thaI 110 o ne- a"'3;ts. th at answcrs no fo rm ulated 'ltl~
li on. t hoi t t ho: a uthor wou kl nor h;rH· wri tten if he hMI 100I u"'I'II
i t ~ k s..<oon to t he le tt e r - suc h h li",..lI) thl' odd it ) that t ooa) I
" Ifer thr rradt-r. Tbts im1tes d i,trUl>t at the ' xJ ll>c[, and ,..... w hal
if it were- br u rr nCJ4 to meet an ) ex pc.'CLilt lo n Olmi to o llt-r pre-
CiM:l) w al w hic h re pels, tha t "hie h pe ople dclil>t"r..t<::I) a\IJ id ,
fo r lack of st n' ngt h:: that viok-n r rnovcrncn t , surld e n and choc k-
ing, w hielt jostlc!> th e m imI, lakinlo( aw,, ) its tranq uillit) ; " k inrl
ofbold reve rsal IMt subst itutes a r1)11J l1I i~m . in harmony wi th the
world , fo r th e ~t ~lla ti on of Isolai cd Ideas, ofs rubbom I'rob lrms
born of an all l'o iet ) th at reflJs~ to 1«. I low, withou t t urning Ill)
back o n cxpcc t"l iQHS. c"ul,1 1 h<tve harl thc ext reme freedo m 01
Ihou~ht tha t places conce pu; o n a It"\ r l w ith the \,orkl 's frced041l
of moo.emen t ? It wo uld SCI'\"C I1lJ PU'l JOOM'" 10 IICJ!.lcc[ the ro les o f
rigorou~ jn'"t"S,j ~at ; on. whic h pcoccl'd s !>Io-. I) and llIt'thod iGII II}.
But how can we ~ol n: rhe enigml, hO\.\ can we measure up 10 t ~
uni\'t:r.\C if we cOlll e nt oo rodu:!; w ith tIl(' slum ber of corl" cnc iOf\ol1
L.now ltxl~! If one ha!i the patience, a ud tbr- coura~, t o «:.rI Ill)
I>< K.k, one- " ill ..ec thou it contain) studies <:undueuxl ~Ord lllJo:
"
TI r: ACCU"5 ~O " .. APF
to the rules o f a rcas< >n lha t ..I, >t'!i 001 re l..n t, dno ~.() I U I i "n~ t" FKlii h -
ca l probl ems ..Ie riving ho rn a turli tiollal wisdo m , but om" will also
fin d in it thi s affirm atio n: II"' l lIre SLIlKll 0(1 if. ill (jm" " hu t the lill"r
i~ in space, The c o m pa ris on foll ow s hom considerations o f e lll'rg\
t'(;ono rny t har le ave n o room fo r poe tic fllnta~ y, but it requi res
thi nking on a level w ith a play o f forccs rhar ruus counrcr to o rd i-
nary calcu lations, a pb y of Ioeccs based on the law s rhar b>()\'u n
U~. III , h"rl. th e flNSp.,c ti\,e_\ w llt're suc h tru ths ,' p pea r are d-ose
in wh ich m o re genNal pr oposnjons reveal their meaning, propo-
~ i t to rrs "cc or..ling· to which it is not ocassitv but irs rotItran; "IILwn;"
that pn~nts IMnfj mot/erand rrwnhnd "ith theirJundo mrnt<!1 probkm<.
This bd~ said , I w i/] urg.. critics to b.. so n,,~wl"' l .."uti "l" . It
is an ea~\ ga me 10 raise irrefu ta l,l.. o bjKtiom 10 n ew \ i.."",. G..n-
e rally. tha t which is new is dlsconc..rt ing dril l "ot "",W\;tly "",I.. r-
stood : T he obje ctions arc dir ected a r Sim p lified aspecb that 11lt'
auth o r does no t g rant an ) m o re than a would-be con tradic tor, o r
gran t~ nnlv with in the limi ts o f a provisional s imp lificatio n. There
i, littl .. chan c e in th e pres e n t case th at th e se perempt o r, diffi-
c u lt i..,;, w l'id l st;lIld Ol lt at tl 'e first reading , have escape d my etten -
ti "n in th.. IS y..ars this wo rk h." de manded o f m e . Bur, ro b q! jn
with, I co n fin e rn~".,l f to
a (/uick (J\'f'n 'it'w, in w h ich I cannot I;'\'I;'/l
co nsider !JwaelliJll1 t l1e mu lt il tld c o f quesrjons t hat are im plieel.
In parucnlar, I have forego ne ti le id ea 01 g iving , ill a lirst \'01-
umc, a detailed analvsis ofa ll o f life's action s from th e point of
th at I introd uc e . Th is is rcg.-..ttabl.. in th at tI,.. n Olio n s of
\ ' jl'W
" pr oduct ive ex pcnd in uu" and "nonprod uctiv.....xpe nditu rc" ha,..,
a bask ,,,lue in all th e dcvc ioprncnrs o f m,. book. Hut rcal Itfc,
co m posed o f all sorts o r ex pen d itures, kn ow s n othi ng of pu rely
producrtve ex pendi tu re; in actu alil}', it kn ow s noth ing o f pu rel y
""nprndur:ti\'" "xl'.. "..Ii tuTt: d lher. H..nee a first ru d imentary e tas-
sifica t.ion wi ll l,a, .. 10 I,.. r..p la".. <1 hy a "' ''I h odi ,~~ [ <I" s" ";l't;o "
o f e,'e r) as pe<:t o f Iif... I wanlt·..I first 10 ofT..r a ~rou p "I pri\ ile gt'd
"
PR fF A CF
Iacts rha t wou ld all ow In) ' th inking to be graspe<1. But tlns th in k-
ing co uld n o t haec shalX'o itse lf if it had no t also consil lf'r e<! t h e
toraliry o f smnnoccurrences, wrungly' SU[-'lxm to be insig niflC,ull .
I im agine that it wo u ld be equally fu ti le to d raw d es t ruc tiv e
conclusio ns fro m the fact that eco no mic crises, which necessa rily
h ave in m)' work a se n~e in ",h id , tI, ey are <1 t:t.e b in · events. arc
o n l y represe nted t herein ill a su mmary, superficial fash io n. If th e
truth m ust be told , I had to c hoose r cou ld no t at t he , arne time
gin~, Illy t h ink ing a gene ra l o u t line, ",,,:1 lose m yseH in " ",a'l.e o f
interferences, "here rhe trees cons tamly prevent om: fro m seei ng
ti le fore st . I wall ted to avoi.\ roo o i n~ the work o f t he economist s,
and I c o nfi ned m ysel f to rd at ing tl 'e I'mb le m rha r is pc"..,d in e CO-
n o m ic crises to t h e general p rob le m of nature . I wanted 10 caSl a
ne w light o n it , but to sta n w ith, I d e cided ag ain st ilna lp ing t he
complexi ties o f a crisis o f over produc tion , jllst a~ I .Ie fe rre<! cal-
c ul ating in detail t he sha re of growth and the sha n: o f w.L,le t:lller-
ing in to the ma nufac une 0 1 a ha t o r a ch a ir. I preferred to gi \e,
in ge n e ral. rhc re aso ns t hM acco unt ror th e m yste ry of Keene s's
Imttl e s , t ra c:ing t h t: ex h au st ing d t:t oll rs " I' ex u be ranco' LI lt o ug[,
e at ing, d e ath 'mel se xu al reprod u ction,
I co n fine mysclf at p re se nt to t hi s su m ma r) ~' i ew, T his does
not m..... n that I a m I t:a~i ng it at t h:.t : r .u n o lll}' p" stp<J ni ng mot<:
exre mive wo rk unullater.! I am also PO~IPOllj llg. for a \hu rt ti me ,
t he ex pos it ion o f m)' an.,l ys is ofanxi et y.
AntI y....r rha r b the erne.ta l allal)'sh . Ita! alone c all adeq uarelj
cucu mscrtbe till: opposi t ion o l two political m ethod s: thaL u J leu
and tile anx io us sea rc h lor a sol u rion, com bin ing the p ursui t o f
free d o m w ith the im pe rat ives that are the most opposed to free -
d o m: an ,l t hat o f frt:t':dom ,)1' m,"<1, wh ich issu es fro m the g loba l
reso u rces 0 1 life , a fre ed o m fo r whi c h , in stantl y, ~'Cryth l ng is
resolved , CWrythinfili rich - in o ther wo rds, eVCfythi ng rha r is co m-
lIl' :nSlirale w ith tilt' u n iw r..t" I i n~ist on tilt:: Ian rhat , Lo free do m
' HE "CCU""~ I) >;H .. IlI:
olmtnd, the search for a soluuon i ~ an exul,.'r;m, .. , a su pc rfl u ity;

th is gi\'es it an ujc omparabl e t<m: ... To solve pol itical problem'
becom e. d illk ult fur those who al]',,,, anxiety alom, '0
pose the m .
It is necessary f(K an xk t)' 10 pose them. Hut their solution ,h.'"mar\(h
at a c er tain po in t rhc rC II I()val o f thi s a" xi..ty. T Il(' mc.ani~ o f thl;
pol i tica l propo sals to which thi s book 1"-<l'Is, and rha r I fOrm u-
late at the "'''', oft\w \ olu",.. , is lin kc d 10 'his lucid anitude.?
PART ONE
T heo reti cal Introduction

The MeO\nin g o f Ge nera l Eco nomy
The Dependen ce oj' tlre Economy 0 11 th e Circula tion of

EnerDyon th e Earth
When it is nec essary to chan",.. ~n anromoblle ti n: . open all abccvs
o r p low a v ineyar<l, it is .. ~~}' I" "'...nag " a (Illite limned opera-
tion. T h e d ements o n w hich tile actio n i\ brought to bear arc
not complete ly Isolarc d from the rest of th e world. but it h pm-
ssblc to act o n t hO'", as iftht·}' ,W rO': O"e can complete the ope ra-
t io n withou t once neetling to cons ider the " hole, o f which the
tire. the abccss Ot the " ine}'a«1 is ne...ertheless OIn in1to!l:ra! [JOIrt.
T he changes brough t abou t ti n not perceptibly alter the other
Ih ings, nor d oes the ceaseless ...ction from Wllhout howe a n appn.''''
clable etlecr on the c onduct of til(' operation. But things are di f-
ferent when we conslrlcr a substan tia l economic Jetivit) such a\
the prod ucrion " f.,u t",nol>il..s in tin' U"il..t1 Slates, o r, a forUm!,
whe n it is a <j ue st io n of cconom rc activi t}' in gene ral.
Bet ween th e prod uction of au tomobiles aTKI the [JCncraJ move-
mcnr of the economy, tl,.. int.....J..pnt<I'''Kc" iv rather dear, bur
the ecooornv taken as a w hole h usually stucl ictl as if it were a
ma tter ofan isol atabl e s}'slem ofoperarion. Production and c o n-
surnprion are linkt',,] rogO' th.-r, IKlL, consu l..red jo in tly, it does mJI
see m J itlicult to stu d}' the m as one might st lltl} an d emenlar}'

o pctarion rc latively independent of rhat w h ieh it is not.
.,
This mcth...d is It'giLi mah". anil scit-nu' never pnx"t'cds dif'frr-
end)- 11",,'{"\cr. n:onllmic ",dt"1'X.C docs nut bh" u·sulu ul thf-· SlIme
'lrllcr a~ ph ystcs MlKI}ing. first. a I'r..cisc phenomenon, then all
sh ld ia b le phl'nOmCN as a coo u lin"It".1 \\ hu ll' . fc"nurn io;: I,llt'" -
nQfTlt' ~ are ' 'K1t GlS~ 10 isolate . .1;..... , thr,T ~encn.1 c....,.,.dioation i ~
nut <;OtS~ In C'>tabl i~h_ So it is po'i~i Wc to raise tlu s <Jut>St ion con-
cern ing them: Sh"u!<1n'T pnxluct i\'t' act i\l l) a.' a w hu le be comi,\·
..red in 1t"1Tll!i . 1( the r...." liflC.\tiOffi if reccocs lru m in surro,mdinp
IIr bti ~"$ abou t in ns !>lIrrouuiings ? In other words. isn't then' '"
' loC...I to stud) ti lt" s)slem urhu rnan I'ruth ll:tion ,lnl! consumpliun
w it hin a m uch la'!,,""TIr.lmc" . ...l t
[n t he ..cieJ'lCC'; such problems .m.lioaril) I"', c ,ln <lC<Idclllil: c har-
ector, but L"t-T....IOIll'C ani--ie) i ~ s" lar-reach ing thllt TtU onr will
be surl'ri~1 if a f1 ~1 'Ill''''lion ~ foIlO\\ed by (It her, II"» a!J.;t raet
ones: In ove ral l ind uvtrial .... velopmeru, ,Ht" the n' nO! social ..on-
lhccs 01....1 planctJIj I\M'i? III the g l,,ool dLlivit) o f men , in shun.•
•are there not c.tw;e\ and ellt"n s that" til ~lllCJ r OIlI) I'r""i,kd
t hat tb.: nrnerol dato oj the mJf~1 ar.. srud i...l? \\il l we be able to
mal e Oll~ ln'\ the maM.."" of ~uch a .l" 'lf:crou~ a" ,i\-ity (a nd n,lf'
thaI we could not aba ndo n in all)' C~) w ithout M\ iOj:l j!rasl'.. ,1
its gmaoJl COIl5C<jUt:ncCS! Sboukl W1; no l. j!h'i'"n lhe u ,.,>tant dc vel-
opmc nf J ecoOOtnic fOTm. po'><' the fJCN"U1I'robkrru. that art"
liflkcd to the mO\'cnl<' llt o f enc rgy on the glu l... ?
These queq~ alluw 01'\1 ' ' 0 glimpse borh thc tl..or ct jcal n lO'an-
ing ancl the prat.lica1 importara.e o r lhe princip lC'i the) in trorllk"-,
Th,. N,.,,..uity Df Lo~jllB t he f ..'C('ss [",.rBY ' hilt

Call1lD t be Ust:d Jor (J Systelll',~ GroW "1
III fi....-l >ight. it is ~) t" rt"Cogn ij'(~ in t he ceOrlUffi} - ..., lhe pro--
ducl;on or>tJ U\r tJ ..mhh - ,1 panicul... as pect of terrestrial acti\ i f )
~a Jll.'(l ..s a CI,lSflIi<" phcfl{,mt"oon . A moe.. mc nt i~ prt" luccd o n
the sur/a.·.. o trhc gloh.. t11<\1 results hor n thc' circulation of cnerg)
" I. th is point in the universe. The econom ic acuvuy of men appro-
prtarc s rhts movement, ma ki ng use 01 th e r~su l t lng possibihttcs
for certain e nds . But t his rue..>\'t~ men l has <1 pa ll.e lTI and laws with
w hic h, as a ru le, those " hflu~ Ihl;l11 and depend on t hem are un-
acquaint ed . Th us tile <j"esti nn arises: Is t he gene ral de te nn inat ion
o f energy dn;u lat ing in d w biosphere al te red by man's ac tivity?
O r r;,th~r, isn' t Llw latte r's in t en tio n vitiated hJ. a dcrcrm i....ui on
o f wllid , it is ig n. ,mn t, w hich it o verlooks and can no t cha ng~?
\'lithou! "ait ing, I Wi ll g h·e an inescapable a nsw~r.
Man's ,li src ga nl fo r t he materia l basis o f h is lil" «rn causes
hi m to e rr in a se rio us way. l lum;,n ity ~ " plfl i ts g i , ~ n material
reso urces, b ut by re s tri c ting th e m ;,s it <lot's lO a rcsoluuon of
lhe immediate , lifficultiC!'> it e nc oun ters (a resolution which it
has hastily ba, l to define "5 an Meal ), it a~~ igns to tile forces it
e m p loys all e m l whic h the)' can not have. Beyom l ou r imrncdi arc
e nds , man's acth·it~· in fact pursUf:S the lJ M: le5S and infi nit e ful-
fillmen r o f th e uotve rs... l
Of co urse , the error tlldL r~SU h.5 fro m so co mp le te " d isregard
d oes not just Cfln.;~rn ma n's cl aim to lucidity, It is not e<lsy 10
re alize one's own ~n<1 s if ' If'Ie musr, in trying to d o so, carry out <I
mo\ ~m ..nt t hat surpasses t he m . No doubt these e nds and rhis
m"v" fll~nt rna) no t be en tirely irreconc ilable; b ur if th~".. two
te rm s arc to be reconciled we m ust cease t o ign " rt' o ne ,,[ th..m;
o t herw ise , o ur wo rks q uicklj turn to cat ast""r"" .
I w ill begin with a basic tacr: Tht' li\'ing n'l;ani sm , in a situa-
lio n detc rrnsncd by t he play 01 ~n.,rgy nn the surface oflhe glo~,
" ...Iina.!"il} re ceives mort' e nergy than is n"'c c5.\.3ry fo r m aintain-
itlg life: the excess e ne rgy (wea lth ) can be IIS"" I for Ih", g rowth of
a system ( e.~. , an of}:!anism); il' th~ ~pl", m can no longer grow,
or it t he excess ca nn ot be comple tely absorbed in its llrowt h, it
must n ec.,~ss.l ril ) be I" H wuhour profit; it must be spen t..... ill-
in!!:/) o r nol , gl , ' ri, ",si) ur ca tastro phically,
"
The P'Jl'"rl) o{ OrgoniHlI,f or l.imitM 5'$",m$ a nd th l'
oem lVl'O lIh 0/ !ivins Na l u rt'
'1.iIH15 aHll~tOfllel' 10 ~t" i ng l ilt" d...... eiopmeet o f I' md IK l i\(:'
lon:n ;r; tht" iI.I"AI end o f oX- Ii- il} refuse to rcaJg0l7c l MI ('11t'~.
which comt itlllt"'i "'''al th. mU<;1 ultin lMely be spcoe la, .!IIII) ("illl-
OUI return ). a .....1 lhat a scrtcs o( profitable ope,..tiOl't'i ha' .Jll'loO-
lutcl } "'0 o l h.., ,.Ilea " u.n the sqUilntkri og 01 pfn fl ,s- Tn .lOirn>
t N t it is ......... ~sa~- to d lss ipatr A 5.. lllila nt ial port.on 0 1 Ctl.. rl<~
produced, lot" nd in l< it I,p In smoke, i~ 10 go <IIg'Ai ns l JuJgllle .lu
Iha l foml tilt' b."" 0 1a raoonal economy. " to LrJO\\ USb ' \ ht" rr
we alth has hMI t<l llt' .1"' II"Q)erl [co ffee thrm \ n into the sNI. but
1I't"<;(> ~nmh ean n,,1 r".lsonabl ) be o ffe... <1 a... exam ples to fill-
low, '1tll') arc ti le 31 k'Il" , I"llgmenl o f an irnpot.. nee, and no ' lIW
" JUI.1 fo nd in the m lilt" im.lgc a nd essence n f w".llt h. l'lI le,·t],
in", luntary dcsu'l Kti'm (,m:Il:o., th e disposal " f ",ufft:<'lIwrboa n-I)
h as ill t"\'t" ry CilSC lilt' mt'an inF 0 1 failure. it i ~ np, ' ri' ·OCI·d a~ a
m isfort UlIt': in nc w a ) ",.m n I,.. pn-senecd as dt"~lrabl t· . And ~'t' l
it is th e lypt' 01 operation withour which (here i" nIl -o lullon .
\ Vilen on.. conside rs the totolit. 0 1 prud llet h t> wcalrf on th .. sur-
face o f th.. glollt". il ts e vident 111<\1 the producrs o l t h h wealth
c <ll n be t""' l'lo~,t"<l lor produc ti ~e .,nd~ o nly i nso fa r :t~ d ... 1",1'll!
o.J~:lIn ism th.ol b econonuc manki nd u n incrc<1Se iUl elJo il'mt"nf,
T h is is nOI e n tirt l, - fl(' ilhe r 111"'''>5 nOir inrl .. fm i,c h - 1)(K~i bl ...
- - ,
A '\llrplos mOSI b- ,lh.., i p.lIl.'11 throu(:h deficil Oflt'rarions: The li' l;I[
tli!>Sip.u i on cannQI b , t lU CillT) ou t the ffiO\t'llIt'nt d u.l ,m 'llUl~
te-rre-vrrial t:rn.:~-.
n , .. COrtlT.lry u'>U<ll1 l} i1(l p"...... Ior th e rcason thar IhI' f'conom~
is l'It'..... r ,'on<idcrcd ill ~J. The human mind red uc e-s oper..
noos, in ....it'occ as in I,f.·. In :loll ....ti~- based On I) l'i....1 POltioJlnr
S)-stems (' I1¥.....i""ls or COIt·rpr-i!lO). [ conomjc act;' it), t,,_id.,ret.l
U 11 " hole, is uJIll ..in:cl in te-rms o f p....r ieolar opel1l"''''' ...ilh
lim iterl e nds. T Ill' m ind {..>cncr.tl i7t~. ~ composing t he ~rt')!ale
"
of these oper.ll iOO\. r c·o nl)m ic §(:icrl('(' m":fcl) ~i7..e!i rbc eo-
bl:cd ~i ll.r.ninn: it ~I rk;l' it!. objl"Ct to oper~tions carried OUI "ilh
a vlew to a limited e nd. that of f'<unom ic man. II does ....... uk
infO conside rat ion. pl ay o f .., nt'~g) t hai no pantcutar entl lmllu:
t he pia} o f li""W matur in fJ"fWroJ. imohcd in the mO\l;~ m('nt o f

light of "hkh il b Ih.., n::»ult. On the surface 01 the glob.., lor
li.inn "Illflf, III tJ€OI!rnl, encrg} is al "':I)s in excess: th e q Ul:.. t ion is
dh ,al ' po sc el ill u-rrns of ext~a\ aJ!anc_ ... n... choice is Hmncd tc
how the wc.hh is to be Ml lla",l.. r...1. II i.~ to t he p<J" 1ClJI"r Ihinl-:
be ing, or to limiled populatio n.. of li.i l'!!. beinp, that IIIf' prob-
lern o f nCa'Mil} p·rc lienc. il·,df. But man i.. not JUSt tile "" 1),lta l ..
bt'i rlf t hai co n rcods " ,t h the li'ing wo rM anti " iii. mher men
fo r hi5 ,Jlare o f TC5OtIr<:C"i. The ~n"r.l 1 m"" ' m cnl o f exuda tion
(of w~e ) of li\it'lf;! matte r impc k Mill. and Ill' unnot ....op i l : .~
OHT. bciJlf! 'It d w ' Ullllni l, hi, SO'\ ignll in the li\i~ m~tI iOt'n-
tifies him " ilh Ihi~ rflU\'cmcnt: it deseines him, in a prh ilt"J..>t:ll
" "), to lhal gloriou.. 0l~r..ll ion, to u""le, ' o.JnSUmlll i"". If he
d e nie.. th is, as he i.!> con.stant l, u ....~>('l l ltJ " 0 ~ th e COI'lSl iQUSllCSS
o f a IICu IDt"h 01";10\ ind igt'no' in llc n:n l in se parate beinl-:s (w hic h
are (;onstaJlll) ....lOft llf n-,,>U t(t'S. \\ hich arc nOlhing but elcmal l}
IX'~, incH. illll.!],.,). his denial docs nol aher t he glubalmo"'nll'n l
of ~nng}' in Ih., lcaeu T he larr... ""l1m,1 accumula te l i rn i l l e~~I J
in t he productive force~; t'wntlJ" II), like a river into the .~ea, il is
bou nd 10 escape U\ antl lw losl In us.
War Considered os 0 Cetostrophic E"pl'lldirurl'

of Excess £Ilergy
IJl('OrIlJ~ehensjon does ncx (;hange tho- final l)llll.ume in tl~ s li)llu-
est. '\'1' ca n il!nor<.: or lUl"get the filll.l thu the gro...lIlll wt' li\~ on
is IItd e ud ....r lhan a field of mu ltiple desreocnoos. Our ignlll'lllt e
on l) "as lhis IJl('OntNitabie efIect: II (;,luSt'S U.. III Ilfltkrao \\ hat we
l Ollld briny "boot in cu r own \\a). if ,..' U.... k~I<H.d. It dcprhc..
, I
...... ...ccu .. .. £ u ......... n ..
us "f tl w c hoke 01 an e ~ lIll11t ion that m il/:ht suit us. Abo...., al l. it

c o ns igm men and thei r " orl!; to Qlta.\trophic ~troct ions. l'or
it we do I10l I"" .. the jorcc 10 dl:'>l:I1') (he 'ilJrplus cnt>rgl ocrsejves,
it (annot be U'it'(I, aod, like: an unhroken anima l t llllt cannot be
uained , it is t hi s Clle'll) tlMt GCSI Wp 1I ~ ; it Is we ,-Ill) p<l) t he
pr ice o f l Ilt' inc. uablc c1Iplos ion,
These eJ(ce",\c~ of lifc lOree. "hich 1<X.~.II) block the ,,'H""'-"St
I"t;onomi cs. an" In fact the m"..r ,I.l.'-.gc rous lao o rs of ru inahon.
He nce relie\iog t.... blockage "it!> " lw;api. if o nl} in the d arkes t
",'gion of r-onsciouvness, the objet;t 01 a few-ish pu rsuit , Am. iCnt
sccicn ..\ k amd rc licf in to"tl" als; sc me e ree h,.1 admi rable ll1onu-
rnenrs that hao:1l1o useful purpose; "C use lilt" excess to mu ltiply
"servtces" tI,,,t mJk life ~ll1nnt tw ,,2 anrl " .. an- led to rc;;>[)';(w1}
part of it b) inc tl' ni nf1; lei su re ti mc . Hut rbcse ,Jj, ersion.. h..,e
al wJp 1I..en in a,lcq uat<:: Their exhtCllCt' in ( xu "'· n\·,erthel ,~.. (in
ce rratn respects] has perpe tua lly doomed multitudes o f h uman
h.. illgS and J;teal CJu.anl i t, e~ o f useful goo<h W f he dcslTUeti. ,n ..r
..'ars. In OUr tim.., tho: ru lar ive irnpoerancc of M!11t'O c nnflkL\ has
......., inc",~ ; it I",-~ l<IllTl on the .k<,.;o..\ trous proport ions of \' hit:h
w .. .. re '''''<In'.
Rece nt history is till' ~,"l r ()f the S03ring ~.o"th of indu!>t rial
aeth it). At 6 ..... th is pro lil;" mocerncne rot r.tincd martial "'1hit)
I') absorb ing til" ma in part o r t he " Il'CCSS: The d~... lop rnet1l (Jf
modern i(l(lusu) )irl. lw th t" peri...1 nl rdati.... pral" feo rn 1815
to 1914 .J o.-.doping in t!J i ~ "ay. irll: rcasillg the R:..'>OUfU"lo , rhe pro-
ductivc lim e ' made posst bl .. ill the same I,,' rind thc rapid demo-
gr.tphlC expansion (Jf the a<.!,......... rfl countrio.:\ (tlli.!. is lhe nc~II I)
a:;,pecr o( the bon~ l>roliferation of t he fact o"").. But in the lonJ:;
run IIw 1/:""'"1:h lhal tilt (t'(;. hn ical ol ""'l,'CS rnede p'",...iUle became
diflicuh til sestain. It becarn.. p rodecriv e ..1 an ine re- .a.';t:(l surp lus
its.,If. -, h,' First World War broke out before i ts limits "ere Tl'ally
reache d , e 'e n lox..<lll)·. ' Inc Scn lfl(l did not it wll ~ iltn i l) tha i til"
'.
spt~ f)l COil I,I not U ~\'eI, 'I' furtlwt (~iT h~ r ~x wnsi vel) or in 'I n} G'St'
in l ~n ~i \'<,l y ). But it wdl;hctl II ... I', ,,,~i b ili ti~~ of a hail in ,In-d-
o p me n t and ceased 10 e njoy t he opportunities of a gro" , h lha '
ncoI hing " I'IK,st><I. I t is "'J rtl~ ti rn~~ (l~ n i ~t1 that t I... in(l ll~trial p ld h-
o ra was 'I I the o rigin of dws~ recen t wars. particularly the fir!>!.
Y~ l. it ""as th is p l~ l hm~ rh,u [,()lh wa'" ~" u dc tl ; irs s ize was "h"l
ga,-~ d",m li,.. ir ..xt r"" n linarx int.. nsity. C"n'~ qlJ ~ ntl y. t h.. g.. n-
ern l p rinc i ple o fan excess o f cne~)' to be expernl~ I, cons jde red
(bCY' K"K1 rh ~ t' K>n" rrow 'Il"Jpt' "ftl,~ ~",;n,>",y) '" t he effect o f"
m O\-'.. n \('n, tI'''1 sLJ 'pa~s.." it, t rag ica lly illllm inat..,,,
o f f",:t,; ~d
mo reove r, il lake s on a ~;gn il icance tha t no one can deny. \ Ve can
~ "f' rt'ss tilt' h ll llt' Ilf a\'Ilid ing 'I wa r t hat " Irea,') t h reate n s. Bu t in
o rdoor 10 d o SO we m ust <live n the surp lus produc ti on, either into
t h<;- rational eXlem ion of a drfllc ul r industria l growth, ell' into
Ilnl'T< Kl u ctive \mrks tloat w ill , Ii,;.s i..... tc an e nergy rhar can not be
accumula ted in a ny case. This raises numerous p roblems, which
cx h'llIsnngl) com l'lex.~ One can be skep tical ofarriving easily
<I tt'
" I the pracrtcxl sol u tion, they de mand, bu t th~ interes t thq· ho ld
is u nq ue sti onab le .
I w ill Mmp ly sta te, with out wa it ing lu rt hcr, that the exte n-
sio n of econ o m ic growt h itself requires the overturning o f eco-
no mic p rinci ples - t he o ve rtur ning of th e et hics tha t grou nd~
t he m . Chimg ing fro m til(' pcrspccnvcs of re5Irict;", economy to
those o f yeolcrol economy actually accompli shes a Co pernica n trans-
formatioo: a reversa l o f thi nk ing - an" 01e thics. If a p.1rl of wealth
( ~ubi cet to a lUugh esti mate) is doomed to de struc ti o n ur 'II least
to u nproduc tive usc " ithout any poss jblc profit, i\ i' logical, even
jn£5<::fJfK' H e, to surre nder commcd iucs withou t return . l-lc oocforrh ,
lea ving aside pu re a nd ~ i m p le (Iissi pation. analogous to the con-
struc tion 0 1 t he Pyramid s, th e poss ib ilit> o f pursu ing grow th is
Its elf su bo rd ina ted to ~iv i ng: T h c industrial developme nt of th e
e n tire wo rM d e man d s o f Ame ricans tha t t he) lucitlly grasp t he
'<
eecessny. Ii,r.ln .-conomy such ~ 11,.,;1"<, 0 1 h.wing a l1Iar/<in o r
pmntles!. opc rauo....\. An immense i ,,(l u~rria.l l1<:h' urL. c;an"l11 be
managed in Ihe Q I1IC " " ) (hal o ne c hanl-,'<:\ a lire.... h CApre~
a circuit 01 ccsnuc CIIt'I}O" o n "hich it depenJ~ , which II (:a nnOI
Iimir, and " hO'i<' I,J,\\ ~ i I u nn O( igllOf'C \\ uhour l-on!I'C II IlCIX t o' .
\\0.- 10 mo'o(' "00, In lhe ,....") .. nod, in,l;W on ~'\JLlIil'lfo! (ftc rt1U""C-
mcm rhar <"xu:c:ds d ,e-Ill " j(h rbe nar1"U" miuJ o f the mec,. l,ank
" ho d,ol"l.'C!i a tlT'C'.
Laws of Ge ne ra l Economy
Th e Supcratnmdoncc O( lIi ochc micClI f.ncroy

and Growth
T hOll OIS 01 ru le OIn o rganism h as 011 its di s po sal g rea te r .. nng y r.. -
sou rces th an arc nccc\''><' T)' fOr Ih.. opc ra t.ions du n sustain life (fu nc-
donal act i vi t ioo~ eod , in a " i mal ~ , esse n tia l muscu lar e xe rcises. the
s..a rch for food] is evident frlJm Inn c n o ns li ke g T(Jw tl , OI l',,1 r" pro-
dUL,t io n. Neither !<'T(Jwth n or repro d uction wo uld be po saibl.. if
plants a nd ani m aL, d ie1 tloI lt no rma n)' . li~IJOSt' 01 an excess. T he very
pri nci ple lJfli l' ing ma ile r re q ui res t hat th " chemical 01,..rMi (J n~
u fl ite. o.htch dem and an expe nd it ure of ene rl,'Y, be gai nful, IJru -
duc rive o f slirp lus..s,
Let us conside r d dU ITI C ~ t IC animal . a calf. (In o rder not 10 go
100 d e eply into th e ma tter, I wi l] first I\,a\'e nstd.. t l,.. d incrOO lll
co ntribut io ns o f OI n ima.1o r h u ma n ..n.. rgy that enable i l~ 100J 10

be p rodu c..d ; t'\'c ry org;", i~ rn d epe n d s o n t h e c o n t rib u t io n o f
r uhc rs, and if th i ~ cont rib ut io n is favo rable, it .. "tracb the n..c-
essary energy fmm it , b ut "il hoUI it th e organ b m wou ld soo n
elie. ) h1l1<;l i" n,,1 "t:l iviLy ul il i " c ~ jJdl1 o f th e available e nergy. b ut
the anim al com mands an ex cess d' ar e ns"l"t'~ it s g rowlh. Llndc r
normal co nd il io ns , a jJdrt 01 this el\l:e~s is I U~1 in l:u mi ngs and
go ing;, h ut if th e croc k g nm t:r managc~ to k cp it inacti ve, th e
'7
volu me o f tho- c.all llt'"..fil.'i; t he 'la, ing ap~,m in IOC loem Ilf f;ll .
II tbe calf i.s nOl k,lI ~d the mome n t cernes w hen rhe Tnluct"(1
growth no lo ngtt con.W'll"~ all o f an increascd C1(Cf'SS; lilt' u l f
tllt'n "'ache!. wx ual m aruri l}: i h vita l fon: e. an' d e voted m.;u n l)
t o tilt' t urhuIO'nc·" o f tht bu ll in the case 01 a malt ·, 0 1 to prq!-
1loUlC} and I""
pr" d uc t l()ll o f m il l in the m o f a f..ma ll'. In a
q.nw. rl' prod uct ion .sig n ilil".'i a ~jZl' fro m ind i' i(lual glU" rh
tv Thill o f a group. If the male l.s Gl-~tl'Olrt>el, Irs iodi, iduol volume
again iocrc.:JSe'5 for a lilllC and" con"'drra M.. amou n l o f ,\,0 ,"" il;
extracted lra m il .
[fl nat ur e Ihr.... i\ ,..1l arTific ial (an efling o f th.. nl""ht,rn. nor
is the re c;utr.lt i(lIl. II " , con venie n t for rn e to choose a (Io m" ll-
t ic animal <IS an cxampl hilI rh .. moveme nts o f "nimal m au..r
are ba.sicallr rbc semc In all e.tl.t'.s. ()n the who le. the ceccse Cllt~rg)
provide s [or rllt' growth o r th e t urbule nc e of im !ivjd uills. ' rhe (.,llf
and th t' C'l\\ . th.. IJull and the Ox merely erld a nd'lt'r anc' I1IOl"e
familiar ill u.st rat iun o f thi ' gre at m ovemen t .
p hlllt.s m a n if..,.s t the same excess. b ut it i.s m uc h r nor.. pro-
nounced in rhctr C~·. T ht:} a.... not hing Lilt jZlo" t h and rcproduc -
rinn ( t hc CIll'rg) nec:.CSSMy IOr tht-ir fUlICl ill"..1 ec...h; ry is rq:liblc),
Rut thi ~ indd'inil e e xu bera ncc m ust h.. cun.. i.,..,...
1 in rd at ion 10
the concI ilions that rnake it l)()S5ible - and Ih at limit il .
Th e Li m its 0/ Grolt'th
I w; 1I speak briefl} Wuut th e ffiO.'it g~nrnl co nclit jons o f life.
d "d1i ~ n n o n e cruci,dl) iml'0rrant fac r, So lar (OfWTE!-) Is t he
loOU YCe o l li...·s cx ul..",m o C\·e!o p mc n l. The oTi~in and I"SSt"nCf"
of ocr "l:~th iIfl' gi,~n in , he ooiarioll o f the SUIl. which diSpl"l ~
f"nI"'R)' - wealth - " ithout all) m um. ·!he sun gi\"O " itho ut cw r
rece iving. " k n "ere conSdOllS of Ihis lo ng he l0.... ~lrollh)'Sics
rncasurcd I hat c...asclcss prodi~.al it}; tJ>e} sa\1 it ripe n 11M' hal"\'t"51S
and thry :lS.IOCwt t'(! ill> "l>lend or \1Irh t he 'let of sorllt'Ol M' who gi""1>
"
LA WS OF G E N E " " " . C O" OMY
without recei\'inli' It i ~ n..' ;...." ")' "I thi~ point to l1<)t.. a d"al o riliin
of mo ral ju(]g r l1l~ l1 l s . In form.. r times val"e was gin~n to un p'-o'
duct ive gJol)'. "hereas in o ur dar it is measured in terms of pro-
duction: Precede nce is given to cnergy acq uisitio n over <.'ne rgy
expenditure. Glory itsel f is j ll~tif1ef' by' rhe CO!1Se<Ju..ncex 0 1a glo-
nous deed in the sphere of utili ty. But , d orninared lh o ug h it is
by practical judg rn<.' n t and Christian m orality, the a rchaic sensi-
biljty is st il l alive: In particula r it reappears in the ro m ant ic pro-
test against th e bo urgeois wo rld; anI)' in t he classical conceptions
o f the econo my does it lose irs ri~ ht<; e nr ird r
So lar radi atio n r..sulrs in a superabu ndance of energy o n t he
, urfact' o f tilt' g lohe. Rut , first , li \'ing me ucr rc cclccs thi s energy
an d accum ulates il " it hin the li", its g i\'en b}' the space that is
availa ble to it . It then radia tes o r squa nders it. bur befo re decor-
iog an a p preciable share to t his rad iation it mak.." lIIaxirrm m use
of it to r ~rowth. Onl y t h.. impossihilit y "I' co n rinu in g gro" lh
mak"" wa}' fur squande r. He nce lhl: rl"al e,,~ s d ocs not beg in until
thl" growth of the individual or g rou p has reac hed its lim its.
Th c immedia te limi tati o n. for eac h indi vidual or each group.
is g h'C/) b}' the o ther inrlh-idua]s o r e ther jl;roups. 8m the t ..rrt>s-
trial sphere [to be exact, t he bio>phert~). which corresponds to the
spaa' available co lile, Is the only real lirni l. The indMdual or group
CJl1 be reduced by a not he r Indi vidual o r anot he r g ro up, but th e
t otal volume of li \·ing nature is not changed; in short, ir is the

size o f th e terrestrial _space rh ar limi ts o\'eralljl;lO\Ylh.
Prcuutc
A~ a m l.. lh<: 5urface o f the g lob..: is invested by life t o rbe ex tent
possible. By and Lily<:' the mrri~c1lorms 01 life adapt it to tht' a\Jil-
able reso urc es. so that sp;w t' is i ts ba.~ic limi t . C" rl:,in ,lisa/lvan -
lali"(] a r".l~. w h..,,, th" ch..rnical OI lt'rali o ns essential to IiI'" cannot
lake place, seem 10 have no n;<lll"..istence. Llut taki ng int o acco unt
'9
to ex uberance, it is no rlo ub r p"",ihk If ' me 1t fi,r g row t h , Rllt
t he problem raised precludes t h;~ , SUl'p", ing rh.. n- is no lo ngt'T
any grow th po,",iI, I... wh3 r i~ to I)t' done with I h.. "...,thing ..nt'Tgy
rh.1r l ... m" i n~? li:J \Va.,t.. it i~ o],\io,,~ly nollo """ il. And y.. t, whol t
"to ha\'t' i~ a d rain ing.a""y, a pun: and stmple loss, IYhi<h OC<un in
any cao;c: Fro m t he firs t, the excess e nergy'. it it cannot be u~e,j
fo r growth, i~ lo st . Moreover, in 110 "ay can th is i nc~' i table loss
be accounted woe ful. lt i ~ only a matter o f an acce ptable lo ss, pref-
e rab le to a nol he r that is reg'lrd ed as un ac ce pt abl e: a questio n of
<luepwbili1r, no t utility. It s consequences arc decisive, howe\er,
The Fir~t Effec.l of Pressure: Ext ension

11 is ha rd 10 d e fine and prec rsr-ly rf'prf',enr rh.. pre','u r.. 11,,,,
exerte d. It i ~ both co mplex and e lus tve, bUI one l'an .!.. snil~ its
..11.. c t " An illlag.. "om"s to m in,], rh..n, b ut 1 1T1llSt sa) in "IT"r-
ing il l.holl u illuslr;, ln Ill., n'lIsc' lllell ccs yel <J ot's n o l gj"c a Con-
c re te idea o f the ,-ails".
I magi ne an im m e nse crowd assembled in t he expectat ion o f
wi t nf.'5sing a bu llfigh t that w ill ta ke pla c e in a bu llring that is too
small. The c ro"d "ants bad ly to e nter bu t ca nnot b e e n ti rely
accomm o da ted. r,'lany people must wait outs ide. Similarly, the
possibili ries o f life ca nnot be realiz ed in dcf nite JY'; they arc nrn-
ir ed by the space, just as t he co rry of t he c rowd i~ lim itcr] L,-' the
n u m ber 0 f s.,;,r,; in t he bu Ilring .
A first e ffect o f li lt' pre~su re wi ll be In incre.;\<;c rhe. numbe-r
01 seats in th e b u llri ng.
rr t he sec uri ry service is " e1 I'o rgani/e<1. rhi s nu mb.. r is li m ·
il.nII Jr" ci st'J)". R il l outsi,k l.h"re IlL"}" 1)(, tree s ami lamppost.., from
th <; to p o f which th" .Jr<;"" is vistbl.. , If tl lt; «.: is nO I'<;g ulac.i o n
against it , the re " ill be p e op le w ho w jl] cl im b the se tree s an d
lamppost.". Similarly, the ea rth flrsr opens to ljfc the pri mar)' space
o f the wa terv and the surface o f the ground. Rut li fe (Iuic kl y ta kes
l'
' ..... ,, <:0:: ........ 0::0 .".",, ~
possession o f the air. '10 s ta rr w it h, it ,,-as impo n ant to en la~

the surface of , he g r.....n ~"I~ta"'·.. of plants, "h>ch a bsor)l<; the
rad ia nt ene'll} o f lig ht. 1 he supcrpostnoo <11 I..;w~ in th.. air
e xtends the colc me o l rhis subst aece c.m, icl.. r.tM, : In panic ular,
the structure o f Irt"'E"S rlnd op!i mi, p"", illlh ,} "ell bc)ond the-
It"'-d of the gr.l'a:S. l or tho'ir P"" tho.. " ingnl tosec es mel th e hird ~.
in the " ili of lhe> pollen:.. in- Ilk the air.
The Second qferr of Pressure: Sq uander or Luxur}

But tht' lad : o f morn can hacr- ano the r d 1«-1: A fight rna} brc...k
o ut al the c nlnnet'. Irl h -cs a rt' lost the e xcess o rimli\ i(II1,,15 crer
the "" ",b..r .,f \rat;. " ill d ec-case. 1 his e Dect \\"01'1... in a een....
co" t",'1' to tIlt' first o "e. ~ m e ti m e§ the pressure re suhs in Ih.·
clearing 01 a new space. o t her rim e;" in th e erasing lJf \>o...., il." I,-
ncs in excess of th e ,wailnbl.. roo m . This last effc c t o pe rates in
na ture in ti lt:' most \,;) ri.·d fi ln TlS,
Th.. tm '" re markablc is death. As we krx m , dl' ;)rh i' n nt nee-

t'3o"Sa l), 'I he sill1 pll klm 'lS o l'l ill: are im mo""I: 'nit' !>irtll of ;" 1 o rgan"
ism rcprotl uc <-od rhroug h schsil'a ril) i,lo\l in th.. ru in s of rim e.

Indeed, il Ulnnot be !>Clid 10 h.H .. had peo-r us. ·ral... lor exam ple
the doubles A' ancl A", w..."lting f. o m thoc 'pli ttin~ in t" () of A; A
tw. nol ceased Ih ing " ith the c.om i"i! into bci 'l~ of A'; A' i.. " il l
A (and tfw g mc i~ t rue o f A" ). llul le t us S111'lX>M' (Ih is is pur..l)
th..o rchcal , for thto pu tpose' of derncresrrari on] tha t IlIth.. begin-
ning o f Iir.. t ..... re """ j llst o m: of t hese infi ni lninW creatures.: It
"-OlIlel nont'th.-l t'M h", .. qllicl.l) (lo pu latcJ the- ea lth wit h Its S()C-
ci e-s. Afln a short umc. in t heory, reprod uc t io n wo uld han '
I,...o::-om" impossi bl" for J",,'" of mom , and tht' t'11C'rg) it ut ili7t·~
could have d i ~$"i(l.lIl'd g.• in Ih t· fo rm of hea r, "-\olt'()\cr. this
is " ha t happees to o f ,h.. 'iO' m i cro-o~gani §ms , dllcl. ....ced ,
which co,t'n. a po n ti " im a llrcen film , afte r wh tc h it rrma tnv in
eq ui librium. f or lilt' tlud,,, ecd, sp.JCc is ~jn'n " ithin Ihe 11.1Tm'1vl)
l'
L " "' S O F G ENE" " L E C O N O "',
de tcnnmed lirmrs o f a pond. But the stilgn;lt io l\ 01 ti ,e .tll cb,,~...:1
is not c onceivable o n th e scale of the entire globe. " her~ in an y

case the n ecessa ry e q u ilibri um is lackinj.!. It can be j.!ranced (the-
ort'tically) thilt a P,...SSUlT e veryw he re equal to itself would result
in a state of rest. in a general substituti on of he ar lo ss K)J" repro·
ducri on. Bu t re al pr e ssure ha-, diffe ren t re su lts: It pUIS u ne q u al
OIgan imls in co mp e titi o n" ith o ne ano the r; and although we can-
n ot say h m ' t he species take IMI1: in t he dance , we Can say what
the da nce is.
Be vides t hp pl' (" rna l an ion o f lif" (cl imatic o r volcan ic p he-
nom e na), the uneve n ness o f P I"CS.'iIJlC in Ii , ing m atter contin ually
makes avail able t o grow t h the p lace le ft vacant by death. lt is no t
a new sp ace, amI if nne c o nsid ers I if~ a<, a \\ hf)I ~ . the re is n ot reall y
growth b u t a main tenanc e o f vo l ume in b'Cne raL [n o ther ...o rds.
the po ssib le g rowth is reduc ed to a c o mpe nsa tion fo r the destruc-
ti ons t hat <I re brought a bou t.
I insist o n the fac t that there is ge ne"'lIy no grov\l h Lu t (JlIly
a luxurious squand ering o f energy in c\'el)' rorm! ., he h istory o f
life on eart h is m ain ly t he e ffec t o f J wild exuberance; t he d o mi-
nant event is the dewlopment ol lu xur j; th e production o fi nc rea\-
ingl) bu rde nsome fo rms o f li fe .
The Three Luxuries of Nature:

Eali no . Death and Sexual Reprodu ction
T h e cating o f on e "pedes by an other i<, the ~ i m ple' t f(>rrn of lu x-
u ry. T h.. p0 l'" bti "n_~ rhar w ~ r" trapp.. ,1 " y th .. (;er",,, n aT"'y
aC'1uin_.<:J. tha" ks to th o: 100.-1 sho rtage . a , ·u Jg <trI7ed kno\\"lcdgo: o f
thi s burdenso me c ha rac te r o f the indi rec t d evelo pmen t ofl ivi,,!<:
matl..r. If on.. c u ll i\'JI ..~ po tato..s o r wh..at, rh.. lal1,l\ y i..I,I in n m-
suma b le c alo ries b mu ch g reater than th at o f llv e stoc k in m ilk
and m eat for an equivalent acreag e 01 pasture . T h e least b urde ll-
S() ' n .. limn of Iif.. h rhar o f a gtt't'n micro..orga n im l (i1],mr],ing t he
B
sun's ene'R) thrHIII-oil l"'" <lCll., n o f d1l.oroph}lIl. bur J.'I'llm ll) 'r-g-
elation is less burdensome than ani m",l lir... ' 't'J..''lat ion q uidJ )
occu pi~ the a'etil",H .. ~pact:, An;ma b male it a 1~ ld of sl-,u~h ter
and exrend i t~ ~i11i], t i ..\ In th is y,-a) '; the}" th£JnSf:h't"'> t1t",..ln(>
rnoee slo« I). I" thi s respect, the wil d beast i~ at the :>I.mun it: Its
continual dcpredll t lons of dep ....,b ton. r .. pr-Cstnl an im m en..e
S<juanderirtg elf I.·rwrg~. W ill iam Rbok asle.:l the ri~ r: "I n \\ hal
<' i ~"'nl decpe o r sl.ics burned rh.. II..., o f lhi nt: q~ t· Whal , tru<. l
hi m in thi s \\-') ,,-as (h e cru cl P~Ilr", "t the li mits n f pn....ihi llt).
the riJ!Cr's im m t>mo<· powe r of eun~umption o rlife . In t he ~n ..ra l
eArneo.c....... ,. uf lili.:, the tib>er h a poinr 01extreme ill( aralesce-ncc,
Ancl l h ~ inc a1lCl('S(;cncc did in lac r hum lin.t in the remote 1.II' pths
c f thc ~k)', in th" S U II'~ Clln~lJfn pl i o ll .
I,ari ng !,ri ngs dc.lLh. but in an acc identa l lorlll. V/ tlll cflf1« ...-
able luxurie. , delilli, Wit Slaud and tnexorabte form, i~ ufl<Joub'cdJ.
I},e mmt wst1r. '1 he fragili l)'. the • .,mpl.,x il), of the an imal hod}'
alr..ally t'xl'ibib i l ~ lu xurio us (]ualit). but thi , fr.lgilir)' .\J1l1 lux -
Ill) (-ulmmatc in death , JIl\t aJ; in spael' t h e rru nk s ancllmmchcs
o r t he n-e e raise.' the- ~lIp.. dmp{)~...1 sta/,,>Cs o llhr lolilljtC to the
ligh r. dearh ,Ii~r rihlll cs tho; p;.-..,.;,go.: of t ht.: g<-ncrat ion~ ()\l' r ri m...
It (:o llstan tl ) lca H' ~ Ihe necessary room lo r I.... co m i~ of 1tM:
nc" born . and" .. a.... '> ronS! 10 CUBe 1M om " ,' /wut .. !>om ' <C'
,.-..uId flOC ".XI"I.
In rt'alit). " hc:n "e curse death W<" Ofll) k ;rr oun.t' ln '.l>: The
\C\cr1r}' o r our .. i ll is "hal ma"C"i us u-embl<". \\1. lill" 0I1JS('''~
"hen " e d ream 0 1 rK<lpt '~ the mocernen r of Juxut il' u' ('A ube r-
,U\I;X o r \>hich we ar<" o nl} the moer intrflSt> form. O r perhaps "e
onl) lic to oUr!;t'h "", In tho be ginning tM better to e"periencc

the se\e ri') o rt hi, " , II afie rward , c.~rl") i nlo! il to the rigoroos
e xtee me ofconsctousness.
In t his rcspece. IhE' h, xur)' o f "C"dl is n:ganl..d b) us in tho.'
same way as th;,t o f M' Au" lit ) . first ,n a Ilcl/:aliOl, o f o uescb e-
L A WS U~ " .. N .. " A L " "UNUM~
the n - in <I sudd..n reversa l - a, rhc pm!c)lJn.llruth ofihar m ono-

m e n t o f ", hich lile is t he mani! ...station.
Under the prese nt co nditions, independently o f o ur c o nsc ious-
ness, sex ,,,,1 re p rnrluc t inn I ~ , together w ith eating <lnd death, nne
"f lh.. W't'<lt 11I x " ri o ll ~ ,It'tlllJl'" that ...nsur.. the inte nse c o nsurnp-
t ion o f t:n.."J.V. Til I>q,<in w ith, it il'Ct'nt"at.... rh"t \\ hie h 'Ci,-,ip.lrit)'
<lnno unced: th.. divisioJl Vy w hich th e in. ! h·i d""ll ~ i ng foregoes
g rO\\ l h for hi m self and, rbrough tht: lIIult;pl ic<llion 01 ind h id u-
ills, tnnsfe rs it to th e Irn pe rso n alitv oflile. Fhis is because. fro m
th e first , sexu31i1)' differs fro m rniserlj growth: If, "ith legiln:l to
t he species, ,exuali ty ap pears as Cparate h'o m those that e ngender th e m <l nd 8111'
t11c m li fe as one 8ivc. tn tJt!>,,,. BIlt wit ho ut renou ncing a sub,c-
(11It'n t return to t ht' principl.. o f growt h for t he period of nutri -
ti on, the r..p ro duc tion o f the h ig.l,..r an i"",I, has n o t ".."'H ! to
d e e pe n the fa ult rha r sepa rate-s il fro m tlt c , im p l,' 1.. n. \e no.: ~· to
1'-'3t in order to incre ase volume an rl powe r. For lh..-se all;Hlills sex-
lJal re produc tio n is t he occasion of a sudden 3n d fnn lie squan-
d..ri ng o f .. Ilt'rg )' reSOlJrce~ , Glrrie. 1 ill a moment to the lirm r 01
possiLiHt}'(in ti m .. " h~t the 1iger is in 'I),Ke). ·) h is s'lualldering
goes far beyond II hat wo uld be sllfficient fo r the gro\\ th 01 rh..
s pcc tcs. It app e ars t o be th e mos t t hat an ind ivid ual has t h e
strt'l1:/-! rh TO accom plish in agi"en momen t. It leads 10 the who le-
SOl ie des truction o f p roperl y - in sp iri t , the d est ru ction o f bod-
ies a:. we ll- anduht rnatelj- connectv up wit h the senseless luxurj
an d exccsv o f d eath.
Ex te nsion Th rolJoh Labor Dlld TeclIIlDIOflY.

o lld the /.ux lJ ry Df MOrl
fI.'I <ln's dL t i..ilf i, I>a'ica ll}' n llld il ion..,1 h}· 11 Ii ~ g..n t'ral m.....·..m..nr
H
H -E ,, " " U R S E D So<"''''
o f life. In a sense, in c.>t('flJion, h.~ aelivil}' o pt' ns lip a nt' ''" pos,i-
blli t}' to life. a new space (as did tree branches an, lllir,] win~,\ in
nalun:). Tl w ~P<lCt' t hai labo r anc1 technical kn o,, -ho" o pen to
th e in c re ased reproduc tion of ITlt'n is nut, in t h.. I'r" p..r M' nM',
ont' t h"t life I"" not )'1"1 popula ted. BUI human activity transform -
ing lilt' world allgrm;nl s rh.. m ass ol lh ing m'ltte r " it h supple-
men ta ry apparatuses. compoved o f an i m me nse 'I"antit)" of ine rt
m"Ucr, which consi' !erab lr lncrea ses th e resources of a...nlablc
" "" rgy. Fro ", Ih" first , Illan has ttlt' 0pt'o n ofllti li7lng parr ofthe
available e ne rgy for th e growth (n o t bio logical but t echnical) 01
his .. rwrg}' wea lth. T he techn iqu es have in short made it possible
to exte nd - 10 ,!""..,Iop - the elementar )" m ove ment of g rowtb
thai life realives w ' lh' n the limits 01 the possible. Of co urse, t his
,1t',-t'lo pHlt'nt is nt'ith..r ccnrinuo us nor boundless. Som etimes the
cessatio n 0 1 de vel o pme nt corresponds t o a ~ tagn a t i o n of tech-
niqucs: o t her t tm es, t he in,-enti"n of new rcchnlqucs leads to
a re, ul'gt'nce . 'I he growth of e nerg y reso urces can Itself se rve ""
th e basis ora re sumption of bio loglcal (d em ograp hic) gnM lh. T Ilt"
hi s t(J t~ 0 1 l-uropc HI the nin eteenth century is t he best (and be st
• know n) Illusrratton of th ese vast living proliferations 01 " hicl ,tc, r!l ·
,
•
nical equipment is the ossat ure: \ \ 'e an: aware of t he CJ>tent o f
the popnla rion ~rowth li nked at lirst 1O rh c rise 01 ind ll ~ l r},
! n actual fact the qu antttati vc rel ati o ns "fl'0pulallotl ami !.cx,l-
"'ilking - and. in gcne ral, t hl' co ndit io ns of econom ic devel o p-
men t in hiMor)' - arc subject 10 so many in terfere nces Ihat it i ~
alway s d ifHcuh to de[ermi" c their exact d tstrtbution. In any ca.....,
I cannot inc o rpo rate detailed ana lyses in to an 0' <:1',,11 survey t hat
see ms th e only way' o f olltl ining the vast m ow m cnl " hi" h ani-
HIMes the earth. BUl t he recent decline in de mographic grow t h
by itsel f reveals the co m plexity ol'l lw eff~ l~ . Tht' fa,:t is lhat l he
ll'vh -ah of d evel o pme nt that arc due to hum an activity, Ih"l ar..
mac! e po ssible or maintaine d by new tec hmques, always have a
"
d ou b le e ffec n lnirially, d leYuse a po rtion o trbe s " rpl ".~ ..nng y,
bu t then t he y produce ~ large r an<I larg ..r ~" '"p I ,,~. T hi ~ ~ urp l lJ~
,,-",'entlla l1y <onh'ilJ"tt"S to making ~~~""lh mo.... . liffin ,lt, fu r g row Lh
no long..r ,,,me.., to 11M' it lip_ Al a ce-rtai n point th e ",I"an tage
o f ..xte ns j" n is ne utralize d by the cont raly ad\-antage, that o fl ux-
ur}'; the jo rmc r remains o perati ve, b ill in a disappoi nting - uncer-
tain , o lt en powe rless - ,,-a}_ The drop in t he d e m og raph ic curves
i ~ perhaps the firs! indicator o f the chang e o f sign that has occurred:
Hen cdorth " hal ma tte rs primorilJ' is no lo nge r to <leYelo!, the !'ro-
ductivc fo rces but to spen d thei r product s ~u rn pt llous ly.
At this po in t _ im me nse MJ uande rings a~ aboue to lake place:
Alter a cen tury o f popu lat ing a nd o f indusrrt al peac e , the tem-
p orary li mi t o f d ev elopmen t be irlj! .. nco untered , til e t wo "orl,]
wars o rga nized t h e g re'lIe-x t o rg ies o f " e a ll h - arid o f h u m an
beings - th~1 hisl ory has r..co rd..d . Yet l h,~ urg ie~ coind d .. " jLh
an a l'l'rt'dah l.. rix.. in th.. g..n..ral ~ t ~n<lard o f li\ ing: T h.. ma joriI)'
o f Ih.. po p ulation I,../lt'fits fmm mort' and more ullpro<1uc ri\'e sc r-
\-je..s; "" rk is red uced anti " age s a re increased o ccrall.
Thus, ma n is o nlv a roundabou t. ~ u b., ir1i ary res ponse 10 the
pro ble m of g ro" t h. Doubtless, t h rough labor an d te chni que . he
has m ad e possible all ex te ns ion o f grow th be~~ mtl th.. " i.-C I1 lim -
its. But just as the IlCrbi n m : relati ve t o t he 1,Iant, a nd the c a rn i·
vorc -cla rfvc t o th e herbivore , is <l lu x ut}', ma n is tilt' most suued
o f a ll Ii\·ing bod ng' to consume intt'nsely. su m pt uously, the excess
e ne rgy' offererl up by the p reSM lt't o fltle to cun llag r.n io ns befit-
tilll': the solar origins o f i l~ 1I10 ve ment .
Tile A ccursed Shore

T h i, tru th is parad o ejc al, 10 the ex tent of be ing exactly con t:J,u)
to ti lt' usual l'e)"{;" I,t ion_
' fl u s pa rad ox ical c haracteris unde rscored by Ihe tact that , C\~
at t he h ighc.~t po int o f e xu berance, it s sign ifica nce is st ill veiled .
l7
a .., l<CC'JRSu) s ..... ,,~
Under p.-csenl co ndit.ions, n ,; ryl hing r-onspires 10 obsc ure the

ba.~l c m oveme nt t hat tends to r..slor.. ",.,,,lt h to irs fu nct ion, to
g ifr-gh· ing. t o squanderi ng without r..ciproc"lio n. On th.. one
hand. me chanized warfare. prodUCing its raveges, chdr..ctni~..,s th is
JTl{ 1W " ,.. nt,,~ w", ..thill£ alien, host ile to humi\f1 " ill. On the DIller
l)dmt. l h.. raising o f th.- sta ndard oflidng is in no way re pre sen ted
as a rcqutrcmem o f l"xury. T h.. rnov.. me nt rh a r dem ands lt is C'>"C n
a pro tcst aga inst the lux u ry of lht- ~r",lt I{ ,ITUnel;: t hus the d e mand
ma ck In the name o f ju,'iu. Wi l houl h'''i ng a nrthin~ against jus-
li ce. obvio usly, o ne nlily be allow ed to point o ut t hat Iwre rhc
word conceals th e p ro found truth o f its con trary. w hich i.~ pre -
c h d)' fIefdom. Under the mask 0 1 juvtice , it is nile that ~e neral
freedom take s Oil the lackluster and neutral appearance o f n isl<:'nc<:'
su lJjecte<llo th e necevsmess If an)t hil1!!. it is a narro" ing 01 li m-
its to what is most jllst; it is n o t a dan~CTo us breaking-loose. a
m"'aning rh.u rh e wo rd h as lost. It is a guaran tee against rh.. risk
01 ~rv; tuc ! .., not a "i ll ro "ssurne rbose risks w ithout w h ich there
is n O freedom.
Opposithm of the "General" Viewpnillt to

the "Particular" Viewpoint
or COUTSe, the fact o f'bei ng ali-aid. o f tm ning aWOl} fro m d rno.·,, -
me-nr of d ilapidat io n. w hic h impe ls us and even dcfints us, is not

~ lJrpri'i ng. T he conseq uences o t this movemen t a re di ~l re~s i n~
fro m t h.. s ta rt , T h., im 3gt' of t he tiger revea ls the t rut h of eat ing .
Deat h has become our l1Ormr, i1ncl t houg h in a sense rh.. filet of
being c..rmvo rous and of racinl/: d eath br.we l), a nswers to th ..
demand o f viril it} [ bu t. that i~ a di ffe rcnt rna ere rl] ; sexuillitf is
linked to the scandals 01death and rh e ea t in~ ofrnenr,e
lJut thi s at mosphere o f malcdlcrion pre~ u ppo!>Cs an~lI ish. and
angUish lor its parr signilics the at.-IKc (or " .. a kn",~~J of the pres-
Slife exerted b )' th e exu be rance o rl il" . Anguish dris..s "hen th e
,8
L"W S O ~ ' ' '' ' ' ' ' '' '' . " C O N OM~
an x ious ind ivid ual is not hunself srrc rche d rigll t by tilt' fe..li ng o f
sU IX'rab u nrlann-. Th is is pre cise ly w hat evinces th e iso late d , iudi-
' i d "al d IMdctt'T o f angu ish. -I hen- ,;;In Ilt, nng u ish o n ly fro'" ., pt.-t·
so nal, portkular point o f vi,,",,· that i ~ I<ld icitll) o pposed to tilt' 8ffiCral
po int o f view based o n t h. - exub...ranee o fl ivinjl; matt~ r a, a whole.
Angu isll is m..a n ing l.. ss for so m..o n" who owrflows w ith lif.. , .md
fo r ltf.. as a wh o l.. , wh ic h is an o\'t' rllow ing b} its '"u)' lldlur.. .
As fo r the p n>s,'nt h is torical situation. it is characte riz ed by
tilt' fact 111.11 jllllgm.. ms co nCt'nJ ing t h .. J,rnera! si tuation pron~d
Im m a pmt iw/l1r poin t o f , icw, A, a rule , portkull1r ..,,,i,,I"I"I(;" alwdy"
ri sks succum b ing for lac k o f reSOllTCOOS. It co ntras ts w ith EF'let<J}
e xis tenc.. who s.. reso urces arc in cxc.. ss and tor w h ich dea t h has
no meaning, Fro m th.. p<Jrlfw}<lr point o f "i.·\\", the p roble ms art'
posed m lll<: Iml illltUlicr b)' a d dki..rlol) uf resources. The} arc post:'<.!
in rh~ ]ir..., insUmce by an excess of reso urce s if om- start s fro m the
fPwm/ point 01 view, Douhdess t he p roblem o f ex treme pov{" r!}'
re mai ns in an} cas.'. Mo reover. it shou ld b oo u nderstood that EF'1-
eml crollo my m usr a lso, \\"h ene,·cr po~i ble and firs t of all, envis-
ag" th e d n ..lo p ment o r gro\\"tn, But if it cot1\i, lt,rs pOH~n) o r
g row th , it ta kes into accoun t tlu- Iimi ts t hat the OIW and tIlt' o the-r
ca n no t I~il t o c ncoun w r am i the d omi nan t (d .'C i ~ ive ) character
o r th.. pro blems th at follow frOTH th e existence o f surpluses.
Bri c fly consideri ng all examp k-, th o: pro bl..m or e xt reme lXl\" -
erty in In eli a ca nno t im m e d i:ltd y be di ssociated fro m rill' demo-
g rdp lli<: growth 01 t har <;ou n try, o r fro m th e lac k o f p ropo rtion
with it..\ industria l development. Ind ia's po sstbtltucs of ind ustri al
g row th can not t h e m se! ves b.' rltssocta red from th" excesses o f
Anwrkan n~"' Jllr<;c\. A ty pica l p rol>l..m o r fl<'ncral Cl;>?<1Om, " e"''''g''''
fro m t h is situa rlon. 0 0 lh., one h" ",J, the re app~,m; the nft,d for
a n ex ndarion; on th e other h an d , th e n.-eil for a growt h. T he pre-
sent st..t .. o f d ,to ,,"orld is .1.,1, 0 ",:1 I'Y t.l,.. un",".."n l'S..\ o r th e ( r'U:lO-
tl tative o r q uaIi11l1;' 00) pre-ssure exerted by h u man liroo. Gt'llna l
19
t:Cooom} ltugg~h. t here forc , :l~ .a C'Krt"C1 upC.'r;'lt ion. .a I r.l"ltfter o f
Am t-rica n wcaldl to India wi t hQUt n ..:ipn ><;;\li on. T his pro posal
ta k..., into acc ount ,h.,th n-a t '0 America d 'l3t ",o u M Il~ ~ll i l from
Ih., pn:....' tm· - an d liite irnb ;l l~ nr.;t·~ o f pn 'SSUf(' - e M'rled in th"
wo d,! ll) Ih., d"H·lopm''fIL~ o j H indu lit.-.
I he\C.· corn.i<kr.lIinrn. nt'C'"\.loJ.ril} fin : Gr.-t pnoti l} to thl' pml,.
k ill 01 wa r, "hit;h can be cJl:'O\rl} 1l~~oanlc•.1 onl} in the li)l.ht o f a
fu nc!;lnwntal cbllllition. l llt' ON) 'iOlution ~ In raising Ihf' ~Iobal
ltl,\!l(lanl of n, ' OK und er th.. lurr..n r moral condition!>. Ill(' onlr
ml'~ o f a bsnrbi ~ rhe Am.. ri ull surplus, I h.·rc ~ r..duc·i'l! rhe
pressure ro bel ow LIlt" d.1ngcr point.
'1 his theoretical ,:" nt.;" pt io n <li ni: r~ lilll... frlll ll th e cmplnc al
,icwlt that ha,e "'cen ll} " I'pt'a rt'tl co ncc nl lfl}; tilt' SU I~I'l t , but it
~ m o re radscal, and if is inl<:n ,., ting 10 nole th at d ll-"5o<.' 'il.....~ ha<,-e
~rrt'tl with the ab<n'('

id",u , ,I hich "crt' conce h t:-d c ..rli",r: This
conflrmalion };;'~ a&iNl ~t1 I . it seene, to IlOdt c onlT..dkti orts.
Th e Solut ions of Ce ne rat t.wnomy an d

"Selj -Con.n:iolJ!Jnt!ss..
,
•
Uul it has to I,.. ,'I(lJed at o occ rhar, I"lwn-"'r wd l....Jd ;nl·J II,.. s"lu-
• li o n s. their nnph-mcntat jon u n tlk' r(·qu irt·J sa l ~ is so J iffil:UIt
lhal f~om thO:' OU IM'I the undcn;lki ng har(lI } looL. t'ncourag irl};.
", he loo'.-erical so lution exills; inclCt:'d . Ib n<'ct:">.~i t } is tar Irom
1'SC;lping rh e nOt ice o f those on whom the decision St''''ll~ t o
dep':nd. N....H1hcl.-ss.. ,)lId ...... n mon- dearl}. "hal DeIICTOI ~r
defines hr.t is thO' (' ''plosh-c c har acu. e- o f Ih is \101'1<1. ca rr iel! ro
L1 w e xtr e m e d<::J:n<.<or c"plo-i'1;" tl'n~io" 111 th.. prl'St'nl ru ne. A
curse obviousl y weigh", on human life inso far <IS it doc , nor have
the slrc r~ th 10 control d ,'crligillo u~ movement. It m USI I,.. sea red
as a princi ple, wit hout ~s lt;\lioll . t hat the lirti ng o r weh a curse
clcpt:n<ls o n rnotn ;lI\c1~" on ilion. Bul il urtnOl: be lifted iflhe
Ill()\y lTlt'Tlr from " h ich il e m.lnate. dol.... nut apPear c l...ari} 1Il un·
'"
'{Hiu.me.... In I h i ~ regard it seems ra t he r d i""p poi nling LO have
nothing mo re to propose , as a r.. med r Il" the catastrop he Ihal
t hreatens, than rh.. " raising o fth", livin g standard.' This recourse,
as I haw said , i ~ linked to a r~fmnl to sec, in its fruth, r1w ..x igellc}'
10 " hic h the recourse is in t.. nd..tl lo respo nd.
Y.·t if o ne co nsiders at the same rime th e .\e.alness and the
virt ue o f this SO lu t iOll. Iwo things become inune..d iatel) app<1.fenl :
that il is till' o nl} one Ca l~l lJ le of rathe r wide ace ..p raoce; d Il( l that,
d ue to i l~ equivocalnatura, it provo kes and srimulares an .,flort of
luc idity 01.11 th", gn'a l",r fo r """eming to be far n-movcd Iror nsuch an
effort. In this way t he avoidance of rh .. trut h t'nsu re., in reciprocal
fashi on, a rcctJgn ilio n o f the trut h. III any cas .., Ihl' mi n c1 o f con-
tf'mporary man wo uld be rel uct ant to c m brac.. solut io ns t hai , not
bdng nl'gal ;' .., were e m phat ic and arbitrary: it (Jl'efcn t hat exern-
plary rigor o f consciousness which ..lone Inay slo\\ Iy make human
lit....ommens u rate w ith its t r ut h. T he cx posieton o f a flCtlcral
"{Q1J(.IfJ~r im pl ies lnt c rvt>nl io n i ll publ'" "fT",in;, certainlJj b u t first
of allil nd mun· pro tiJundl y, "hilt;t ai ms 01.1 is consciousness, w hat
irlooks TO from tlu- o uaset. is the 'cll-coruaoumcrs that man wou ld
r. n ~J1} ac hieve in the lucid v;si"n 01 its linked historical forms,
Th us, ffClll'r<11 emnoml lx'gins wi lh an account o f th.' lusrortcal
d at a, rd at ing t he ir In.'ani ng to th .. presem dow,
,'
P ART Two
The Historical Data J
The So c l e t j o f Co ns u m p t io n
Sa c ri fi c e s and "Van; of the Az t e c s
Society nj' Consumption and Society 0/ Enterprise

I wi II d.. scri be St'b uf social facts mani ft';!;ling a gt::neral move m..1ll
of Ih,' ..COIlOI1l>,
I \\,,.,,l1O Slal.., a principle fm lTllhc oulsd: fly tld, nil ion, Ihi s
mo vement, lhe dfe'~l 01 w hich is pl"O(liga li ly, is far from bei ng
e 'i " ,,1 to i l ~el f . \Vhi le ' he.... is an "X';es~ o f res Olin ;"", o H::r n e .. ds
(lll,.. "i ng r...iil ncn l" suc h lh" l a ~ociny WO U1.1su Ilcr if ti ll'" "'CrC
not 5ol t islit:,l) , th ts ex cess i~ not a lway' consume d to no p U'"]XlM'.
So<;i..ty <;a n grow, in whic h ca.w t h....xct'''"' is .l.-liber"t.. J)' .....'i('rv 1
for grO\' lh. (jrowth n -gulari z" , ; il chan nds a dtvord..rly e fkn ~-
cence into the regul arit y 01 p rod uct ive o peratio ns. Rut growt h,
to wh ich is t il,"d t h.. devdo pmt'nt o f knowk,Ige, i, by n~ t ure a
tra nsitory static. It cannot conti nue inde flnitdy. Man's sd.. nee obvi-
omly has t o c orrec t (h e pers pectives that result from (he hiMurl-
c a l condhtc ns o f its d aoorMi on. Nothing is m ore .1 iffi::ren t from
ma n enslaved to the o peratio ns o f growth than ( he Il:" l3ti\"t:: ly free
m an 01 stab le soc ie ties. The c ha rac t er o f hllrna n lili::: c hangl:"!i th e
m oment it ceases to be ,lluioe d by fantasy and ~-,gin s to /lie d the
d e ma nd s o f u nderrakings rha e e nsure rhe p rolife ration o f giwn
wo rks. In the same wa)" the [ac e o f a m an c ha nges ifht' goes fro m
tht, turbulenn' o f lilt' night to the serio us b usiness o f thl' morn -
, " ~CCu R5",' S"" R F
in~. The serious humanity o f growth becomes c ivili ll'·,1, mOT(' ge n-

tl e, hil t it tends to nlllfuw g'~ l1 l1 "n<;~, w ith the , ..Iu<; .. f lil... a nd
Iil,: \ tranq u il dureuon with i t~ poetic d}'n.1mism. Um..k-r these c on-
d it io n s th e cleM k nowl .. dg" it g" ll.. rall y h a s of th ing' c all1 lOt
become a ful l self-know ledge. h b m i51,·O IJ) "hat it takes tor full
h u manity. th at i" human it}' ,U "1Jrl, Ih ing in order to wo rk " ith-
OU t eve-r tu lly .. njuyi ng th e fruit , of us labor. Ofeou r~e . thoo man
who is n: lati\'l'l) idle or at lcasr uncon c erned abour hlv ac hieve-
rnen t, - lht: typt discussed in both tlh n<Jgraph) an d hisl OI")' -
i, n ot a corl'um m"t.· 111<\[1 <:itlwr. Kut 11'0 helps us to gaugt· that
w h ich we l",c l.:.
Consumption in th e Al'tec \Vo,.,d y;e w

"J be Anff s, "hour whom I "ill 'p".. k first , arc IlOk , <l,JMrt from
ll~ m OIOlIl ). ,\s a civifization is judg t-d ~, iv. worb. tht'ir ci' ilin,
ti on seems w retched to us, f he y used wri ting a m1 were versed
ill ",t",nom)', but ..11 rhcn - importan t uml.. n akings ",,'n ' usdes,:
T h ei r sc i<:nce of architecture enabled them to c onstruc t pyr.lmt(b
'l!l tu l' of whi c h l.l,..\, illunol;' l" d h lllll.ml Jei ngs ,
-I hei r world vicw i~ Singularly and diametrical ly o ppo sed to
t he acrtvtty ori"nred p,' rsp ..r t i, .. that wI, h<lH'. Consurnprt on
loomed just <IS larg " in th eir t hi nk ing a' pro,luclinn docs in ours.
'l"11<'Y were [usr ~, concerned abou t sarr,!irITl f/ ;1\ wI" ~ rt' about
"vrkmB'
The sun himsel f wa~ ill t ht' ir eyev t he ,'x pyt'""ion 01 \acr ilk ...
I k w<l.\ a god .-e\ e m bling man. Ht' had be-come the sun ~. hurl -
ing h imse lf into the' flames o t a bras fcr,
T Il(' Spa ni, h Franciscan Bernard ino de Sah al<un, w ho w rote
in t he middle of ti lt' 'ixtec nth century, repo rts what some old
A; I" cs told h im :
I t is ,'\<l id Ih.U Ix 'iore Ih" ligh t o f day existed, the g '){!- ass em-
hl....l at the place call..d "le-otihaucan ... ano.I spoke among them-
selves, ~} ilIg : " \\'1,0 \' ill rake it upon himl.t:' lf t o bring light 10
, h{· worklr On hear ing rhese wOr<b, a god c alled T<:c ud n t"C"t1
p r~s ..nt..d hirm.. lf an d rcpli..d: "I willbe the one. I will brirlJ;!
light t o the \' orld ." T he gods then spoh' "!lain and said: "\Vho
d se amo ng you?" T hey loo ked at on" ..nol hn th" Tl , wond .. r
ing w ho thi s wo uld be, and none dared accept t he chargtO: all
""..rc afraid and made excuses, One o f the ,gods who usually
wem unno ric cd did not say anyt hing hut o nly lisl..ned III wl,al
the o ther ,!lods ""..,'.>~)ing. The cth.. 1> spo ktO 10 him. !taying.
" Ld it b.. yo u, bubosJlO." AmI he glad I}' acce p!{'d. l"l'P1ying: " I
receive your order gratdully; so Ill' it ." And th.. two th at \\~r"
chose n btgJO immedi..teJ) 10 do pe n<lnce. wb ieh last ed four
days. fh .. n a fire was li t ill a hearth made in a rock. . .. T he
god named 'Icc uctzrccarl o ulv Off{'H'il costly thi ng.~ . InSl"o1tl
of b ranc hes he offered ric h le athe rs ca lled 'lurtwlll; in~t "<ltl l) f
grass b.11lS h" offe n-d go ld o nes; instead o f meguvy ~ pj l1es he
offered spin..s made with precious ~tones; and m~tead of blood-
ied spines he offered sp inl>' o f n ..I co ral. AOll rh.. copal he
offered was 01a \ eI) high qualirj. Th{' bvOO50, w],oSt.~ name was
Nanauatztn, ofTcr.. d nin e g reen water rus h("s bound in t hrees,
ins k ad of o nlina ry bran ches. lit: o ff{'l"{·lI ball~ of gras\ anti
m 01.j:!:ut'y spines bloodied " ith his o""n blood, and i n~t .. ad " f
copal h.. " fTnt~l\ tlw sca bs of his bubru.
A to wer was made lor each of t h""e t wo gods, in th.. fo rm
of a hill. O n the se hil b tht'y . li.I pt' nan{;t' fo r four nigh " .. ..
Afi..r th.. rour nights 0 / pe naocc were com pletccl. th{· braoch{'s
and all lht' ot her o b jects th e)' had used ,,{'re t hrow n down
tht'le. Th{' followi n~ night,,, little hdi,l1.' m idn ight, wh..n Ih..y
were IU do their o lfice, ' Ii-cucizrecatl was gh-ell I->i~ a.\nmmenLs.
These cons ist..d of a headdr es s of ,rLlaWfrul] feathe rs and a sleeve-
less jacke t. As for Nanauat vin, t h{· h"ho<o, they rtcd a pa pt< r
headdress, call..t1 (mj(Jt~(Jnt/;, O il his hair lInd gil"l' hi m a paper
stole and a JXlp.. r rag lor paJll5 tu "''''' '-. \V h.." mi dni ght h"d
come, all the gods gatlwred round the Il.. arth, which "<IS 1.:<lII..d
t ootc>:mlli, wh e rc the fir" had burn,·d fo r fo ur .1,,)',.
'I II") ~"par.lI..d lnro t wo lin es o n t he t wo sides of the fi re.
TI,.. t wo ,;h05en on.. s roo k th d r places near the hea rth. with
their faces to the Iir.., in the middl.. of th,· two lin.., of ~d~.
T h.. latte r wert' .all sla nding and the) spoke t" 'l.. lut'in..L.. t1,
"' ying: "c,,, " n. Tecuciztecatl . Cast yoursel f into th.. fire!" H..ar-
ing t his, he started to th row h im sdfin to t he flam..s, bUI lilt'
fire "G,!; burn ing Iligh and I'ery hot. ilnd h" slopped in lear and
drew bac k. A second time he gath e- r..d his 5t n'n~th and rumcd
to throw hi mself into th,' fire, but wh..n he got ncar he slOl'p'",I
and did not dare ~ furth, 'r; four tlrncs h, ' tried , but cou ld nul.
Now, it had I:>....n o rd.-re<l t hat no one co uld try more than four
tim..s, so wilen th.. four attelllpt' hac! been made th,· gods
addres s..d !\a"auatfi", say illg: "Go o n, Nanau atain. It is your
turn 10 rry!" As SOO n as these wonb were said . h.. sh ut his ~=
anel, t:.l ing courage, went forward and t hrew himself int o t h..
fire. 1-1.. lWJ!an a t om:e t o crackle and siule lile somet hi ng
bdng roast ed. Su-ing lhat h.. hilc! th"Jwn himself into Ih" ti re
end was burning, Tccucizrecatl also GIst himself into th" Homes
a nd burn ed. h is said that an '·ag le ",.. nr into li n" fire at th..
s,,"'{' ti me and bUIll" d. and this i ~ why th e cagle has scorched-
luu king and 1,lad.e- ned Icar he rs. An ocelot follo wed t111'r..at-
t cr bUI d iu not bum, o nly bt' ing singffi, and this i' ",hy the
ocelo t rema ins spotw ,l black and whi t ... 1
A sho n whi k lat er, ha" ing fallen On lh ..ir k.......s, the gods
saw Nanaearain, " who had beco me the Sun," rising in the East.
"H,· loo k..d "ery red, appearing to ' way from side to side . and
none of the m co uld ke..p th ei r .}<:>o On him , I,,'<:auw he blinded
the m w ith his li gh t . H .. shon.. " rig ht!) w ilh hi s ra ys Ihat
reac h e d in .,11 d irect io ns." T he moon in tu rn rose up ever the
h od /o n. Bt'CCltLW hi' had he-s itau-d, ' Iecucfvtecat l sho ne levs
bright l}'. T ht'n th" !-ouds h ad TO clie; the wi mJ, Q ut'L/.alcuatl ,
ktlled the m all: T h e wi nd t o re out tht"i r hearts and us"..d. th em
to an ima tt' fh e newborn stars.
This my th is pa-atleled by th e belief th at no t onl} m,' n b ut

a lso wa rs were created "so tha t rhere would 1:It' peop le "hm'"
hearts anti bl oo d cou ld ~ take-n so th at tilt' sun m igh t eat."2 Like
rhc m yth , th is bdio:f o bvicuslv CO n~e}s
an ex treme value p lac ed
o n c o n\ u m p t in n. Eac h year, in h nnnr o f th e sun , t he /l,kx ica n'
observ e d lht' fo u r da p o f last ing tha t wt'rt' o bserved b} lil t' goo,.
T hen th"} im m o lated lepers who were like th e LuboS<! wirh his
sk in d ise ase, rot in the ir rm n ds t hought was on l} an exposition
o f actio ns.
Th e Hu m an Sac ritices of lHl'xico

\Ve h.we a full e r, m OT(' viv id kno wl e dg e o f the h uman S<loilkes
o f Mc"in J than Wt: do o f tho s... " f "arli n e.i llws; "lo uhtk ,.\ I.ht'y
represent a n ape x Ofi lO TTOr in the cruel c hain o f religious r iles.
T h" p ri est~ k ille d t hei r vic t ims on to p o f tho pyram ids, Th,'}'
wo ultl st re tch the m over a stone a lta r anl1 st rike t h, 'm in t he c hl'..t
with an o bsid ia n kn itt. J hey wou ld tear ou t t he sti1l -
be"t ing he-art and rais... it th us to tht' SWl. Mos t 0 1 l ilt' victims were
p ri sone rs or war, w h ich justi flc (1 t h", idee o f wan, as necI's...ar} to
tht' lifl' o f th e sun : \V.lI'S we<ln t co nsumptio n, no t conlJuest, and
th e /l.1cxicans t h u ug h t t ha t if th ey ceased t he SUIl would CC<lSC
to g ive lig ht .
"A ro u nd 1'.3st,'r tim e ," t h" y u n, lt'rtoo k the ....acrificial sla) ing
o f a you ng man of' irr e pr oa c ha ble be aut )'. He was chosen from
among the capt ives th e pre v io us year, a nd fro m t hat momen t he
I tved lilt, a great lord . " I Ie we nt t h ro ugh tht' w hole tow n \'f·ry
,, 0.:11<lr..""..<.I. wtrh n OW(" ~ in hi~ '-and and x:colllp.inierl b. eer-
tain p"'r.;on."J ili~ II.· "euld I......., gradou~l} 10 all whom he mu,
and tm,. a1l lll"" he " , b Ihe imago- o f-lt'lC<11ll ipoc.a r0,.... .. f . he
gn-al....t ~h] an<.l prostratt'd Ihe.Jl5t'h'n bt:lore him , ,,,...... i l'pi~
him " h........ e r t1wy me t hl m." l Som..-tiln("'< h{' cou ld 1>1: !lC.·.. n in
the I.. mp\.: un 101' (If rhe p) ramid of Quauduacako : "Up 1m'll.'
he would pta} I N- n Ul. · <II nigtM or in dw da)·limt'. '\ hicho."\(.,. lim...
he wio.h(·d to do lr, Aft" . p la) ing 1h.. ll u..t , h c tOO ,. ou ld '"In
i llC~ u ...-am th<.' roUI pltrtS of Ih.. .... orl d, a nd tbeu rca um hoffit' ,
10 h i, room ."" I ,..... 1)' CIIrE' ,,'a>. tal('11 10 1'11SU1.. t h.. c1q;arx:I' and
princd ) dist tnc t ion o f IIh Iil... " If, ..lUI' 10 rhe gaud t rcarme m
h e gn'" SIUIlI_ Ih l'} would lI\dl c him d rink ~ h - " Ol tt'r IU kl'l'p
!Jender,'" ..T,....lI ty doTp pn:vious to lilt' fc. t i...a] !lll"} ~an' lhi , j out h
four maidrns, wI·1I p l'cp~ r.', l and educ ated 10 1 lh i~ pUlpO''', Dur
ing those I"..nl y d..p Ill' h~cl (~' rndl inte rco ursl' with I!lC!lt· uraid-
ens. Thl' fou r girh t1l<'y !!<lW him ~ , wives and Wll0 had bee» rcd~d
" i th special C<lI'C for Ihat pU"I J<Y.. e wer e g i\"l'n »a mc s 0 f four ROll.
Jc;",t'~ , . . . I in- Jays before h o: was 10 ..lie rh..) g" 'I' ft- ~Ii , i l i c s
for h im. banq ue-ts hdd in c ool a nd ga} places, d l1(l llM n) chi.. f-
ta i~ and prorninenr flt'0ll l~' accom panied him. O n tlu ..ta) of th..
lc' ti,-aI "h~T1 Iw "as 10 (lit' Iht') tool h im 10 an Orol IO')'. " hieh
r'"-'r calledL bcucbcalco . gcfor.. r..olChing i I , il l a " IK (' called
T lap inlO'l ian, rbe "'om(·" see p pcd asi de ami Irh hi m . A~ hI' b"Ol
10 d,~· p i...... "h.'to;: he \\-;IS 10 be lilled. h{' mo un l..d t he' ~lqJ!o II)
hi m~"f .and on (·ar.h , lilt' " l i t - he brule one of the Iluc cs " hich
hc had pla)l"t.! during Ih.. ~ ..ar."(, "H(C w.as a"ai t~'d ill 1h4: t u p b)
tlw SOImt p- or priests " ho were to kil l him, and Ihc..c IlOI\ J:rabill-d
him and t hre\\' him u n lO Ihl' stone block, ami, hold itlJ.! him Il}
fecI. rn n<.b and hearl, Ihl"O\'·n On his ~ l , lhe- ('ri"!1 "ho had Iht'
Slvne l nilC bu ri ~ ;1 with a mi/.....'y rhru~r in the , ictim'! bt-col~t
"nd , " flff dra" illlo: il Ou l , th rust one hanfl into Ihl' op<'lli,'II. and
tore our t he healt , ", hie h hc al OnCt' OffN.. c-l lu lho- sun ....'
<.
Re spe c t wa.\ , I")\H' f " " t.I ,.. ) "illig Hl~ n\ bodj : It was carried
d ow n slowly t o th e ttr llpl t' courtya rd. Ordinar), ,ict jm~ were
th ro w n dow n the steps to tile bottom. Th e greatest violence \\.1,
habi t ual. "I he dead pcrwn was Ilayed am l d le priesrthen clo thed
him sel f in t lo is bloody skin. ,\ len were thro w n into a furnace and
pu lled o ut w it II a hoo k to be p lac ed o n the execunoner's bl ock
st ill alive . Mo re ofte n th at nOI the fl c., h consecrated bv lIlt' lmm o-
lat ion Wil~ eaten. The festivals [ollowcd one a' K}tlwr with m '1 inter-
ru pt ion and eWI)' }ear t he d iv ill!" ~t'T\ict' call ed fm coun rl.. s,
sacri fic es : Twenty t ho usand is g "cn ,IS ti lt' nu m ber. One n r tI,..
,·it:tims I nC1ma ti n~ a god, hl' c1 im l>cd to the ""l-ri flee 'UITOl lIKkd.
like a !,'OII, by all att.. mlancc that wou ld accompa n} h im in .ICillh,
Intimacy oJ Executioners a nd Victims"

T Ill' Azrccs observed a s i ll~ll ia r cllTKluct witl, th" o;t' wl,o we re
abou t 10 die. T h e)' treated th ese prislJ nt'Th I"'manel y, giving t hem
the tood and d rink th q asked [or. Concn n ing a warr ior who
b rtJtlght back a caprlvc, then o ffere d h im ill ""criflec, it "as sald
th a t Ill, 1 ~l(1 "considered hts cap rtve as his own Hcsh and b lood ,
call ing Ilim SI ll ' , w l,ile tI ,.. latter called h im fadK'r.'~ 'I he "ictim,
""u l, ' ,!aIlO' ,uKl sing wilh Ib(J~ who b rough t them to d ie . Eflilf N
were o ften mad e to relieve t heir an~u ish, A wo man inc arn at ing
t ile "mo t he r o f th e bl(., {h" "01\ comolt: d b} the I' ea le''i and mid·
wiv es who S<lid to her: "lJon' , be sad, fair fr iell<l; ) ' H' wi ll ~pt' ml
t his n igh l w ilh the k illj!;, so you can re jo ice ." It was not made cl ear
to ht'r th at slw '~a~ to be kill ed , because dea th ne eded to be sud-
de n and unexpected in her case. Onlinaril) rI,e ,:on, lem ne<! pri,-
o ncrs were ,,-el l aware o f their fat e antI w .... t' l" .....e d to Sla) "p
the fina l nig ht, singing and dancing, So metimes 1 h~) "nt' made
to ,hink until drunk or, to drive a"a} the idea o f irnpcmling dC<l1/',
t he)' ,,-nt' give" a eOlK'IJI,;ne.
This difficult. "..Iit f"r ,le><t h """S bo rne bette," b} so rnc victims
THE ACCURSED S"ARt:
tha n ,,~' others. Concerning the ~I.wn who were to d ie dUling one
o f the November fcsti,ab, we are w id tha t " t hey wenr W rh..
holl ..:;s of t!lI.. ir masters tu bid them goud-byt.... T11t~y were sirig-
ing in a ve ry loud coree, so lood tha t it seemed to split their breast .
ami upon TCdching rh.. ho use o f th ei r masters t he} dipped both
hand s in t he bow Is of paint or of ink and put t hem o n the lint els
of ,Ilt' doors and the posh 01 the houses, leaving their imprint in
colors; the sarnc they did in th.. I"'llseS of t l'e ir r.. luuc e s. Some
of the m who WC rl:' lion-Ilear te.! w"" ld cal a~ ''''' 011 , others could
not cat t hinking oft"e de at h tt. ..y so•.m wo uld ha v.. to suffer."? A
slave wh o rep rese nt ed the god dess Hlamat ccutf was dre,~ed
en tircl y in white , adorned with whi te and black featll ~'t', arKl lrer
face wa s pain rc d half black and " all' wllite. "Pre, io us I" hd"g
killed , th is woman had to dance, a n~! t he old men pld) ..d t he t unc
lor this dance, and the ,i r:lger~ sang the soup; and while SIIC danced
sloe cried, .~ rghe<:l and worried, knoWi ng that her deat h ",a.~ so d ose
at hand ."ro In the au t um n wo men we re sacrificed in a temple
ca lle d Coarlan. " S OIlR' o f them, ullo n cl im bing tilt' SH-'JlS , were
singing , others screamed, a rxl srtll ot hers r.r ied."ll
The Reliniou$ CJlClra cler o/ t he Wa,.$

T hese sacrifices o f prison ers ca n not be un derstood apart from
the c on d it ions that made t hl'JT] pos sible: W<l TS an d t he ;\.,sumc<!
risk of death . The M e"i~'<l IlS sl,... I IJl"o. 1o nl) pro"i,!c.! thai tI,..)
riske.l dri llg .
Tile)' were co nscio us of this enc hantment of war an d sacrifice.
'I he midwife wo uld cut the umbilical cord o f the newb orn bah)'
boy and sa} 10 h im ;
I cut yourna vel ln t he middl e o f yuur body. Know ,mel unde r-

st and tllat tlu- hou se in which you arc bo rn is not your dwell-
ing.... It is your crad le, the pla ce where )'Ou lay your head ... _
S AC " , r 'C E S "N O W""' S O F T He ',Z"' '' S
Your h ue land is clsodu:r..; yOll "r... prom ist,,1 lor ot he r places ,

Yo u !Jelo ng lO til e c o unrrvsid ... w lwre b<l tl\.-s at.. fOug ht; \'OU
were scm to go tl 'ere ; ~'ou r furx-no n an d you r sk ill is warfare;
}o tlr duty is to gi,,: II... MJII I:h", I,lo()(! "f lou r e nem ies ro drink
alld to '1' pl'l) the earth wuh Tl oe bo dies 01 YUllr enem ies to
cat. As for yo" r IIali \'" laml, )"o" r I~<lt') a nd )'ou r happiness,
you " ill find rhem ill the 1" )llM' of l he Still in tit .. sk\'.. . . You
willbe fo rtuna te to be 100lI' (! \\"o rth) o f dy ing on the batt le-
fidt!, (!n~ordtt'(! w ill, flowers. w har I now cur from your bod)
and fr o m t he mi ddl e 01 yo ur sto m ach righd )' bel ongs t o
rlal ct"llt li w l,o is rbe ea rth and the sun. when war begins to
see t he andt h.. soldie rs a.,~emh k, we , h,,11 put it in the hands
of t hose who a rt' valorous so ld ie rs, so tha t thC)· m ight giVl' it
tll )"o ur fat her and muth er. th e earth and the sun. T be y will
bu r} it in th e m i(Mle of t he fiel d " he re the ban k s arc fo ug hl :
Th is w ill be the proof that you arc oflere d and pr omised Ul III..
ea rt h and the sun; Ih is " ill be rh.. sigll that you profess tI'ls
office of warfarc, and you r 11<IIIIe " ill be writtell ill th.. 6 ...1(1 of
battle so that you r n.. me a nd your person" ill no t he f< .rgu l-
ten. Th is preciolls offerillg collected fmm you"~ body is like th<'
offering of a mag ucy ~pi l w , of reeds fi JI smoking aod <Ix coI'C1tl
b ra nches. f hrotlgh it )"0l1T vow and sacri fice <lie confl.metl.... lJ
TI ,e irulivi<lll,,1 w hu hrtJuJl;h l bac k a caprfvc had just as m uch

o f" sbre ill the sacred ullic e as the priest. A first bow l of the
"ie t im\ Mootl , (I rdill",,1 lro m th e wou nd, ""<IS offe red to the sun
by the pries" . A second buwl was collected b) rhc sacnflccr, The
lall er wo old go before rh e images of the gods and we t th ei r li ps
w id , the ,,:arm bl ood. rhe bod) o f rhe cacriflccd ,,;]~ " i~ by rigll1;
loe would GlTI)' ir hom e, set ting a.~i d e th" head, and the rest ,,(mid
be ..aren al a banq uet, cooked wi thout sah o r spices - bUI eaten
by th e in \ ir..<1 glJes t.~. nut by t he sac nficcr, w ho regar ded hi s ,;("_
H
t im ;l' ;o ..... n. U a second self. AI tI 'e d.tnu lllal ended 11,1' f('A~t.
rhc warriur wo uld ho ld the 'icTirn\ I,e....l in hi s hand.
It the " ..rriu r I'a,! hirn,d f bccn overcome instead u f re t urn-
il ~ a ,ktu r. hi~ dciU h ,m 1'1 fi eld otbaute would l};l\'t' had. th e
!i.lme Illt:'aning as t he rirual cTi li< t' o f his p riSO<1 u : h " ,'u ltl also
haec ....Ib fi <:tllht hlln~l'}' god~.
' 1his was !kIi,lm rhe pr4)er t o I t"ZGllli puc:a fOT d lr w ltli.:r.>:
" In truth. }Ull an: fK' t " TOJJ!'. IO want t h<: 111 to ,lie in NU J.c. 1....-
l Oll did not ~nd thn n intn thi s " ....-1<1 lOt- an) n th t'r purpose Ih.ln
lU serve as food lor t he ~Un ancl lhe t'4rt h , II ilh tht'ir blood alxl
d'd r f1eslJ."ll
Saua rcd " ill , h ltJl KI and fl esh. tilt' SU Il g ilH' glo!') to till soul
in Ilis palace . T here- II.... \\<11' dt,,,,1 m ing le l] \\ itl, d,e im mol.u,xl
prison ers. I he nlealtlllg o f death In combat \\~ broughl ou t in
the -afTIf' pra) u : "Mill(" t hem bu M. and cou r.Jt:t'ous; remove all
" e~,lt'<;I; &om t1w ir hearts so d lill thoj m.J} !lot onl) receive Iwath
jO)f uJl). bot doi re II and lind c harm ;uI! S...«"1 ~ thn cill; so th,lI
tlW ) do nUl f('4TMrOl"S or swor ds but ratl ler ,-,,"sidt'r them a pleas-
,lilTThing . as il th<:}' were l1o" e.... and eMl u i ~ i le dishes ofl;lOd ."
From the Primacy of Relig ion to the Prim {l C)'

ofMilita ry Eflectj v~n~n
'111(' value o f II.u fart' in Mexican society can n". mi!>lcad us: It WillS
no t a InJlitOt) 'OClc t). Reli gion remained til,' ob' inu! l..q to hs
,,"uIl..i np. If t he A1, lccs m u~ 1 Iw ..uuaeed, r l'lt) llc lollg lImollJ!; rbe
,,-.rri-or soctc nec, in \\- hic h p u re , encalculatcd ' io lclll,t" alMl l l'l1'
ost entatious ft,rm.• o f combat 1l,Id S\\<I) ' 1111' reasoned o rg,ll li, a-
no n o f WJ.I ami nmfll1~~r was u nknown 1.0 them . A n ul) ImlJlmy
M>cil' l) ;s a 'I'nI" 1'1' <;t.M. ic t). lo r " I.;c h wa r mea ns a dese luprne m
01 PIJ'l\l' r. an o rdc rl) p rObrcs~iun 0 1 em pire . If It is a rt'l at i. e l)·
mild socit"l} : it makes a custom o f lite ... riona! principk'l o f {,"!lIM"-
pri,... \\ hfJ!><" p' , r~ ts J!;i,,-n in lhe f" ture, and II excludes tl...
madne ss of ~acrilice. Th ere h notlli ng mon° con tral) to military
o rga ni zati o n than th ese sq ua ll< ! t' r i "g~ o f wealt h repre sen te d U)
he ca to mbs of slaces.
l\nd Y'-' t t he ex treme impm Llm :e o f warfare had b ro ugh t abou t
a ~il':n i/i t:<l nt chal~e I'll th e Azt u;~, ill the d irect ion o f th e mf;onnjjry
01 en re rpnsc [ which Introduces. lOge th cr ....i t h tI 'e Ul,,<;ern for
res u lts and lor eflectlvc force , a begin ning o f hulll.m il» ) as ;'g;,ins t
the crud ' wlellel.' o f co nsum p l ion . \ Vhil e " t he 1.. ing n:m J.I ned in
"is palace," t lu- co un favored th e \';e tim (who WJ.S lSis l.' n "tilt' 11011-
ors of a god" ) ", ith one o f t he m oH sole m n sacrifices o f rhe year.
There is no possib ilitv o f a rmsrak e he re: nlis was J. cacriflcc of
su bstit uti o n. A so ftening 01 til<' rit ual ha,! occu rred, sh ifting o nto
o t he rs th e inre roal s io l..nee th at i ~ t he moral pri n ci pl e of con-
sum p t io n . To be su re , tI, .. mow menl 01 viole nc e that anim ated
Anec society was " ever t urne d mo re w ithin than wi t ho ut; but
in ternal and e xln nal violence s co mb ined in an econo my tha t pur
not lling in rt' ""n'e. T he ritual sacrifices o f p risoll er. (:omrnamle ' /
ti,e sacrifices o f wa rriors; the sacrificed \'ictrm~ "-'prt''><:".rl te d at ICdst
rI,.. ~ u lll pl uar)' c.xpc ndh urc o f th e sacrificer. T he su bst itu t ing of
a pri so ner fo r t he l..i ng was an o bvious, if inc"n"'(jut'lll, abate-
m eut of rhis cacrtficia l tr<.'1l7)·.
Sau'i/ice 0,. Com;umptioll

This so ftelling o f the sacri fici al p roce ss fi nall ~' disclo ses a move-
m e nt to which th e ri le s o f im mo lati o n we re a n·~po n ,l' . T hi s
moveme nt appea r.. to liS ill its lug ical necessity alone and we can-
no t know if 1'1,.. ~"G U t' ''''t' of acts confo rms to it in d e tail ; bu t in
a~' G iS I' i t Sc oher..ne e is eviden t .
S.w rilkt' re stores 10 the sac red world th at w h ic h serv ile II S O:
ha~ t1..grnd..d . rend ered pro fane . Servile usc has m,,, It' a thmil (,'"
<lb jut ) ofthat "hic h. ill a d ee p seus.., i , " I tilt' ""me n al rr re as the
IU/,JCCf , is in a relat ion o f int im at e part ic ipati"n " ith t he su bjec t.
It i, no t necessary that t he sacri fic e actually " .., troy , I,.. anima l
or plan t 01 which man had to mak e a thinfllnr h is use . Thej. m ust
at le ast Iw d est royed as li ling s, that is. i/lso}or os l1Jn 11Cl l"" M om"
1/';"11" Destruction i ~ t he beet m ean, o f negating a u tilitarian re la-
ti o n between m an a nd th e an im al o r plane Bur lr ra relj gut.'; IU
th e po im ufholocaust. It is " !lough rhar the co nsu m pti o n of tlu-

o ffer ing.. o r the fmnmUn;(m, has a m eaning that is not reducible
to rhr- shared ing.. st io n o f fond. Th,' vrcnm o f the <;ae rifice ca n-
not be consumed in the sam" \Va) as a m oto r use, fue l. W hat ti l{'
ritual ha~ the \'irhl (' o f rl',li scowring i~ th e in timate IM rticipat i,m
" f tl,.. s.1nifi':er an.l the vi. 't im , I" "hich d cc r vi] .. us,' had pUI
an end. -n,.. Sli"" buu II,1 to lahur and ha\·ing I,.,c orn" til" prup-
a' ) o f another is a IhinB just as a wor], an imal is a th ing . "l1,e indi-
vidual " ho crn plovs the labor o f h is pri soner Sl.'VUS th e ric that
li nks h im to h is fell ow man. lie is not far "urn rhe rTIom ..nt w llt'r'
he w ill sdl h im . RUI th.. owne r 1,a.S not simp ly m a, t.. ;1 chinn, a
comm odity, uf this propul y. No one ... an mal,c a cll/IlB o f rhc sec -
orxi self tililt th e , lave is wi tho ut ar rhc same time estranging him-
selffrom his own intima te being, w itho u t ghing himSl.'lf the limits
of a tj,j"R'
Thls should n ot I){~
considered narrow ly: There i~ no JX, r1l:Cl
"peral iotl. a ml ne ither doc vlavc no r the mas ter h e m ire!) reduc ed
to the "we.,t IhillH'" T h e sla ,c is a t h ing for thc owner: he acc epts
thi s s ituat ion w h ich h{' prcl<" n. to .I) ing ; h e d Tt'Lthc ly I <>".,~ pa rt
of hi ~ imima te ~ a ltJe t"r I l illl~ ..II, for it i< nOI '"nlJllJ;h tll be th i<
" r tl ,M: O n", " Iso I,a., 10b." fo r "I,h. , ~ " Sim ilarl y, lo r th e ~ I<l\'t' the
UWlIe r h,,-, ,,<:,,~:<J 10 be I,is Idl ow man; he is plOfolJlldl) separated
from l1im; cve tl i fh i ~ equals cont in u e to see hi m as a man, eve n
iflle is still a mall for o rh crs, h e is now in a world wh ere a man
can be me rely a thine . T Il{" ..a rne p<l\·.. rt) tht'n t'x tt'nds moer h"man
lifc as e xt.. nd _ over lite coumrysklc if the we ather is UU Te",1... O\Cr-
cast wea th e r, when I he su n IS filtn<:,1 b) th e dou,k a nd the pia)
uf lig h t gu ..!> d im , ap pears to "red uc e things to "hal t hey <In;.'·
T he erro r is ob vious : W hat b before me is nc ccr a nY lh ing less
than t l'e univers e: the untvcrsc i ~ no t a thino and 1 am no t at
all mi staken when 1 ~ec its brill iance in th e su n. B" t ifth.. '1m i ~
hi.ltl.. 11 I mo re c learly see the barn. rhc fiel d. t he h e dge ro " . I
Ilu Iu ng e r see t he splendor 01 the light that pl ayed m .. r ti ll: IJdtJ1 ;
rather I see t h is barn or thi s hedge ro w like a screen be tween th..
u niverse and m e.
In th e same way, slavery bring~ into t he ",,, rid th .. ""se nce o f
lig ht lha t is the separate p o siting ot each Ih mg. rctlu <c"d to II,e
'ISC rhar it ha, Light, or b rilliance , nl<ln ifc~ts tl w inlim" cy of1i/e.
th at l \ hich life de epl y is, w h ich is perceived by t] ,e " ,bjt'. 1,," I,.. i, ,!s
true t o nsclf and as the tl<mSpare nL) o ! the universe .
B UI th e recl"ctioll " f" d ,al "hit;h is" 10 th e oral't oj thmfJ5 i,
not lim ite d to ~ Ia,-ery. Slan' r)' i, al", lisl,... t. hut we ourselves arc
aware o f the aspec ts o f social We in w hich man is l d egate d to
th.. lewl o f t hmf}'. "",1 \\T s ho uld know th at th is rel egati on d id
not awa it slav..r}'. r rum the ~tart. th e int rod uction o f laVor in to
the wu rM ' ..p lace d inrim aq ', th e d e p th o f des t-c and it s free o ut-
b r....h . w it h rational pr~rcssion, wh e re ", I,at ma tt ers is I1U lun ger
the truth o f tile pre sent m o m ent. hut , rather. Ih.. , ,, bs..,, ,, ellt
res u lts o f 0perutjon<. 1 he fint labo r cs tab l is hed the " o rlt! " f things,
to w hich the profane wu rld o f th e lI'lcients 1,;.. ne", lI) co rresponds .
Once th e wo rld of t hi ng~ "as posited . m an him ,cl rbeu \m.. on..
uf t he th ings 01 th is world. ar lcasr fur t h e rime in which he
labored. It is th is d cgradaliull that 111<111 h..., d l",.\)'" rr iecl to "s<"'r"',
In hi s slTange my ths. in h is c ruel rile s. man is ;" 'mrd, of a (()5f
inHnwc} fro", t he Iirst.

Rel igi on is t h is long e ffort ami thi s ""J<"i,hed qu..., t: Il;~
alwa yv a maile r o f uetac h ing from th e real o nlcr, fru m the jl'w -
n ty o f Ihmy s, and 01 r..-sto rillg rln - dmnc " rUer. 11,e alljm"l Of" " I.ln t
that m an uses (a> if th e)' o nly had value jo. him am! m lllt' lor them-
~d\(:~) is rest ored to UW t ruth ofthe intimat e wor ld; he recei ves
a sacred comm u nica t ion lrom it, wh ic h re sto re s h im in tu rn 10
inte rior h,t'..d o m .
TI~ mean ing of thi~ pioicund Ii"L"<10lll i ~ gil en in dcsrructio n,
whose essence b ro consum e projitJi'$ lr w l'3t.."..r Hl igbt r"lIldin
in the pr~ression ofuselul works. Sac rifi ce Jes lrup t hat. "hlch
il consecrates. It docs not have to destroy as fh e cloe~: on ly th e
lie tha t c onnected the o fTering to t he wo rlel n f pw lit"hl.. "r t i\lit)
is severe d, bur t his separa tio n bas rhe sense of a deAlli ti.,.. con-
sc mption: the consecrated o lk ri ng c anno t be re sto red to lhe /"ell/
o rd e r. T his p rin Ci ple opens th e ",,)' to I'"s \ io na te rele<L\t'; it Ill>-

.. r:",, ~ viol..n ee wh ile md rl.;1'g u ff Ihe dom di l\ in \\'hiel, \' io le nce
re ig n~ absolu tely .
T h e world of UlIJnKUT ls as a nri therjca l rn rh .. Tm/ world as
irn m o.le rat io n is t o m'l<!t' r" tio n, m atln t" , t o n :u."". '!(l",b: n -
ness HI l u ci di l ~'. The re is m ode ration u n ly iuth c o b ject, reason
o n ly in th e id e n t it y o f the oUieer w it h itself, lu c idity i1 nly in th l·
di st inct kn " wll'l!gt' " f " bjens. Th e world o f t1 ,(. , u hjl:e( i\ tlw
n ight : t1ldl dliUlge duk . infin it ely SlI\lxTt ni ght wh ich. in the sk-op
o f reason. I'tooucn mOTlS/ CO. / submit lI,a/ mad"",,", 'lSd! Hilt's (I rat·
ef'.,J ideo of t1>F fn'c "mbjerc, " l/nUlbnrr/ina rcd CO the "real" (,rr!Ct ond
oal/pied on/\" ",tl, the (d''WIIt. "I he wbjt'a kdH:~ i t:> uw n domdin am l
su bordinates it self to rh o (Ibjerl s o f t h e reol o rd er as 500 n a s it
bec omes co ncerned lo r t he lurure. l-or th e .m bju l i' c o nsnm pr jo n
[llsolar dS it is nOl t ied d own lo won.. II I am no longer concern ed
abou t " " ha t " ill bcvb uc about "what is," what reaso n do I have
t o ke ep .my ch ing in rese-rve? I call at once, il l disord er, make an
i, l\l an ld." ..m " <:omur" p l i" n o f .. llthat I PlJ~~I>SS. I"his useless con-
su mpt io n i~ " Juu mits me, o nce III ) co ncern fell" the m orrow i ~
rem ove d . And if I thus cons ume immodcrarely, I revea l to my r..[
low bci ng~ that which I a m mtlln(lf('~~: Consu mption is th e \, ay in
which Sl:/"'umtc beings comrn ur ncare.fS Fveryt h ing she, s th roug h.
,"
SA"" " " ce s ""' 0 "',,"s o r 'H ' " ~T ~ CS
evel') th ing b open and tnfl nh e I ~ I\"->e,, tho se "hu cun~um,

intensely. But noth illg counrv tlU'tl ; viole nc e j , released and il
break. JOlt h wi thout limitx, as ti lt' I,..al increases.
\ Vhat ens u n-~ th e return o f d 'e tlung to the wlrmul,· order i~
its emrv into the heard, 0 1 CunslJIll pri' lIl, " h ere th e...iol en ce no
doub t is ltrn ited , IJU t never " i,I""'1}!;",at difficulty, It is always
the pUl'po~e o f "",c rifko: 10 g i\'e dcst rucnun its JUI' , to save the
rcsr fro m a mortal dan}!;t'r "f l'onragion, 1\11 th ose w ho have to
d o wit h sacrtfi ce are ill dan~t'r, bu t ih limited ritual fo nn ro:gu-
larl y lias th e d ft'lt u l prorecting these who oflcr it.
Sacriflcc is h~,at , i ll w l'i el , r1,.. intimal") o l thosc who ma ke
up the syste m o f common works is rediscovered. Vio lence is it.\
p rinci ple, hut li,.. worb li mit it in tim e and space: it is subordl-
na t cd to th e COflCUIl IUr tmiting an d pl'l'serving the c ommon..lir j .
T he i"di"id 'Jal., break 10000e. but a breaking-loose that ",cit., ' he'"
and Ilk ",l, rllt'm indisc rirnina rcly w ith their f,'lI o" hc ing\ hel ps
to connect them to~t'tht'r in th e o perati ons o rse" u lar limt' o It is
not l';t a """t... "f cn Urprue, which ab'ol·bs the e xc ess f" r{;C!> " iu,
a vie \' 10 rlu- u nl imi ted ,levdop rn"nL of wealth. Tile works in
G"esl io" o n ly aim at continuance. -I hl') o n l) p H:r!t'r nmin.. t ht:
limits " f t/'o: ft'slival [whose renewa l is e nsu red by Ihdt 1"£IIn-
di t)", w l'id, has its so u rc e in the fcvtival il so:ll). Bu r t1,,: commu-
ni t y' i , saved from ruina tio n. Th e "clim i ~ g iven ov... to vio lt'n{,e.
Th e Vi£lim, Sacred (lIId Cu rsed

-, I,.. v ictim IS a su rplus take n fro m the mass o l"ust'ful wealll ,. An(!
he call u nl)· be withdrawn from it in ordl". to I ~ consu med prolit-
Ie~sly. and rherefore utterly destroyed. Olin """sen, h e is th e
{lull rsed 51",,<·, d e stine d fUI' vi u lcnr c oosumpt tcn. Btlt t h e CUTSe
te ars him away from the v,der of th"'(J"; it gh es hi m a recogniz-
..Ilk flgul'c , w hich now radiates in rimacj , ;mguhl" t h.. profundity
o fliving be ing~ ,
J\ m hing is mu re ~ lri k i lJg th an the aner mon tbat is lavhh eJ
un h im. Be ing a thing, h e can no t rrulv be wi t hd rawn Iro rn the
real order, w h ich b inds him , UJ1!e5S d es truction rid s h im of h is
"th inghood," t'li m iJ1aring h is use fulness o nce and lor all. A~ soon
as h e is c onsecra te d a nd dllring the t ime bet we e n the c o n secra-
tion and d..a rh , h e ente rs into th e closeness o f the sac rificcrs an d
participates in thei r consu m p tio ns: J tc b one 01 their ow n and
in the fcstiva! in which h e w ill peri, h, he sing<> , (I~ nc e s ~nd ('njuys
all till:' pleasures w it!1 t hem. TIlt' re is n" m On' st'r\ il ity in h im;
Ii.. OIIl .......,n r""'°iv.. arms i1m l figllt. H e is los l irl lilt; Immense Coll-
f"' ion ul tli.. fotiv,, 1. AmI th a t is pecos..ly h is undoing.

" he vjctim " ill he the only one in fac t t o lea ve rho rea l order
ent irely, lor he .,.I01"ll' is c arried along t o th e end b} the m ove m ent
01 the festival . "' h e sacrificer is d ivine o n ly' w ith rese rva tions T he
furu re is he~\'i l y reserved in him; t he furu re i, rh e weigllr rhar Ill'
bear. as a thin g. TIle u Hicial theulog i"lx 16 whose tradh.ion s" hagU.II
collec t ed "ere well aware o f rhis, fur the y placed the vo lu ntary
sacrifice o f Ni\nauat711l abo ve the o chers, pra ised "<Irri o~ for bei ng
eunSllme<! by' the gu ds, and },r,l\"e d ivini ty the llleaIJi ~ of consmn p-
ti o n. \Ve c a n no t k no w t o w hilt t'xt.. nr th .. v ic l ims o f f\1.. " ico
a':l:t'ptt'.t tl ,.'ir fa te-. It filii) I... 111:<1 in iI se nse ce rta in o f th e m
"collsi".. ",.t il a ll h OIK )T" I" lit; ,,(kr..d lo th.. gods. BUI th etr inuno-
Iation was nor \'v IUlltarT Mo re over, it is clear that, from the rime
of Sah<l.gu n's inlO rrnan rs, these deat h of}'1l's were to lerated lW<:iluse
r1 1t')' impressed t'lJ't'ign .." . TIl .. f\1t'xic.1tls imm o late d d'i ldTt' tl tl mt
We TI' d'oSI"1 fro m a" u Jllg tl, ..ir own. BUI st', nt' p" rlalti cs ha(\ to
be d ecreed a£" inst t hos e who walked away fro m their p rocession
I' he n they went u p to t he ,,1t"1>. Sac rifice com prtsev a mixture of
angu ish and [rem ). Th e /rl'/17.) is m ore powerfulthan th e anguish,

but on ly pro\'idi ng its t lflXn are divert ed to t h e ex t....in r, o nto J
lilre igIJ p riso n e r. lt su H ke~ I,,,
11,1' sacnflce r to g h'e u p t he wealth
that the vict im c ou ld hale be en for h im .
'"
S", C R I F ICE ," "'''' ' ' "' '''Rto O~ ' H[ "'1: T [c,"
This understandable lack u l ril-fOr dues nut . howew r. CNInI-,'t'

tbe mo.."aninR of tht:- rit w l. The on l) va lid excess was one tha t we llt
btl()nJ t he bounds, and on e .. Il~ consum ption appeared .. or-
thy of the ~ Thi'" \..a!i the 1'' '« me n paid to e,,;caP' lhcir Uo..-n-
fall and rCffiO'T the .... righ t int rud ocl'd in t hem by the ;l'01rlc r ;lntl
cold Gllc ulation o f tile n:i1Iunlt . or
("
The Gift of Ri valr y : "I' ot1at(:11"
Thl' Genera l Importance of OJte ntotiou5 Gif ts

in !t1l'J. ;COll Society
Huma n ~ nflces were <lnl}' an ex tre m e moment in rhc C)~ 1(' 0 1
prodi galili c~ . Th .. passion rhat m,lll.. t h~ blood ~tr~am fmH1 th e
pyramids gcnt'Tdllr led the A~ ICC " " rh l II> make unproducuve USt'
<.I f 3 sU))'i;I<l nu al po rt io n o l lht- ,n OUK C, [ t com mand e d.
One " ft hr funcuons " I Ihl: !>o'.ercig.n. <Jrl h~ "chit'! of men."
who It:IIl im m e nse rictv...~ 31 Il h .Iisposal. "as I" i ndul~ in o:.tcn-
radc us S(11l.. nJ~r. Appoln..ntly. he h i m~1I \\.1.\ ~upposol I OJ h,l\'c
been, in ~ ancien l nmcs. , 1><: C::IIlmil\ol.tion of the c::~"d .. of ...~
rir.c~: J lis im mo lat ion - c::onscntoo 10 II} fht> peopl.. tw cmboc.l-
i...I, if not by him - could haH' given t h.. m ''ll. ride 01 lIlIing'
I ~ ' "JIlJC.' of an uciirnucd nln.umplion. His IXl" "" mUSTh.lw .\od\l.:J
him in 111l' nxl. But he \\ ••, '0 e1mrl} rhc Illa n " f prodigali lYrhae
he gan: h i ~ " " :lltl, In place o f llis l ife. l ie was o blige'] 10 fIIn: lind
to plol. 5.lhag (,n writes:
T~ Iti"p 1001..00 I.". o ppoetunitic.... t " :.1.<.1" Inei r (:CncrO\Hy

a nd HI .lchil'\e ,I re p ut a tion in that rl)!..ro . 'I hi!!. is why tho-_
would (:untrioote la r~ sum., for "a, or lor tl u, orntm {da n«.'$
PTl-croi,'R or 1OI1""i'll. sacrific....1- Thr) ",ouM pled!,'" \\"1") pre-
"
ci"'l!l lhin~", in t hC' gameo; and. when one o lrbc e" "'mnne.....
man nr 'Hlllyn, vernu red to gl't'Ct them and l>pt'ak.l Ie'" """"I,
th.Jt pleased them, til<') "lw ld gin' IOOc:l anrl drink. oIlong will.
fabriao 1(,. wc:mng a' KI ~1 .... pil1lZ' II so meone else comprn;nl
~ d idt ,,~rc ~rttable 10 t he m, thry wou ld ghc: gi fil> t1141
weI(' In kc:epi ng wuh his meril and with t he ple.Murc ht' bed
c..auso-cl them.n
T he ~o\t'n' il!n \\a, n'IC rcl} tI'e rictwl>l , h ut vvcrvcn.. accord-

ing 10 hi. worth .mel hi\ 1Ill.1gl' - Ihe rie h. t h.. nob le•• the "mer-
c han llo" - lIacll o "n~\\ .. r'0 rht' sarn e cx pec rarion. The fl"-;tivals
we n' an " " lpO.. ri ~ not o nly 0 1 blood but also 0 1 ,,~ ..h h in g<'n-
o ral. Ea.;I, un.. cont rthu tcd in pr opo rti o n 10 hi\ I.>O\,,-r and eac h
om- was o fre ",,1 111<' eJC c.a\i o n 10 disp lay his po " ..r. T h rol lg h c.1r-
tu re (in \\arl~It:) o r tl l roll~ll purchase , rhe warriors am i ! Ii.. m ... ·
chan rs obraincd the ' i, tilll' " I rhe sacrifices. T I,e: MCA k ... ,,~ hu rh
vroov te mplc:, e: mI>c Jlishe:el w il h dr"i ne st atues, and tlw ritual
~T\ ir.t' rnulripljed the cxpenst, .. {) flo.·ti llJ.:~' The: o Oki.mts <Iud the
vic. lim' we re ric hly ad OUJed; lilt' rilual f.,;L~t ' l'ntai]ed COItl;,J.c:.-
ani .. " Apt' mlr tu rC'i.
Pu bl ic I.,... t h als we re g hcn p"'l"SOnall} IJ) Iht' ... ea ll h)'. Ih('"
" m erc ha nts" in 1,.. t'k ul ar. 18
The Wea lthy a"d Rillwl Proc1isality

The Spani~h c hmni< le .... left preci~e infOm latiou core..ming lilt-
" rncrt::ha.nu" of M.. "ko a.nd the customs thq [o!le,"L'tl. C1l."lorm
t hat must hone b ll'ni,h....1 t hf' Spaniards. These "me« h.lnl\~ led
eA ped ition!> to um.af..: t.,rrilOrin. T~' o ften h.-.l to "ghl "lid tht-}'
oft en prqNn:d fhe "<10) lOr a w;u. wh ich CA pla in' till" Ilono r ,h..I
arrached to the ir profL~ion. BUI II... .-i.\k t he y assumed could nOI
ha,... I,.... n enough ' 0 Illa ke th e m lh('" ('"(j"ab (If the ocblcs, In th.,
..y..S u ( l h.. Spam ards, busin ess was J..rn callin~. clen if ;t led
6,
T><F GIFT OF ~'VAL R~ ·prOT' ATeo .. •
to adventu re. Th o: jl, J gme nl o f d Ie Eumpca" s .kr ivcd from th<-

principle o f com merce La~ed soldy on into:res t. BUI the ~mat
"merchan ts" of Mexico did no t exactly follow the rule of profit.
their trading w,,~ conducted w it h'H'1 M'b'ilin ing and it main ta irwd
th o: glorio u~ c har"Ckr of thoo tnad cr. T ho: A~IO:C "l1wr<,;h"nt" .lid
no t sel l; he practiced th e Si}I-exchofl£F: He received riches <IS a si}t
from the " chief of men" (from th e sovereign, whom t he Span ish
called the kino) ; hI'" modI'" 0 puS<'nt of th ese riches to the lo rd s of
the lands he visi ted. "I n rece iving Ih est; gi lts, t he gre<l l ]OIJ~ of
that provin ce hastened to give other present'; in return . . . so that
the y migh t be offered to t he ki nK.. .." The sovereign ~aH~ cloaks,
petticoat s and precious blouses, The "merchant " received as a ~i ft
for himself richl y colored feathe rs of vartous S ll.lpe~, c ut stones
of all Ji;(lrtS, sh..II" fans, s1lt'1l I;>a<kll.._, Ii,r 'I irring cocoa, w il.l-allimal
ski ns w orked and ornamen t..d w ilh do:signs. 19 As 1'01' the obj..ClS
the "mo:rchants" br oughl back hom th ei r ua-cls, they di d not COn·
sidcr the m to be m ere commoditicv. On the ir return , rhc y ,lid
not ha ve t llt'1II "ilrr i('tl in t o th.. ir ho "'.. in Ih .. ,h yli gh t . " TI,.,·
w" itoo<l fOr night",11allJ fur a f,1\"or"hloo li me. O n.. o f lhoo <lap eal loo<l
ce wl1i (a house] was roob'ilrJ ooJ <IS prop itious because tht:y Ilel,] rhat
th e o bjects o f w hic h they were tho: ~arero;, e ntering the house
on t haI J a y. wo uld e nte r as sac red thi ngs and. as suc h. wou ld
pe rseve re tht:rt:." ;OO
An arriclc 0 1 exchange. in t hese prac tices, was not a thing; it
wa s no t re du ced to t he in crrra , the lifclcsvncvv of the profan e
wo-ld. .• he Oi}l that 00(' mad e of it was a sign of glory, and tile
ob ject itsel f had the fad i;m ce of ~lor~, lIy ~i, in~ . one l'x h ibi tt:<1
or1e's wealt h a nd one's gootl loTtllne [one's power]. T ile " 1I1t'Tc:hant"
W d ' l h.. tTI <1 n-wh"-givt's, so rtllJeIl '" tha t I,i s Ilrst C"IlL.. Trl on
return ing from an cXpL-dition "as w ith ollering a banquet to "hieh

he invited his confreres , w ho wen t horne ladcc " it h presents.
T l,is was m<;,rel y a feast cclebrJting a return. But if " \O me mer-
cham became rich and ac....uun l..,1 h in,...:lf rich . 11<: wuulu J!.i\"t~ a
fr5lh'al or a ban(l lJ ~ lor all the h'gh.. d ~ me rchanfs and for d ie
Ianls. because il wuu lt! 11a''f;' been con~i<k.~u base tu ,Ik " id,nut
ho, 1"It made 50IIle 'fl1..nt1itJ .."petxliturc that m'ght .-k!luo,ler 10
bis pt' r!;()n by ui§pla) ing t he Iavoe " f th e {:otb "ho hacl g hrn h im
~'n)"th:irf!:" ....21 ·1he fCSli>'a1 Legan "ith the i~t ion of an imO>.-
ica.nt g il jng' i!;iorn which tht' gOC!ob wouM .lex.ri l,.. 10 e.-ch other
once the llaru)';i ~ had Ui»i poued. For two da} ~ 11"-· lIIa.~t ..t o f the
~ " ou ld d,,,,- rihtr' .. fi)l)lll, dri nks, R"t'fh b smoklllil 01,,0:1 "'...vcrc.
More !'a, d ), a "mercha nl" would ~i>e a oonqut' l d un l1& a fo -
uval called f'C'tIfIlJCuulillli. This "ali a ' )" PC 0 1 !>af tC'<1 and ruinous
Ct'tcmo n)'- TIlt" " mercha nt" " ho celebrated it "-!Critic- eel slaves lOr
the ocr .aston. 1-1.. 1,.1,1 to in- he people fro m all around ami assem-
blc pr esen ts wo rt h a jortu n... incl uding cloaks nnllml:w ri ng ('ighl
hundred t hou~ IlJ , " wa i M b.m. l ~ " of which th ere " en; g'lIlwred
fi lllr hu ndred o f th e r1ChcM allll " g r.. at many o llu.:rs o f o,.j i n,, ~'
qUdli,)."21 tl'e mOS' Sllbl.ta nt ial gifls "..e nt ttl t h.. captains anti d ig'
n itarks; ttw men 0 1 k~' r ,"nL rec eived I C'I~. T Ilt' people t1.mcecl
count le ss omtllS, inl<' wJ,ich .. ntcrcd sple n<l iJ I)' tlro:"Se.1 , laws,
wl:aring nt:ck.l.ccs, flo,, " ~ ..n< L, and ronJache~ deco rated ,, ;, Il
flowers, T I,t')' da nced . laking t um " smoking and sme lling Ihei r
f~rafll reeds, Then they " err pl..ced OIl a platform, " !Klth.1.l t ho.:
goests might see th.. 1lI I,..ltcr, and. they ,,~ honded pia' .... of food
and d rink!. and atl e,..J..tl to '~ T) gracious.l)." \ Yht'fl lht' tH' 1t" carne
lor [hot- sacsiflee, the " 'TIt'n-hanl" wbo i!a\"t' the ""'ti\'al tln.'S:>t'11 up
lik one 01 tho> .\1;1;\'-"$ in ordet to CO" irh 1h-nJ to the temple "hero:
t h .. prWsb \\"t'rt' wait inf:. Fhese victims, armed for combal, had
to dCkml tht.:rm.o.·lw s ~ains' , he warrior.; " ho d[taCke<l thl.-m ......
they passed by. II o n" 0 1 the aAAtc'iSOn u ptu rcel .l. "Ia"" t ht'"
" rnerchar n" had to 1:14)' him TIK pri~ o f rhc slave, Fhc ~ ""o: r eign
hin"""lfan ..mleti 11M' so lt'mn sacrifiCt' . wl' ich " ....., lcnc-ved b) tht:
shared n"'~tJ 'l lpC i oll o f Ihe Ilesh in the house o f Ih.. "merclWlI.''U
TI '" G'F T O' '' ' ''",LRy ROTL "'CH
TIl.. se c ustoms, tllC' 8'ft e,n}um[J" in pamcular, arc far removed

fro m pre sent cornmcrr.ialpracrices. Thei r ~ igni lkanee becomes
a ppa re nt o nly w hen we compare ,hem wi tll an ;mtil lll io n ~t i ll
in exis tence, tbe potlatch of the Indi ans of no rlh"-cs te.,, Anwri.'a.
The "Pollard," of th.· Indium of the

American No r /"",elt
ClassirAl I ..r;lJn"",y im.1~i ne< ' rh.. first L'xchanges in tlle form of bar-
I..r. \VI,y ~v()1']d it I"w e tho ug ht t hat in th., bc~i n ni ng a mode o f
acq uisitfon suc~ as t'xchan1,!e had nor an",v..red t ht' need to acq uire,
but rathe r th e com,.-"ry need to loS(' o r S<j' JamJ..r? TIl" clacsical
Conc e pt ion i, 110 W (Ju<:"lIl iona hle in a sense.
The " mercllallts" o f Mex ico practiced the paradoxical system
of exchanges rhat I have described as a regul ar ' e<j ue nec 01 gilts;
t hese c us toms, no t barter, in fan co neril" t ..d 110.. an'hair organ i-
zat ion ofcxchallgc. Potlat ch. still pr.1Cliced by tl,.. lndi.ms " f th..
North west Coast of AmcriC<l, is its ryptcal lorm . Elhllog rapl ll'r s
no\\" emplo y thh t e rm to designate Instirurso ns func tioning on a
sim ilar princi pl e; Ihey find traces of'it in all societies. Among th e
·' Iingil, I.he Hai,\" , {/l" Tsi m shia n, the Kwakilltl, potl atc h is of
pri me i "'rort~lI1ce in .s<wial life, "' he least ad,.:m[;Cd ofth,·'i(' small
tribes gi ve potlatc h,,, in cerelllon ies marking a pe rs on's changc
of comli tio n, at the Iime of init i~l l ions. man·i,'ges. fUnt·r.1[s. In the
more ci , i1 i7<;(! (Tibcs a potlat ch is slill ~ i\'t'n in th" ':-!lur;e of a
festival. One can choose a kst ival in w hic h lu giv.. it , but it can
trselfbc rhc occasio n ofa Icsr h'61.
Potlatch is. like co n1l11erct', ~ m eans of circulati n~ wealth , but
it excludes bargaining. Mo re o fie n l han not il i, rh e solemn gh'-
i n~ o f consid erable riches, offc ecd by a. chie f 10 hi s ri"i11 for the
pu rpose OnlU lll il iat in~ , c hallenging and o bligating hi m. The rt'ci pi-
e m has to erase th e hum iliat io n and ta ke up th e challengc; hc must
~a t i_, f)" the obliflOUon tha t was con tracted by accepting. He LaTI <Jnly
'7
re ply. 'I ehc rt t im e latn, by m ",'n~ u f a ne w porlarch, more p:en-
c ro us than th " nr~t: H" JTll l~ 1 pay hack w ith int .. rt·.~t .
G ift-giv inE is n OI the on ly form " f p" t1 at eh: A rival i ~ chal-
le tlg(-'<l by a .'iOlcmn des truction o f riches . In principle. the d cct ruc-
t ion is o ffered to th e my thical a ncestors 01 the d onee ; it is litt le
different from a sacrifice. As recently OI ~ the ninetee n th cen tu ry'
IITli ngit c hieftain wou ld sometimes go before a rj '·OIl and cut the
tlm",h. o f ,I,we~ in his pr<-><;e nce. At th e protx r t ime , the d estru c -
t io n wa., r..pa i,1 by tl,.. killi ng o f a larg.. n umh" r of slaves, T he
Chukchee of th.. Siberian No rtheast ha ve relatt,,1 inst it ut ions. T hey
s lau~h l n high l} valuable d og tea ms . for it is necessary for t hem
10 sta rtle, to s uflc Ihe rival grou p. T he Indiam 01 th" Northwest
Coas t wou ld SCI fire ro their \' i l l age~ o r break th eir canoes to
pie c es. T he y ha\'e e m bl azoned cop~r bars po ssessing 01 Iic rlve
va lue (de pendi ng On how fam o us O f how u ld d ".; e"PI;>t> rs are ):
Some time!' these bars i\1"C wo rth a forlu n... They th m w tI,..m in to
th e sea o r sha tter th e m .24
Theory of "Potlat cb"

I. The parodm: oj t he ''gift'' redurrd 10thr "arqwSitiDll" ol" "po''<1't.''
SineI.' tile pu bl ic'l,,,n o f Man:d r\'l all>.s'~ nl(' Gift, th e ins ti tutio n o f
porlaech hOI, be en the " bjen o f a S Ol I , .. t im ...' dubious inte rest and
c u rios ity. Potlatch enabl es o ne 10 perceive a "onn..c t'o n I;>t>t wft< n
rel ig ious be havio rs and econo mic ones. Ne vert heless, one would
not be able to finO l<! VI(S in c om mon be tween these two Iypes u r
be havio r - if by eco nomy o ne understood a conve n tio nal set o f
huma n act ivit ies, and no t the ge ne ral e co no m y in its irr ed l/c ibl t'
moveme nt. It would be futile , as a maner of fac t, 10 r.onsjdcr th e
econom ic aspeets o f potla rch w ithout firs t ha, ·ing formulatt-Q the
,·ie" poi n t d efi net! by f¥OCTOI «ooonw. 2S Th e re wou ld be no pot·
latch if, in a b'en..rOlI !Kn!K, th .. ultimate pro ble m concerned the
acq uisition and flot th" di s." p'lt io n o f llSt'ful wea lth.
68
n_ .. r. '''T cO' ~'VA' "V P CH' ATe ...
The stud y of th is strange yet farruliar ineutu tto n (01 goocJ mOln)
of our behaviors art' red ocible t o the I.' W5 o f potlat c h; rh..y I"" ,..
the sam e s ign ifica nc e a, it d oes) h<l!. a pri v i1c~('d pl ace in general
e co nomy. If t h(' r(' is w it h in ' '', ru nni n g th rou gh Ih .. spact' \w
inhab it, a mo\'ell 'en t of ..n" I"IO' t hat we ll".., bUI lhal. is not retluc-
iblc to its utility ( whic h we 0I1-e im pel led by reason to \eek ), wt'
c an d isregard it , but we can als o ad ap t our acti vi ty to its !:om-
p letion o u tside us. 'rhe soluric n o f the pro b lem t hus posed ca lls
lO r an action in t wo con trary directio ns: \\~ need o n d \t' one ham1
to go bcjond the narrow limits w it hin w hich w" o rd inarily re",a in ,
a nd o n Ihe o t her han d somehow bring our go i n~-beyond bac k
w it h in our limits. T he problem po se d is that o f th e expenditure
o f th e surp lus. \ Ve need to give away, lose or d e stro y. Il l lt the g ili-
wo u ld be se nseless (and so we wo u ld never d eci d e to g ive ) if it
did not rake on I~ m eani ng o f an acqu isition. Hen ce 8i''IIl[J mUSt
bec ome U<quirifJfj a p"'i.-er. t; ift-g iving h as th e virt ue o f a surpass-
inJ; o f the sub ject who gives, b u t in exchange lor the o bject given,
the su bjt'Cl approp ria te s the sUlpassing: He regards h iS Virtue, thai
whi ch h e had th e capacity fo r, as an asset, as a p<)wer that he n ow
p{\',ses~es. He e nriches I1hn ~d f with a conte m p t for ric he s. and
w l,at h.. l' n ,,-c s to I... mi se rly of is in fac i hi s gen emsiry.
BUI he .....ould no t be ab le by h im sc lf t o ac quire a powe r con·
sutured by a td i" q , dsh m ..nt o f flO",er: Ir he dcsrrojcd th e obje ct
in solitude, in sile nce , nO so rt o f power "Quid res ult from the act ;
there wou ld not boo an ylhi ng fo r the sub ject b ut a separati on from
I',,,\.t'f w ithou t any c"m l'..nsat;on. Bot ifhe d..stroys th e o bjec t
in from o f anorher pe rso n o r ifhe gi\'t'S it aw ay, the: o ne w ho gives
has act ually acquired , in th e or" ..r's cy~ , lhc pow cr ofgh· ing o r
d..st roy ing . H.. is no w rich for h,l\ -ing made U5C o f wCillt lo in th e
ma nn er its essence wo u ld require: H,> is rich fo r l\a\'lI1g osterua-
t i,, "~ ly c onSl 'lllcd whal is ",..alt h on ly if il is c o nsu m ed. Bu t th e
wealt h that is ac tu al ized in the po tlatc h, Hl comumpllon }OI" o,!lCr.5.
has no ' N I c" i~It'm(' exc ept i n ~()r.lr .1.\ t he o tl ..." i' d 'nnged Il)'
tl,t' consum pt ion, In n :>enM', ~l) d't'm ic consum puon ()u~hl 10 be
"" l ira')~ bu l lhc n it m",1cI no t 1)<1\ e the com pletion thai the act io"
il has on till. o lhcr c o"f.,,,, on it , Am] th i' ac t i. m tM t ,~hrough l
IU be-., on ..then i~ I'",d,o;d ) ....hat Con~ III UU'" rhe gilt·s 1XJ\\ t'r,
" h""h om acquires Iro m rh e r.")(;1 of IaUIIfl' 1he c>.cmplat} \ irtu.,
0 1 th.· l'0llaK h is ghl,;l1 in Ih is ~~ibi l i t) f( ,r man to Io(I0000p " Ilill
d ude' lrlm, (n co rnhmc ti lt' Ii Illill es" move1ne- nts o f Ihl,; un i , CTht'
wi th till' h m ir th nr be longs ttl hi m .
1. The apporrnl a#,s<Jrr1,h of£PJu.

8m "you ..an', na\ t' )'Ollr we and ("at it too," Ill<- 1I4) j"I/.~'
It i~ contr..:! iuur') to t r') t o be un lilli hed 0111<1 li",il,-.I at The
~,,~ timo' , a nd t hc n-,,, Ir is c u ml-.:l).: TI,t' Jlifr docs not me an anr
th ing lilJm (he ~lancJpo i n l ofpcncral eco nomy; th., r(' b d issipa-
tion onl) lor the gi\er.
Mar.., ,, n , it tum, OUI t h'll th ., gh cr llal> o uly appi're n tly lo~t .
f\or OI1ly c.k>n ht- bacc tl~ JlO", 'r o.-c r the recipicet INt t he gilt
has bt':stoo,..-d on him, 001 the ft'( ipil.'flt is ohhgaloo 10 nullify 1h..1
power by repayiflJ!: t he gill. T I... r;' "<llry C\"C n entails the return of
a g rea ter g,li: In un lt-T to H"t ( ,cen !Ill' gi,cr rnuv nIM onl)· redeem
him~f" I r. hUI It., rnuat al-o imp'-"t' the "power o f ti lt' gif t" On his
rjva ] in tu rn. ln a M 'n\e (h~ prcseut-, ar e re pa i' l wi th rnt",rJl. T hu~
t ile gih is rht" 0 Pr""ilt' of " hat it wcmt't1 to be: -10 g. '" i~ obvi-
ousl) 10 lose, but t h<' los,\ apparenll~ hr info:" a profit ' 0 !II., one:
"no ~u,'ta i 'h it .
In n-..lh). th is a.bsurdly nm tradictOl) '»I',.'(:t of po tlat <:h i~ m;s.-
lead ing . TIlt' fir.. t gi"CTwl/rrs t ltt" apparen t gain ....'ultiTll; fm m t 1,,-
(\iffernlCt' lx-rwe e n h i ~ prese-nts am i those g l,en 10 him in re tu rn .
'I he one who "'fl.l)" only 1m the It-..Hng ofac.'Ju iring - ,1 po wcc -
an'\ 01ou tdoing. At.ru.lll). "" I hOI,,: sai. l. rbc id "a1 \\ otl l.1 ~ tha i
OI IXlILltl h could not I,... ...-paid. 1 he: lxnen' if) no,, ~ rOfl1"SJlOnd,
T "' ~ C, II r O F R,VALRy rO TL AT C , .
to th e {le;i re fo r gain. O n th e co n trary, re ceiving prom ph one -

and o b ligt's one - to ghe mort' , for it i ~ nec essary To remove the
resu lt ing obl'gation.
3. The OC<j,,;CijtjOll oj "",II.

DtJubrlcss porloteh if not redudbl~ f(> t he J",jre tv lose, /1111 what iIIJr;"BCi
lv the s;.-rr i... nor the ,ne.'iwb!e Jrl<7I'G.,-e of return }/'Jr<; it" t he mnk which
it w"/.",, ()IJ l he (JIll' "}J{) hu.\ 11)(: /m'! worJ.
Pn'~tige,glOl)' .lnJ ra nk shou ld nor be co nfused w ilh power.
Or if p re~ lIge is power, rtm " in" ,tar as powc r itself cscapes the
c~ 'n~,,, .. rari on~ o f n JTl:;t> o r r ight to wh ich it b oTl!inarily reduced.
h m ust he ~i,]. furr hu , thar rh.. id e ntity of the power a nd the
ab ility to lose is fundamental . NUIT1t'rou~ fac tOI~ sr... nJ in rhe \\<lY,
inrcrfe~ anJ finall y prevail, b u t , a ll th ings comiJneJ, neither
force no r right is th e hlJltlall b".u of the J jfferenti.ltcd "alu(' at indi-
vid ua ls. A~ the survi\'ing practi c es make clear, r'lIlk var ies d ect-
~ i\'c1 y 3CConJ ing fa an inJi\ tdual's ca pacity lo r Iliving. The annual
factor (thr.: capacity for J cI~at i ng an a..lveITkl"y in a fig ht ) is ib d f
subordinated, by and I<II"ge, to the value ofgi\ ing. To be sure, th is
is t he ab ility to appropriate a position Or possessions, bu t it i ~ also
tl' e fac t o f il man\ ha,ing suke,I his whole being. Moreover; th e
g ift'.; asp('u o f an apl'''''! to iln im ill l(ll"C" i ~ b ro ught out in fi~hts
for a Com m o n c ause, to whic h th(· lIghtt'T g i \'t' ~ hi"".. II. (,1()1\,
the COI1Sl'q uc nc e of a supc rioritv, is irsclf somcthing dill<:Tt'n l from
an ..hiUtr to t ake ano ther's plac..· and seize his posscsstons: It
"xpr.. ~' ..' a mo" .. me n t 0 1 se nseless fn'nz)', 01 measureless expen-
diturc of un.. r~J. w hich tht' It:n 'or of co m bat p re.u p pose.s. Com-
bat Is g l C)ri ou ~ in th at it is always beyond c a lc ulat io n a t su nl<"
momen t . BUI t he mean ing o f warfare and g lo ry is poorl y g rasped
if i t is n o t rela t e d in I,a rt t o the acquisitio n of rallk throug h a
reckless expendir ure of viral resources, of w hich pcalarch is rhr
m o st legible form.
l'
• •
4 . 1M j iJ3lll(l5K /o "~
&1 if it is true t ba t fWltl.au::h T..main~ the opposi re of ;l r4pil1C.". o f
a p lo l,ta h lc cxc. hange or. ,l!,cn..ral l) spe",k ing. fir an appropr iat ion
o f posses sions, ;U;llliisi ti ol'l is non eehcleee its ultim at e p u rp ose.
Because tho.: lT1OI'cn ,rnl it srruc rure ,l iller; fW Ill OlUS. h apPear..
SITiI.ngc.- (0 us, and so i l i, moee Clpablr- of rcveaI;'l( wh.u usu-
all ~' escapee ou r P(:rcq 'lion . and " h", i t sho .. s rn. is o ur bd..'ir
a mb i,llUil). O ne c an dcdun' th e fo llo\\ ill( laws frn m II. O f c oorse-
man is nor ll..r.nabl c once an, l tor ail an dthese law, o p.'rat e dlf-
r..,e ml} - the ir d lecb ere ....-en nc ul..vi,a:I- .lI1 dilT~ ll[ stilb'CS
of hi st~. b u r lxIsic"l.lI) Ih n OC'I"'" C('~ 10 r{'\l'a l a d ecisive pb.)
of lor-ces.:
• a ,w'1" l1s of reMl<Im, "hkh soocuce haft w rulanrk <II ,h'lT dUJX'u>l
/II l <.TTlJjn pat,t., III (erta in 11m.:.. ronoct compku "I'flfV-
be It~ ol>i«r ('/ (J
pnalHMt ( ir rOlltJt>l br .-fu11J rrnp""ro; ;f runnel ~ cmploonI for 1M

iJlV"' lh £>/ dw p mductllf' form). but IN sqoonderitlR tlJ ,h.. 'urpll4 it!A'JI
bW Xl Jn an obp-t oj "pprrpnatiot!;
• "!J,,t i.l nppropncr/(J in tlX' >quan&:r i.l' tk 1""n;y< it n k(, '" /lw squnn-
dr;= ( .. hdltcr on Ind"KfooJ Ct a DroopJ, ..-h.ch .u <JCquirtd ry hUn us 0
~ and .. hicJJ Mrnninc.< his r.mK:
• C('m'f'l1<'~. ronk III w:>cirf} (or ' M ra nk oj Ilr'" __M't. otoorlfJ athcn )
wn IIC QPf'''-1'InUtetf in tn.. W I .... ""'J f))
tool ar a f itld; '/ II l< uhi""ud.
"
a source vi I'tvJiI. t M prlllopit vI it ,< I'Ievrrthtlas dr'f'tnu""d Ill' (J roo-

I II't SilU"ntknng oj ' f jOllITU S ,ho,
in rhron ,ouM /WIll! t-n ucllucrOO.
5. N"brl/uih and (OIllmdKtiOll.

wtue th e resources he c o nt ro l. ar.. rtdllc ibrC l o 'j uam i tics 0 1" e n-
"rg~. man i., nor ah, ay, abl" to St:1 the m a,ick: tor a )..'!"ow th that U n-
nol be e.wUCSIl or, a bove ",I I, COIJt intul. He m~ .. oDl .. the CXL~.
hu t ht" re mai ns t>~~r 1O .lIt quire even "Iwn he does 11,1'oppmi tc ,
and !oil he ma ke:'! .....ste itse lf ~n o b jcc i 01 aoq utsition. Onn" rh e
resources arc diS!li pared, t here rcrnatns the Pl1'_~' ige acquired I ')' t he
"
one w ho wastes, -I he was te is an os te nta tious sq uilllde ling to rhis
e m l, w ith a .. i",ow to a su periori ty me r othc.... that he ett rtbures
to himselrlly this mea n s, B'II h l' misuses th e nega tion h e makes
o f th e uul it Y o f the eesonrces he wastes, brin/<: ing in to con rra dic-
t ion not o nly him selfbur ma n's c ntj rc ex jsrence. The latter thu s
c ntc rs inl o an " mbig u it ) w hnl' il re mai ns: tr p lace.-; the ,'alue,
th e p resri).,... and th e trut h o f li ft, in the negati o n of th", servile
usc of possessions, 11I ,t at the "'m" I im.. it m" kes a servih- use of
tlli s n egation. On the o ne hand, in tllc 115<:(, ,1 am i gra.~p.l hl .. t hin g
il discerns that w h ich, being n e<.:e ssar) 10 it , « 11' he 11 , ... 1 for it,
g rowt h ( o r irs sub sis tenc e ], bu t it stric t n ece ssit y ceases to h im l
it, thi~ " usefu l thin g" canno t c n t in,;l) answe r to its w ishes. Con-
""'1"entl)', it calls 1'01 t hai w h ich cannot be g~pcd , fOl the useless
..m ploy m ..nt of o neself, of o n e 's p o ss e ssions, for plu), b u t it
all!"" 'pt, g rd.\ p that w hich it w ished to be UllfJTillpobk, 10 we that
10
whose uti/i t! " it .Ieni e. !. It is nOI f'nough for OIJr left haml not to
know what the right baud g iH's: Clu msily, il mes 10 take it back.
Rank is e n! ircly l he effect 01 this crooked w ill . In a se nse, N,:k
is tJu. opposite o f"il t hi ng: \ Vhat founds it i, s<lCred , and the /<:en-
eral OJ'd crjng "I' r<ln ks isg in~n the nOlm.. o f hwrorch) . It is the srub-
bo rn d e te rm inati o n 10 tre-at as a <l ispo~ hl t' ;lOd usa ble thin9 that
w hose essence is sacred, th at wh id, i ~ . ,o m plt' t.. ly r..mon·d fro m
th e p rofan e uti litJri JIl sphere , where th e hand - Un'" rLl l'" lo", I)'
an d for serv il e e nds - ra tse -, t he ham m e r and n ails t h e ti mbe- r.
Bill am llig llif) e ncumbers th e p rofane ope ration jus t as il em p-
t ic, . It'sire 's veh e m e n c e o f it s mea n ing and e ha ngcs it int o an
al'p;l re n t c orn..d y,
T his • <lm pro m ise g iv!"l1 in our ",'t' lre heralds those link ed series
o f dcccpuons, f'X I,lo itatiol\s and mal1ia..~ rha r g iw a te m por-.,l order
10 th e ap pilTCllt u nreason o fl,islorr MOlIl is flcecssaril) in a m ir,1gt',
his ,'e ry re flect ion mys tifies him , so intc: nt is he o n graspirlj.( th e
ungrasp.tN e, on m ing traJt~P()rt~ o flust hat te<l as took Rlmk, wh ere
" L ,,"CCu ",,"CD Sh"""
loss iv ch;ln~,'t'd into .l<.'j u i.\ilion, con'''~IJ< IO(h ro the 3f. t" it) of t he
;ntelleu . " hic h rri!uu., rh.. objce::u of Ihf'll .j.!fJt 10 thlllfF. In poiru
~ f<K l . lho- c~kl .on ut podanh i~ rncOOlllOI 0..,1) tf" OLlfI;fl.
(lut "--tOl'). bUT more profoundl) in Ill.. "Vcr.u ."n\ o r . ....>Ugh r.
Gen.. raJl ). in \.l(;r Hkc or in pol la rch, in ;",;tion (in MHO!) o r
in comemplatlon (in th nu/lhl ), " I,at "" ' ee l... h ill"a»' I hi~ selll-
blanc e - ,, !.i\;h by tldlllil if.l ll "e \;;1 111101 I<T'iI~ p - IIMt "e "ainl)
callthe pot'tl')' 1M deplh ....... t he intimae.:) of IJoluion. We M C 'lL'C·
~s.ari l) d«:ci"c,1sirx c " 'e- wanl 10 t:""'P th", sha.:""',.
\\c <:uuM nf'll rca.h the- Goal objn.' uf 1.. l'l(J\' 100"... without lhe
d issolu tion 011<00\, k.I".... "hie" ;li lTl!> 10 , ...'<Iua ib "hj..... t wthe
Lond ilion f.lf ~ulxJrdill.l.l,·d ~nd m.:II1.~e<l t h ing:,. ·n1\: .. It.m ate peob-
lcm .. f k nowl e, I~... is tl1l' same ,).\ th~r 01 c·OfISUIllVli"" . No o llt;
<;.111 hot h knf\\' antI n(~ be do.:.sHo),..1; r\O one can hu .h (·ons um e
wcahl. ami increase II .
6. LUAU',- oncl cUte"'.. potY"f1\.

But if 11,t" demands or t I,,· 1ife of I"'inl,,'!' (01' W'oup!i) <I..techcd from
lifc·\ im men. il) ddi n...s an tr uer..\ l to" hi<.. h en.'')' ' 'jX'rativ n is
rder...:'!. th e /FllitTol nlO\·t'tI1em oI lif(· is flC'\l.'rtf..:I........ ;lI(complisli..,1
he) ooJ the de mand' 01 indhidll.lh. Se lf" hnelt.'i is hoa.ll) d isap-
poin t...!. II scc ms 10 pre- ail .ancI\ O I..) 00, n 4 defin i t;' ~ bourxlal')'.
bu t it i, , urpasscd in iln) case. Nodocbr Inc.. ri\"ill ri.." ofindh idu-
als ..mong rhernsclves rake .1IWil) th e m ulti luc!c\ abili ty to be O\'('r-
m n lry th.. ~ l ob..1 eXlI b"rano.;e of ene rgy. The wC.'" k are flee c<:,I,
ex ploi uxl l') I..... ~I ~ , " ho 1"') th em with n~r,mc he$. Rut this
<;aTlnOf l:1u.f1l,'" t he O\"t'rall n.~ulti . "here it"I;, idual intere'l i,
rrKlll ..,I, ami wlte re 1M lin oj 1M nth un rllIO'~ ;mQ Iw d ,.
In the o:fl<l. "it h IItI I'ossibili!) " f growth o r ofac<ju i,iliun
reaching its li mit at ,I , :.. rtain po ifll . "nc'Y_~' lit.. "hjec t of g r,:.. ,!
of •.,.... 1) isol ated ill,ji , ' <l.I3I, i, n...·..l>.... ril l 1ibe ra te,1- tml) IiI)t'r-
atcd under titc cO\<:r of lies . Ddi ni ri\CI ). men lie; fhe) do 11,.. i..
T H E G' " ' o ~ ",,,,u,v
bes t 10 n:lat... rhis libe rarion to interest, bur th is liberat ion car-
l ies them fu rLlu:r. Cons.."u.. nrl )', in a sense the,. li e in any case.
As a rule the imlh idua l dc{;"rnll];lIion "f r..sou rce s is doomed to
d esrru ctton . Tbc individuals ".h o (;"rr)' n"t t " is (I..srn,,·rion do
nor Inri) possess this wealt h, ImSw Ilk. Under p rillliti,-... cOrl< liti on_s.
wealth i~ always amlogoU\ to stoc ks of munitions, ".lli.:h " l cl ..~r1y
..." p.... ss t " ~ a nn ihilati on , not rho povscssion o f wealth. fiLI I thi s
image is j" s! as accurate ifil is a m allcr of ,,:>.pre ssing th" <Xjuall)
lucli, n1u, In llh or
mnk: It i , an ""plo,]\"c c1largc. Til" man o f high
rank is orig iI1all)' <lnl}' a n e"plosivt> individual (all men a n· o . plo-
sive, but he is explosiv e i, a pri vil<:ger:1 war), Doubtless he trl ..s
to prcvcnr , o r 'It least d da) tho: exp los ion. l ' IU ~ h e lit's ro h im-
selfb) d eris i"d) lak ing hh wea lt h and h is pO\, e r fOr ~()Jne l l l i ng
that I!IC) ar.. "ot. lf he ma nabJe s 10 e n jO) them peacefull), it is at
Ihe cosr o f a m i sun(I" ~ldllJin~ o f h im sell, 01 his real nature. I lc
lies at t he sa me t ime It) ali t!'" 01" .."" 1...lor.. " h"m cm th e con
nary h e main tains the affirmation o f a lru th (his "" p l"'i\'e na ture] ,
fro m wh ic h h e t ries 10 escape, O f cOU"''', I", "'i ll I,.. .. ng"I/",1 in
th ..., .. lie<o: Rani; w ill be reduced to a comrn odirj of .... ploit"tion,
;, sh",md e;~ source of p rofits. Thi ~ pove rty rannot ill all}' ~>a) im ..t
o.r« l.h.. m ow"m ..nt 01" ex u be rance.
lndifk-een r to inrc nri on s, to reticences anr1 lics , slowly or sud -
denly, tire movement o f we"l th e xndcs and <.;Of1SumC5 the resources
of cne rgy. ·1his olien seerns st r,m~~ , hut not on l) do these resources
SU m tT; il' t hC)' cann o t ~ c omplete ly cons lImcl\ p.ndUt·livd) a
surplus usuallj- re mains, " h ich must be ;m nillilatcd . At lirst sigh t ,
potla tch appears to 1..<1")' out th is consumprion bJdl). The dc srruc-
ti o n of riches is n o t it~ r ul ,·: T he ) "r.. ord inaril y gi ven away and
the 105.~ in t he opcrat jon is rc.luccd to th:lt-of th.. g j,·"r: The aggre-
galt 01 riches is p reserved . Bur th is is on ly dfl dpp.."rdn c.. . If l'llI-
Idtch " ,r..l) re sults in acts sim ila r in C\·cr) rcspcl:J to 5dC riflc .., it
is no n.. th.. le s., the compkmr1Jw,,- 101m uj all ",u/lu/;01J who,\C ""'lin
;"B iI jn the [act thot It "jthdra'u }Wolthjram padua"." cOIl5umprion .
In g..n"F.lI, ~acr ilk .. \\ it h( l ra" ~ use ful prod ucts fm m profane cir-
cu l<ll iofl; in pTil....Iple the g ifts of pot farch libera te o bjf'clS rhar
arc useless n o m t he Hart. Th e in{' u~ t '!' of archaic luxur j is t h e
basis o f potlatch; o bviouslv, th is industry squanders re so urc es rep-
re se nte d b) the q ua nt tries of avail able human labor. Amon/<: t he
Aztecs, the)' were "cloaks petticoats, precious blouses": ()I'" "richl)"
co lou red Iearhers .•. c ut stones, sh el ls, fall' , , 11Id I p.,,"' I ,,~ ... wi lel-
animal sk ins worked and o rnamented w ith d ';sig ns ." In the Ameri-
ca n N orthwe st, ca noes and houses are destroye d, and d og s or slaves
art ~ 1;llIgl ll ercel: Th ese are USC/ill riche s. 1::~,e nr i<ll1)" the g ifho arc
o bjects 01 IUJ\ur)' ( f'h.. whn... Ih.. gi lt~ n ! food are p l..,1,gt',1 frn m
rhc start to the useless (;Om llm p lion o ff"'''-lo !.,j.
Om' m ight even sa~· thatp or tarch is d ie specific manit..~w.ti()n,
the meil n in};fu l fo rm o f luxury, Be)'o nd d ,e archaic torm v, lu xu ry
h", ac tua lly r..ta in..d t h.. fu nct ional value o f potla tc h creative of
«mI<. LUJ\ llr)" ~ t i ll ' !<:lnm in.., t he rom k "f eh.. o np w ho displays
it , and there is 110 cx a!tr.;<1 rall k that doe s not require a rlisplaj,
But th e pett )· calcul a tions o f those w ho enjoy luxury are surpassed
in t."v e ry wa)" In wealth, what shine, throug h th e defec ts exten ds
th e b rillian c.. o f t he Stm and p rovo ke s passio n. It is nOI w hat is
imag ined by t hose who have reduced it to their ptwertr; it is the
ret u rn 01 HIe 's lm mem it} to the tr u th of ex uberance. Tl li, muh
dest roys those who 1,01' 1' rakc n it to r w hilt it h not; the leas t that
on" ca n ~} is thai th e present forms of we.-. lt h ma ke a sha mbles
and a human mockery o f I.host' w ho t hink the y own it. In rhiv
r~pcct, presem ...1a) society is a llUgt: <:nuntcrf" it, wh..r.. t his tmth
of wea lth bas underhandedly sli pped into e~tremc poverlx. T h.. Ir u..
IU!l. ur} and th e tC<\1 Ilo tl a tc h o f o ur t im es falls to th e po\"e rt)' -
st ricken, tI,,,1 is, to th.. ind ivid llal w ho Ii.., ,Iown an d scoffs. A
gt'll u ine lu x ury requires rhc ( Oml' ld.. cont ..m l'T fo r ric h...\, the
somber indi llcrc ncc of the individual " ho rt·f"....'s work and mak..s
T H e G Ir, OF R ' V A L R> "O 'L A ''''''
his life on rbe aile hand a n infJ n il d ) Tlline,I splend o r, and on the
other, a silent in..~u lt 10 the laborio us Ii,: o f th.. rich . Beyond a m ili-
tary ""ploita tion, a religjoo ~ m p tificOl.Iion ,lIlel " c apitali st m i!r
ap pmpri" rion, henceforth no o ne C<\ n rediscover the rn.::ming 01
wealth the eXJllf)"i\"..n..~~ Ih'lt it heralds , unl e ss ir is in th c 5['1,,0-
. Io r o f rags and the ",,,,,/wr {_haHeng c o f indifference . One might
say, fin ally, that the Ii.. d .." lio",,, We'., exu beranc e to revo lt.
77
PART THRI;1"
The Historical Data [I
The S o ci et y o t
M ilitar y E n te r p r is e a n d the
So ci et y of
Reli gi ou s Ente rpri s e

T h e Conqu erin g Soc iety: I sl a m
.,.h r Dilfi~(JltJ 01 Gil';ns a Mf!o(l jng

to thr "'0,,/('(11 Rdin;tm
l ~l",m ,
the re lig ion o f Moh a mme d , ' s, t og.. lh..r " it h Buddhssrn
311(1 Chri~t i a nit)', om' of th e th re e "orl.] rel i.l/.i(>l1s. 11 I J kc~ in ~
snbs tanr ial portion o f Ih(' po p ula tio n o f the glo be, .m<1 prov ided
t he lai t hfu l'u lfi ll s specific mo n l o bl igations ill h is lilc t im e.
i t prom i 'iC~ bra l it ude a fter d e a th . I il c C hristianit ), il alhlTn5
the e XDlenc:l'" o f .II ~lJlgle God, but il is ""bomant l,;o:Jn[£rning h is
u nid t) : II rt')!"ard~ , he clngllkl flf t he Irim l) AS an abom inat ion.
T Ill'" ,o.'loslem o n l) !"CU.'Iln il....s o ne God, o f" hom I\\o l,ammt'< \ is
t hr me s;,e n.l/.I,;T, b u t Moha mmed ha ~ no <leu'" to God'~ eli. in;I)·.
Ill" i ~ not like Jesus, " hI) parta kc~ o f llOf h man a nd <';00, a m"-
diator bel »ccn t ...o worlds. TheR" is 110 dtl c llua ti OIl of ,...tarn's
clh inc tr.InSt e n<.k nee: Mohammed is on l) .II ma n, IIono «,d I') a
<kciri ,'c rnrlat ion.
In t1Jt'lJry These tenc'b adequaee I) define hlilm . We sha ll add
to the m .he recognit ion, on a M:'Conda ry plane, 01 the Jude o-
C hris' ian rradir ion (Mos lt- ms speak of Abraham and of jesus, bu t
tbc lauer is onl) a proph.,! him!>(11). rhcnc r..rnair~ rhe ratbcr " d l-
krMl\" n history o f "'\oIliIm ,T"Iftl·s d~ ipl es: tl 'e UlI'Wlucsts of thr lir.;(
OIli pru.. t he d isloc;oliOfl o f I ~ em pi~ , th.. S1,«:~i\"C~ in,,,,,io ns
"
o f t he MO~l> and Ih ... T uru . lo llo..... d b) Ih c d r- d lnll' u f the
Moslem p<J!,'crs in o llr t im.. ,
AlI l h i~ is deMo but (111) "upn flctaJl) 0;0_ If we II) tu .. nlt'r
into t he 'ipirit t h..l dcrcemu......1 a '~I mO\cment.nd ordered d ,,;
lin :!! of cocndess mul titudes OI'n ccmunec, Wt' do nm '!CC what
could have tout.. h t.'C1 II"> pcl"$OlUll). but 0fI1} fi ,n nal l""n i<. u lan .
w~ arrracaion lOr IIw I.l ilhflll "'" can onljsen.... L, i m<tgi n i n~
the local color of cov nnue-s, of " range c h in. ancl a " hoi...... rit"'"
o rt,ieratic altitudes ami b...st un-s. Mo hammed hin•self " 11I,,,c iiie
i!. wel l koM'''''' to uv, ~pca1.s a lilll,~ mat Jot':!> no t ...... 'C tllCd ear
and irrcpiec.. ab l.. m..... n i n~t for us t hat Bu"dha'~ or Chr;;\t'~ has. If
on l) we arc alcn , Rmlt,n.. o r Ch rist speak 10 us. btll Mo hammctl
10 "Ihel"\.
S" t n l.. i ~ thc above tI,al wl' ''''t,,·..r th .. " ndClli'lbk scxhll·lion
lI ,a t w<; f....1 tri es 10 (' ~ p .... s~ it scli in 'nml", 'w d o n't k no w w hat
to ~.ly. T I ,,~ p ri nd p k , th" n appeal' as ti,t,) :,..., lordgn 10 w ha r
affccrs u•. \ Vc can on h r.....irt m pla eirudcs.
O ne cannot d o ubt the ' ill'..cit)" o r the co m pele nl;C tlr Emile
Dermenghem " here, .I t rhc uH.... lusion of the rich '01o.1I1\C "hid.
t he Cohier< dlJ Slid hM rt'Ccnl l) devoted to Islam. I ~ Ollliiocs thc
,-aluel> Iml Isla m t:0fI1""" to us. I h i~ no use hl."lI1 i n~ ,"In)tlling
bul an irred ucible tl'"lu d l). BUI t he lac l rt ar Il,c cmph..\i~ i ~
I~ace<.' on freedom as ~<li "~1 wrvt cudc. on jlCn tlencss a~ ~",i n~1
violence, il> ,urprh ing• and illllic n h e ol tM perplcxin 0 1some-
one tryi ng 10 rOfTllub tl? a deep auracnon. \ \'ht-n l)fonl1cn~"cm
spem of fu n .lum ht- i\ l?xpre~i"l; t he .lrtr.ocli'lfl I,.. t..ch both
10 frt'e<lorn .IndIO lvlam, bU1 the <jtJOl:3riom he nfkr.. .. re- 111'1(;0<1-
,i nci n~_l "'("-.I does not loce OpprMo!iOlS." SoIl' t he Ktlr4n. O ne
grant, thl' antil h....h of t Ile i,k .. of COIl a,xl an uOJu!>t OPl'rc~.
bu t t"'i ~ is 001 .. !\1()\lrtn lra il. And one can nfll F.!.illo nou' Iht-
~nerall} dcspoI;c IIIl !U r .. u l '>OI l're iJlnq in Islam . Is ft M'ilo m nm
ba sed O<l I"('I"Qh. alxl ;l> il nOI 11M" 'MIme Ihing as un\uhmi~il""OI'S"i~
1\0\0 th e H:I} w(lul • .dam. ntcaIU !>l.lhmh,.iOl1. .'\ Modem '~'JOI~
oec who submib,.l He: whmiu. to God . 10 Ihe d iloCi plim: thlt e..:1
,I..nwxk, "hio. h is <.onsi' It..nt " ilh tha t ,1"Il\O!ondMi b) hio!i lieuten-
ants, Islam is d isci pline a_ opposed 10 , '''' .... pridolls ,·iril't). the
inclhiJ llaJh m 0 1 t he Arabs of Iho:: po I)l llI:'sl ie u-i bc-s, I\ot hi'l!: "
rnoee " o nl IOU} to Ihe id eas Iha t rhc " ril.. " n rrl /rcrd()m (·,oJ,.ps
in ou r mtndv,
A ~sa£o:: " n WO\r is no Ip~s s tr;lllge. 4 Dcrmcughe m i , el Ol lht-
less rig ht 10 lJ m k' I~()n: rhc lil:t thai for Moharr nned t hc ~rt'.' l holL'
,..,r is 110 1 tl l.. t (If th.. Mm ll-tll aga insl ,h,- infiel d bUI tI '''1 o f the>
renun ciation 1)1\(' m llst engage in OIgains t Qn(''>CIf. He is also righl
to illustra te Un: morl.. rate charac ter of Islalll b} rd e ....rJ( - .. to the-
IlIlman it} s hO"n in i l~ lir.;1 Cvoque5IS. Hut ifone s peaks "of "ar"
Clpropo! oft llC ~IO!> I ..rns in oedcr 10 praiot: l hem. it is besr nOI 10
separate this ~"lH'" fmm their principles.. In thOr ~o::~ I"''t'rl
' iol ent .:tion <lgainst inlirlel" i!O good. J rom the: fint red...l. at
Merl ina. tho.' di sdpl o; of Mohamml'tl li' OO b} pillag ing. "On llle"
ot."'(;a.sion o f .. 1\\nJem rai.I." '!MI)'S r<.lallO«: (.,audclTo:l,~DcmnmI» 11l"'I.
" [he Koran ( II. 212) IOId the 1\1ol.1.. ms 10 flght even Ihough ' M
raid was u rrh·t1 n ut in violation of th e truce of the prc -I, lam ic
sa<.re el mon ths." S
The !ladj,b (I he " rl UeIl Ir'ld it ion ~ ml .. k i nt! of C()(k 0131.... lent
lvlarn ] o rgan i/ ed the cOIl'l ue~ l , )'sl.. rn<l tira lly. It exd u.lc.' need-
lee, ex.., uions <In<l a([lS of , iol cncc. Th.. rt')!illlen imposed Oil t hOSl-'
1\t:I""te.1 peN)nS " t,,') ceme 10 terms " il h t il.. , ic[fJI had 10 be
hlllmlle". c.sp<.'Ci<l1I) if il was a (jucstioo 0 1 n""n ofSLriptlln' (UlIis-
tian'. j.-..., anrl/nrtm[rians). T hese l\CI'1: on l} ..." bj.....red ro tax -
atKlrI. l il..c" iw th.. h"d,th o rdained Ih"'l rhe cmps. tree ' . dn,1
Irriga tion workv "'m uM boo tf' ~ pee [Cd .6 But
[he imam QI t he Madem commun if) m ll~1 "-age- phad ( hnl)

liar ) i1bainst tile" peoples 0 1 the ""Ill 1(.·rn [OI)·" imm..d iau:l)
8,
",Ij",'..n t to th.. " t ..rri to ry " I I sI ~ m :: Th.. I.. ~d ..r, of th.. a rm )
m " , l m..k.. Mlr.. that t h...... 1'... ,,,1.., I."" ,w th.. t..ad, iIlgs o f 1, I"m
"",I ll", t they nofus" t" lollo w rhem: it is then " L",,,ssal) to fight
them. Fhc hoI)' war \>.:IS permanen t, the re fore , at the borders
o f Islam. There.: was ' l O real peace poss ib le between Mosle ms
and infi.]d s. Thi~ wa\ an absol ute theoret ica l J)otiontmt could
n o t h al .] u p agains t th e fac ts, and the juridic<l1 expedient 11<\0
t o be found , rhc MIa, fo r circ um ve nting it w hi lt' conform irl!/;
t o it. Th e ,Ioctri lle l/:r~ n ted t hat t he Mos lem pr inces m il/:ht
enter into truces wit h the tntidejs, la,ti ng ten ye.1rJ at the most,
in the !""s.. o j an msu rmoumab le wea kresv " h Ill' Mos lem sta te
am I in rI,.. lan e r\ illlt're st, The) we"" free I " bre..k th..m ilt
w i II , pms ided th e y a to n ed for t ht'ir \'io la l t',1 ,-", t h. J
Ho \v co uld 'Hle fail tll sec a mea ns 0 1" expansion, o f indefinite

grow th, in th ese Ilrccellr~ , o ne th at is pe rfect at the san-e t ime
in its principle, in its effec ts an,J in the , Iura tion of its e llects?
Some o f Dc rmc nghc rn's othe r views arc also in the natu re 01
vague approximations. But this clear question e merges: ll ow does
o ne grilsl' the m(' a ning of en insrtrurion t har has outlived it , rea -
son fo r beinl/:! Is lam is J ,Iisc ip lirl" applfed to ~ method ical effort
o f COIl'1lJCSt. Th t completed f'nto.:rpriSf' is <In empt}' Framework;
thus t1w moral richev Islam ho lds are tho se o r ma n k in d in gen-
eral, but its ex ternal const(j uem;e~ a rt more mark e d , less unsra-
hk iI!)o:! m ore form"l.
The Am b Societies ot Consumption Before the llegim

If we are to define t he meani ng o f the Prophe t's d iscip line, o f
Isla m , ",.e cannot lea ve 0 1T J t its survival, w hich in our view pre-
serves t he bea uty of dea th O£ of ru ins. Islam op poses to th e Arab
wo rl d w he re ir was horn the , letermi TlatiOTl t hat ma de ilIl e lllpire
ou t o f .. I.. lll .. m s I hM wr.r" S"att..r..,] un til the n . "VI" ere rcla tiv ..I}
, .. . CC .... U E .. ..... S O C ' . ' " , s ~ .....
wel l informed abou t tllt- \ m..11 Arab communities, no la,\O('I' thm

Iht tribe. which had a di ffiUlIt ......isc.1'lf .. be fure tbe II"'Kira. I ht-~
w rte not a"',~,~ nvmadie. but tk tl llT..renee between lhc nOllwk
ar..J tI,.. ""';"'llt oll) inhabitanb uf l ho.: I:-JOI' \·iII~ - !>U::h ~ t.kn _a
o.-l"a l rib ( I"': nn un- M,..jina ) - "as rd a lh e l) \ 1ight. Wit hin rhc
con fine.. uf h..r:.I, If ihal ru t.... 11,<") mailllainftl a storm)" ind h iclu-
alis m 10 " hieh rill' im portance o i llwir p' .I<:t T') h ronnee-r ed. fh l'
perso nal Of I,'ibal rivalries, the bou tv l, f bra..,'urol, 01 g~ l l a n tr). of
prlXl ~aHI y. ot ,' IO<jucnco.:. of pOt'll<: tal..m. play.-cl the g~at (':!I1 ro le
ill t hem. ().;tt'ntarious g i\ ing and sq u..mlni ng "~I'(" ra'np'lllt and
on.. can lloubtl......\ infer tile c...istcnr c o f a ritu al fon n 0 1 )",tI<l1< h
fro m a pI'..... rilJli ofi o f t hc Koran: ~!JQ not g i..e in ord e r III Iwvr
mo re" (LXXIV, 6 ). H;" ing rema ined pol)l hcis rie , rnan~ 01' t~
tribes ha..l hlOQl.I) )3Crilicn totht:n Wfft" O m srian or jc.. ISh. but
then it ,,-as Ih(' tribe, and nor t he- ind;, i,lu... l. which had chosen
me religion and it is doubtfu l thllt rh.. \\a ~ ofli ft: ,,-as ch...i1t,o«l
, "t"l) m ueh ~ ... ees ule }, Blood Wllgo.:<IfIC to. tilt- ob ligation for lhe
relatrees o f a ma n l.iIlL-d tu uk tltd r r.....e nl,,>e O ll llR killer's rt'1a.
o
liH'S, , om plt't....1th iS tablea u of " ash-ful acts 0 1\ iolt".nct-.

A!>\llItiing tl '\;l l till." ne igh bori ng rCl!illn~ , endowed " ith d ~ rt~
I11mta!) u("g" ni1,lI iun. we-e d osed to ,k pns,ibi lity o f ex pan~ lt ,n.
t his spendlhrift W")' (If life could ''1IS" rl· 11 l~ sting equilibrium (the
frequen t killing of th t: femal.. tw whu rn Iwlpe. l t o p'l.°,"Cm OH'I'-
population). Uul lt loc neigMJI.'rs h.1t:l " ..a kt'rw, l, the maint enance
of a W~) olllfc t hat did not pr~ if'" f" r 11 jui ni lil-: 01 torces \\ ould
no, h",... allo" t"tl these people 10 1.&1.<' ..ln ntage 01 II", farl . A
p rd im inal') rdomlOlfiun of nt>;fOfl1S, t he kwm..l"tion of a I'rdimi-
n.u) pri nciple o f eOllC.ju~t , o f o.:n t""I",iJor and of uniftC.&f io n of
r.:.rr~ "crt' IIeCf'j;QI) before ... n~ ~ft"S6i un coe kl be undertakm.
n ell "'j!i1i nl>l sta rt'S i ll ,Ioxlinc o AppatCntl ~ Mohill'n m~1 ,lid nOl
mean to rl"ipt ... I IU tllt- lJOSSi bilitics d l<l' resu lt ed ho m the \\ca l.-
ness 01 th.. fK·igh IJl.,ring srates, bcr hi ~ teou::hillg nonclhd a.lo had
'<
th.. 'oil "''' .. ITeet a-, it ",{)"I, I h"H·IMd ifhe ha d clearly inten ded to
profi t fro m the occavion.
Properly speaking, these pre-Islamic Arabs ha,l nor J't:',llJ,t'I.1 Ii...
stag.. o f mili lar} " flInpri,,", an) more than rhe Aerccs had. Th ese
WilY, oflife "orrnpu nd t" the princi ple ofa "JC idy of consump-
li o n" But am o ng pe o ple of the same ,tage, the A'lte,s h~d ..,..-r
c jsed a mi lilal") hege mon). T h.. Arab" whose n d gh lJOr.; were
s..,san;, l lran a nd B)lamium. "ere forced t o Icgetate.
Nu., cen t blum or 5ucidy lh-duu-J 10

M ili ta ry Enterp ri se
" T he pietism o f p rimit ive Islam ," w rites H . Hol rna, "\\"oul,1 CN -
rain ly deserve to be ctudicd arel .'>:a m inH I more dnsdy, "-"'IJecl" l1y
, ilK .. Max \ Yel,..r "01\ Sombart have deaJl) shown the importance
of tile pi e tist wa) o f th ink ing in the o rigins and dcvclopme nr o f
capita lism : 'R T his re mark by the Fin ni sh w ri ter i, all tlll~ mor..
pert inent , illLe t he piet ism o f t he Je ws and the Proresram s was
motiva ted by intentions alien to c apitalism. It nevertheless resulted
in the birt h o f an ecollom) in w hic h t he a ccu mu lation o f l:.ll,ita l
d o minat e d ( to the derrim en r 01" consump t ion. whic h \\;l' Ih e
ru le in the Middle I\ges). 9 In an) case, Mohammed cou ld not
haec done any bcrrcr if he had s("t our (O n ansfor m til.. rf'C kl t'.ss
and wasteful agitat in n 01 1"1,.. Arab, o r hb l im e in to <III d lcc ti\t~
instrum e nt o f conq uest.

Th" act io n o f Mosl e m p\JIita" i~m tS comparable to rhar 01 t he
Ill<lnag..r , )f a "wt o')· in w hi' II , liso r<l..r has t,i\.ke o holJ : H.. l.. kes
w ise measures to 1111 the ga~ i ll till: pl"nl lhat ha' e drained ollthc
cne r~y and re duced th e outpla to nothing. Mo ha m m e d o pposed
t ilt> h.. glor i, 'o s <tIK1 iOl Iivid ual "Ideal" of " iri l il )" of rh..
m lJ lll Wa , t
pr c-Islarmc t ribes, " j ill the di1l, with fait h and su bnnss tvc disci-
pline. (Ric he lie u com bat ring the rradirions o f fe ud al hon o r, rhO'
.1" 0"1, ("h me Ihis sam" d irc c lifm Iklilwr.lt.. I). ) H,· forbade bloo d
r ...(; C ONO;:U E" ..... $0<; . 1: . .. ' 0;, .....
\'Crlb>e.lOCC \\ uhtn I he Muslem c urnmunit), b u t .Il1()\\.~ it ~~JlI1>I

infidd~ Hc condcn1nCC11~ kil li'\! o f intanrs. lhe usc of "inc ~Ild
[hI' gin of rk.Jl ry. He rq>lac~ this I;i fl ~i, inp. for ,he sd,e of pure
''ai~ lol) whh the- \l()Cia ll~ useful g U ll\: 01 alms. ~Rn)(lf'T ..* r
close retau..,.. h i, clue ,;o.\ well as t he pauper and thc wilI) larc' r, 'r cr
do nO!. S(j u.loc!er e x trim ' g;m l l) ; !>pcndlhrilts AI'(' tile de.. ii 's brcrh-
....n.. (Koran, XVII, 2R-2 9 ). Ext reme g" 'l(>I't);,il}'. a major vrrtue 01
Ih .. n-ibcs, SlItldcll[r becam e an object o f ;l\'t;r~ i on . antl inthvi<1-
ual I'ri d.. wito; r-om l..mned. T h" Sflilall(!l:ring, int rac-r... b l.. ~nt l .",.-
age warrior, I" .. t'f" anti bdCM.-'(! of }'OI.ln~ ....'Ofl"\{:n, hero of the I ribM'
l)O('tl). gi....·~ ......) to th.. devou t soIJ If.:r. tilt' Immal observer vi <II!>-
cipl ine and r ues, Tk- custom ot pr.t) illjo! in (Ul11mnn "<1'> a corswu
t'" I~1 affi nnation o f Ihi!> cmnl!C; it hao; riglll l) ~nl mmpa rCt'l
10 m ili tar) esce- ee, , ..h ich unifies and m echamxc s ~an . fll,·
contnst of thc Jo\.onn (al1(llhe hDditJ. ) " it h rhc c:apekiuus "QrIJ
o f poetry S) mbollzes tl lis rc'l"uJialiOfl . II , ..",~ n n l) aher ti l{ tr ee-
siSlibJe ,,-;n'e 0 1 c;:onq ucst by thr , 1"'0111 arm) . h at the Ir.Hlill On
was n:sumed; \ klOriOU\ Islam " ..~ nol. hdd 10 ,he- same Wt f'T-
it): Ilencm m ~ llandt"r. for wh ich the 10 nJo(ing re mained , cn.. ....1
to IX' a daJl~'Cr ,lf1C" lhr "lIll'i~ had consolidat ed its dom inal ion .
T he alt ernation (,L msto;ri t,-. " hid l acc um ulates, wu f prod r-
Jo(alit ), " hieh dissipates. is tile onlil'\.ll)' rll) tlllll in the use of l' IWrg}~
Onl) rd:.rh't' auvtertty anc th c absence of diwipaaion ;,lIow for
ti lt' gHl'Wlh or l ilt' enc rJo(} sptems th" l living bcinjo!s IJf "" .. it-tit'S
const runc. H'll., at It'as' for a ti m". ~r(l\"h hn i h lim i.... <luJ it i...
ncccmr l \0 d '$.liip'lle the e"cc'>li In.l l (antlol OC· accumulated,
w .....r gi\TS Islam a place apart in t110C rn c .....: mt"flh ;" the- fact rtlal
it " pen from IIw- searr co an .. pparenll~ unlilllitni in. rea-e 01

"'llS
pt:M~r. T his was I., no m eans a C;:Of"I.'> istt'tlt plan or prtlj t . U4J1
chance reali zed C'lc'1 l'0ssib ilit), Anti ('ha'KI.' ",AS \uppon 1 b) a
m inim u m of n ccl"\Sil). It is r..lall....l) t'~ ) 10 assemble people b,
inspiring them wi th a pankulu euthu...ia\ m , Ru( une mUSI &"e
"
TH~ "C C,-"SE D S .... ~E
th em someth in~ to do. ' 10 ~s'emb l .., to ..)(~ It is nP.it of ..lito .. licit
an u napplie d lu re ,,; Illis fo rc e c-an n ot follow if..', imp<:t lJs ,m el pre"
fo rward un less it is used th e mo ment it bec o m e s available. I rom
th e first, Islam was fortunate in having to set itsel f vio len t!) against
the wo rld in which it o rigina led. Mohamm ed's I ~-hi ng "1'1)()s..d
it to ti le tribe wh os,e rradirions it blasphemed. The tribe threat-
..ned t n exclude. it. wh ich \"'S eq u ivale nt to deat h. It thus had
to re -pudiate the t ribal relationshi p, iln d s inc e art existence w ith-
ou t ti es was not c onceiva ble at thc t im e , it had to e stablish a d if-
ferent t ) pC o f bond between it a nd Irv adhen-mv. T im wa s the
me an ing 01 th e I lcg ir;l, w h ic ll p ro pe- rl y be ga n the- Mos le m e-ra:
Muhamrn.., I\ flight frum Me' GI to Medina c onsec rate d the rup-
t lln' "fblood t i..r, and the establis hment of a n ew com muni r j ba sed
n n ch o \.Cn b ro the rh ood, o pen ro anyo ne who aclol't.. t1 i t., tf"ligious
forms. Ch risrianit v dates from thf" in, fh i,l u..f birr" of .. rl'1l,ct' m ing
god; Islam , fro m rbe b irth o fa ' -' )[I lm uTl it ), o f a n"'" kin,1 ofs...,t."
which ,lid n n t ha ve its basis in either bl ood ot p lace. Islam diflers
Irom Ch rist ian ity and Bu d dhi sm in th at it became, afte r the I-l'l!ira,
som c t h ing diflcre m from a te ach ing propapared in (he fram ew o rk
o f a soc iety alrea(l,. formed (a local o r blood c o mrn unirv }, IT '.I!;l~
the establis hment of a soc iet y 00l;t'(1 on the new t e~d l i llg.
Th i~ principle was in a sense perfect. Th ere was nt, mo m Il,r
ilmb igu it) o r compr omtscs "t he re ligious lead er was at the same
ti m e tile legi slator. the- jud gt, and t he m il itat) c hie f. O ne cannot
imag ine a more rigotOllsl}' u n ifleo c o r nm unl ry, Th e soc ia l bo nd
had irs o rig in in w ill alone ( b uT w ill c o tlM no t break il l, w h ic h
o ft.. r... 1 rh.. a,I",tn lagt: n ot ' m l) of e ns uring a d ee p m o ral un it y,
bu. ,,15<, o f 0 pc lling Ivlam to In definite expansion.
It was an ad m irable machine ry, Military orclet r..place d the ana,..
ch ) of ri va] dans, and in dividual teso ur< ~ , n" I, rng..r con~tl n,..d
was tcfu lJ). we nt Int o ti, e sen 'i,-.. o f t h.. arm ..,l n >o,nltlllit),. O" Ct'
the o bstacle [ t he t ribal bound ary th at IOr' ned ) stood iTll llt' \Va)
T'-'I: CO N Q UE .. .... e,; SCCI C T~ , ~a ~ "
o fJirtlw th ha,1 b ft'n rcmrlVc , l, t ilt' individ ual te"-CC5 "cre ke pt in

score for mi l,tJ r} cam paiglls, Cor'lI'It'M, w h ich t he IwditJJ rn c ehod f-
ca lly fashioned illl" a nWaJlS " f cxpanvio n, inve."e.l the new
resourc es. w ithout ap preciable (k~truct; on , io a closed ~ > ~! e m o f
fo re t's that gr..w la rgcr an.-1 largcr at a faster and faster ra te . This
rnov .. ",..nt r..call s ,h.. d.., ..lu pm..nt nf in d us try through capital-
ist aCt·umul.llio n; If wa ste is halted, if tlevelop mcn l no longe" h as
a Iormal Iirrnt , rh.. afflux o f e ne rg > dicta te s grow lh, <In ,1 ~row l h
muhi pli e~ rhr- accu mulation.
So unco mmon a perfection is nor w ithou, jl..~ othn sid.. , hr1\Y-
ever. If o ne compa res the Moslem c onq ucsts Y' ith tl1I' " evd o p-
men t 01 t he Chris tian or Budd hist rel ig io n , cnc SOt)1l notes the
relative p ownl..,,-rl<>ss o f lsL1In. I"Iw fact is rhat thc formati o n of
PO"er d,~mands Ihal t me f<Jr" b''' its use, 'I he de velopment o f in(Ju~
try rcqu! ro a lirniton co nsum p lion; Equiprnenr get s first prior uy :
imm ediate int e resl is subord inaled to it. Th e '-ery princi p le of
Islam im plied th e !><Ime o rder o f values: Lil e loses its imm c ,] ial ..
pO\\'t'r of d isposal 10 thc pursuit o f a g rea le r power. III a,oiding
rhe m o ral weakness ofthe Ch ris t ian a mi Buddhis t com mumucs
[ forced to serve an lJ nchang~d political syste m ), Isla m fcll into a
greater wea kness, rhc COllS<',q"' :'wc of a comp l..", subordination
of religious life to mili tal) ucccsslt r Th.. piu'" Mosl..m reno urced
not o n l}' the was rctu] expenditu res u f the t rilMl world bur <lI M},
as a general ml .., Ol n} expen diture of!un'" t hal was no t all exter-
nal " jol..II(·" t llrn..,j ,'~ain H th e in fi{lcl cnc mv.
, T h e in ternal v to-
fence that founds a rdil6 iH\I~ lil~ and " u l", inat~; in a sacrifice played
o nly a secondary role in t h r- h lafll of t he Iirst period , For Islam
is dd'n... 1 not by c Hn slllllp tio n b ut, Iih ' ca p ita lism, by a n acc u-
mulation o f a\'ailabl.. fi,n;t';S, In it., primar} essence, Islam is unarn e-
nablc to an y dra math atiu ll, to an y transfixe d contem p lation 01
dra ma. 'f hcr c is not hing in it curre::.pom ling to Ch rist 's death o n
, h.. n()l\,~ , or t o Bu dd ha's rapturc o f anm h ilalion, Li ke the mili-
, .. ~ A C C lJ~ SEO 3"" R ~
tM} .....vud gn who u nle ashes his violence agai nst ehe ene my, it
sets i L~cl l against the rel igious \O\'ereih'll, w ho ullder~s violen ce .
Th e m il itary sove reign is n eve r k illed a ml even tends to p UI an
e nrl to ""'crif"'.,,; h.- i' th .-r.- [() .lircCl t he violence outs ide, am I
t o I'r.-st'n .- d ,,' vi\.il l lo l'('e o l thc co m mun ity fro m inte rna l con-
sUJllpt io n , fro m ru ina tion. t il: is c omm itted fro m the start to the
pa t h o f appeo pria t tnn.., n f cn 0'l ues ts, o f r-alr- ula rcd ex pc ndh ures.
wh ose pu rpost' i, growt h. 1,larn is in .l. .. " nst', in its Un il), a syn-
thesis o r r.-ligio llS "nJ "' ililal} for m~; it has curtailed sec-iflc .."
Iimiti ng rt'ligion 10 fllO",li l), a lms -gh ing and pra}c r observance ,
Late blum or the Return to Slabilit,.

G h 'en it s fo undal io n J m l i t~ ' Tlrn!".-st s, t he nrc"., illg o f Islam gets
lost in ti le con stituted Moslem clllp irc , As soo n as 1s1,1m c ea sed,
because o f its victo ries, 10 1>(' a rigo rous d evot ion o f v ila l rO n k S
to g row t h. it re m ained n m h ing bur an e mpty, rigi, l iT"",.-"urk.
Whar ca me to it lro m e lsewhe re was not take n into rhis rigo rous
c o he sion w uho u r b dnJ; t rans formed. But except fo r ti lt' co h e -
sio n, there- " nothi ng JJl it that "as n o t g h 'cn befo re i t . It tjuickl~
" pellNI itsel f to the influe nc e o f the co ntjuerecl lall{]s " hose riches
it in he rited .
It i~ rnme rha n a lit tl e srrall/o!le th at UIlCI' t he conq uests were
c o ." " li,b t.-d t h., trn d ., rly ing Arah ci\'ili/al ion, th e n eg ati o n o f
w h ic h I,,,ll fx ,c n a fo tJn<ling p rinci ple, recovered il ~ vitali t ), and
c ontinue d much as be fore. ~meth illg of that mum" i'l o f the tri bes,
1O wh ich Mohammed 0 llpo,e, ] rhe- rigur ~ o f t hl' Ko ran . , ,, b"iMc rl
in t he Ar~ " wnrhl, wloi,·h m:tintaiflu l a I ra,li t i"" o f c h ivalrous '';11-
IlPS in w h i" h violem-e wa-.. .: o fllb j",: d oi rh (Jl'Udigali t ), and 100'e
with pUC lr}. MUT('on::r, wha t we o urselves h ave fro m hlam does
no l partak e o t Moham mod's c o ntribu t ion, b ut prn is..ly of those
co n d e m ned values . It is c unouv to r'-"()gn i ~..- ,m Ar..b infltr<:nc c,
ill o u r c hi val rous "reli gio n ," so d lfferem fro m ti ll' i"St ;lu t i"n o r
' ''II: CO>" Ql " .. .. . G ,",c C' I!:
eh i--alf) ............lffi in the de B"su. the Luter being qO' h fee-

chotuCfll
eilo:n 10 the 1\ \,,~l t'm world. T Ilt' \ cl') "xprt'\~ ion , dll ' OJrocU, ImJol<
Oil II " ~"" me,m i, 'g llurin!/; Ihe l ime o f the Crll\il(lc~, a poe tic mea n-
i, 'lo( I it'tl to th e . aluc of p.1~\inn _ tn the h ' d frh (enluf). in llx' \ \'<:;1,
the onlif)ill') intc rpr«.at>o n 011 hI' rilllal 01JtrrlaJnent \ v;J!< M I rn,
And the bi rrh, in the Sout h of Fr4J1. .., o f the poe") o ( I iOfl
al'llUt.'fltl> ('~I<.T11kt1 a tradit ion goi'"l! bacl, ..u Anrbl~ . U, t1M_
p.lt'"y cornpetirions of tilt' ui bt-s that pn... .ll-d rhe .lISl C«: rcao-
t inn of rh e Proph e t. I()
9'
The tr n a r m c d So ci e t y : La m a Ls m
Til e Peaceful Societies

In a sense , Islam di ffe!> from ulllina')' <;<X.ielies o f m ilit'lI)' en ter-
prb c by an c xagge ra tiun o l rrai u , Otw .....,..s l<:n(ltTlci...~ in it, C" I~
ri"Al In ex trem es, tha t arc less pron ounced in the imperi..1 \"entll l"l':;
o f da.,~kit! ,tn ti' l"it } or C hina. Trur-, o ne does nOI find the hirt l1
0 1a morality in conne cuon " ilh lslam: It edopred a moral it)" that
pr.... t' xi~ l ed it. But th e d e ar brr Ak It rnad .. w it h ti lt' socictj ou t
o f w h k h it ca me g ives to the Ilg u r<' irlormed the sha rp lw,-" Ihal
the more ;ancienl e m pire, d o not M H' . Imlet'd , the !>ubo rdina tlC)fl
of e Ol'lqucsl. to [l1oral it} is " Ildt ~>t'I iIleo;, and al~ its me.vl.ill).(.
II is pa radoxical, perbaIX, tu h..ve c hosen lt., ill p rde re llCt' to
t he m n rt.'" ' lassical Rome or ChiN., 10 illusreare a typr "f, h ili , a-
uon. Am I it is , tra'lI!c to l}Jin!>!. for-';ln:! Lamaism, instc,w of the:
Christi;an Q 1u n: h, tn dew rib<: Ul unannni o;oci l.-1 :}'. But the con-
tr3!>l iJ> , I........., t he pl3} of elements i~ roo«: int elligi ble \\h..n un<'
ghes extre me examples.
In ;a hu ma ni!) everywhere prcfW('I1,u ~rr oil war, Ti I~1 iJ> p.wa-
du..ia ll) an .,(X-I",... of pt"acd UJ eivilw tion . il1Gllpablt- of 3ltiICI.: il'lJ.!.
others or dckrKling ilself. I, .. -ert); illllTlt' nsil ). topq>;<al>h) and enid
Are in th is cece the onl~ defcnd ces 0 1 iI , o un tf) " itl, no rnilit a!)
fun; r-. ·lh " ,XI[lul" t;ol1. little: d ifferctll r<K:iall) from the Huns ;U'l' !
the ~'l ongo l ~ (i n ti mes pa~I, mo reover, th e Tibetans would im " d..
C hina, ..xact ing t rib utes fro m th e emperors], a' ,hl' lx-~ i n n i ng of
the 1 wenrierh centu ry pm..-<~(I incapable of fi~"ting tl\ i l i tOlTi[~, inca-
pablo of uffning more tha n a day \ n'~i ~,a n c., to I "'0 MlCce~si"e
invavions. b> the Briri sh ( 19(}1 j and b} rhc Ch inf'~e ( 1909 ), [I h
uuc m at an im unno untable inferiori ty in weaponry made t"fj llip pt:d armies else-
whe rf' e Recti- e1}, opposed n,"'n "TlTIOwd lim.;"" And Tioct has till'
ad ,anlage of an all bur ina....."ibl.. I'0, itipJI. In rc alitj- a pm it iH'
dete rm inat ion i, in.." I".,,!. T Il<' Ne palese, wh ose race, locarion
and mM..n al , ·"ltllT" an, q uit e similar, have o n til('. conlrar} a large
lIIiIirar} ,~aIMbi lit ~ {th c} even in vaded Ti be t various t i mcs),
At [irs t. ~igh l , it is caS} to gj,'c a reason for this pcal'eabl ..n..,,;
It , <JTig in is Bud d hism , w hic h fo rbids its i!(lher<onPi I II kill. war-
lik ~ Nepal is do minate<] po[itica l1} by the Hin d" m ilitary ;,ri,t<lc-
rac ~ 01 ti l(' Gu rklla~ . But the Budd hisr nb..t.1ns wry pi ou s;

ilf..
Their sovereign is a hi g h d i/ltllt ary nlrhe d u~!}. Th.. cxplanat ion

is n,,1 so clear, hovo·..ve r. In spite 01 C\ery t hing, a lee blc reaction
in rhc face of an in, asio n is biza rre. Other re ligions co nllem n war,
and t he peo ple w ho pink " rhe m "b,illu, l> , t ill m anage to kill
o ne another. One vmu l,l li k.. tn look more closel y at thing' , "nl!
th e I. "tllllm, . " w,Jrl of " Bri ti~t. official . Sir Charles Bdl, devo red
bo th 1' 1th., IJt;P'OI I<1l lili' of the th irteent h Dalai Lama (187&-19 34)
and to ,0" h i~ l orJ o f T ibet under his reig n, e nables one to 101-
low t he m<llcrt,,} Op U<lIK)IJ oj ti,e ~p'trm rather wd l. 11
MlJderu libel <lud;h Brit;.d, Anlluli.H

Fhis boo k b} Charl es 1'.,11 is be n e r than a bi ~ taph } or it h i ~ l ()r)'.
I t ;~ flur a cum l'o" ,,1 wo rk I"' l a firsr-hand docume nt, the di MJr-
gan i7.ffi r-hrontclc 0 1a II un ess involved in e vents, re lating w hat
ha ppe ns to him as he go<:s a Io ng. Toe author g;'·cs a briefa,co unl
ofto ings he h"s no t experienced d irectl y, h ut he (J wdl s m o re at
length o n the: small OCUlrn'rlCO of his 0\,,, lik : He (~ mll lofl.l JY
us the leM! de ta il COIlC('ming hI' ' ta) in n~ t. ur in Ind ia. .. 11t'1l'

be was in Lon' olet \\ n h the Dalai Lama. TIM'" ,,"uri. is po...ri} d un...
but i t i~ I11l1 r .. livelyand oflen m U I " t han a IOnnal ' turl}; I t " .lI
jumble . bot Ill) ma n .. r. '\o\'c d o not h..cc a IC$S \\'~ h"ma tk ('If" mo..c
com plete r!oc un u::n1 un t he ch ili uli o n ofTiber . C harl..... lk ll i ~
t he flr"t w hite man to have hall ~lI~t~ i IWd rcla rious , basa-d 0 11 ~
l intl oflricudship. w it h a Dala i I Mna . 1 11i ~ ,"c ry ho no ra bl,· dip.
lo mauc agt'nt appe ars to have ich a gellll int' n mL'c m not on l) ftlr
ti,e i" tn t'sbo "fhi" 0\\1\ ('()un tr) bur lor lhu~.. ufTibct , "hv !iC
langlla~ I",: lnc'\' F, ell (he ~,""e m me m v r l"rli3. nUl 'I' r) an x-
io us lOge' in , oln:<I. see ms to ha, .. u lk-d o n hi s services .. It h II
LC"rtlIin amOllIU o rtlt~~i t;.II iUll. Charlt"\C tkll thought t hat t he 8111-
iID sho uld ~ I p ' h e n betaw; to m,;,,;nt .un the ir ind e pe nclc ncc. to
throw ofT tilt' O lilW* )Uk fur good. nit' Bl-ili!>h finall) dill adupt
th i~ pol i c~ " h;c h \\o>!' int ended to moll.: Ti ber a 71l1'1t' 0 '- infl u-
enL't':. bU I in 111 L-allt lou" \"'~ Tht')' !iiI" l he ad,-antal,........ f a hll U..r
state an d they we re ' cT)' m uc h in la,u r o r 11 Mrung. a utOlK lmr 'l lli
Tl b.. t , bllt a ram part agaimt t" '<:ntual.li l1ir ult ic-s must 1lI) 1 b..
gainc<! at tl w (;~ o f serious im mc-,!iale rlimo ,]ri..-,-. Thq wallll·J
to avoid 111l\" il1g rh.. Chinese a~ nl>tghbl)l'S. but n01 it tl, i ~ ",['am
\ UPIJU1t ing ho~t il il i ..~ agOl[nst them.
A peri od ,..,1" AlI~lo·Ti bcGlll Ii-i..rut,hi p, rather warm around 19] 0 .
..
a t least e nable d the aut bor 10 ,..,~ i" at ki ~urc and tak.. puli l icOlI
initiati w :'l; in it couutT)' that had n.,ma[nrr l d OOL-Q ro whiu'S lO. mnrc
t ha n a c e n l uTY, I'\ n(1 " hilc t hr- ifl.'> l il u t iun~ 01 Ti bet we re no t
uokncw n p rior to B..ll, c ('rtainl) . cec cou ld nOl ~r.tSp il>. lil" and
'icissitu dcs Irorn wit hin. \\ C" do nut emer a ~)...rem unt il \,.. {.An
percerce it.\, fluct uations. unril we di scO\l'r an in teractiun of its
.. Ie me u'" in operat ion. Charl o Bd l. r1 uri "R a. }'ear's stOl~ OIt lI\6ol.
t ricrl tu C"~~" l ho.' goo·ern m r-nl u l lll/(C t 1Il 11 m ilit<l t)· poliC)-,
Couldn't Til,.... ha\ ,<: an ;mn) in pruputt io n 10 Its m....JI"J It !IO hap-
thai the diffi t.vlt ics he cecou ntc..e d e nable Ill> 10 examine
pt"' 1!;
an t"COnomic pa ~ox , r nJlln I hi~ pa redce, , t he ' ..riolD !x lSSibili-
t ics o f human 'OCiel) and the boener.tl t.-oooit iorK III an cquifi b-
ri um cm,,~ in d",~n: .. ",licl,
The Purely Rd;e;olls Power oJ the Dalai Loma

Tbe special aim of the L:tst bool h) Clw-In Bell (" ho d•cd in 19 50)
is the biograph} o r ltw d lin eculh Dalai Lu na , -' hi\ nbjccthe retu-
r.tll)· led hi III to rn i""l Ihe kflu" n origin ~ of an illSI ltut io n th a r
ha\ no g rict count....pan o thcr tm n ti,e Jla pac), I .1ill \um nlol. itc
these hi~l(Wic;d lac ts, Budd hiWl wa~ intlu.!t"'....1 illio nt lCl in 640,
Tibet " "OLS tI,en ~'Cmc(l b,.. kill.'l.. lind in ti lt' Ilrst pe riod t bc de-'d-
o pm e ntof rh is r.·ligiol1 d i.l nu l OIl .. II " .."ken the ('Olmrr)', " hk h
W <lS une uf t h.. c hi"'· m ili,....)' powers of Asia, Bur BlI". l hi ~r monas-
d ei sm spread and in ti ll: co urse 01 time the inOllc rn:c of rhe- rnon-
..l>It' r!t:l> rhrea rcncd \ h.1t o f IlK> kings, In t ht' TWt'l fth ( " ,Iwry a
rdormer, Tsong· ...a-Pa, fnundeil a m o re seve re so-u. ill "hi.,,, the
monks observed striel '"" lillaC~' f he refur tTll-..-1 ~CI ofthc " Yellow
Hers" 0pp'.l't'<1 t hI;" IlXl'It'".. ..eel 01 rhe "Red Harv." A s.lintl), or even
<.Ii,·i..... d w-olCle r W.!S atu; oot"d to the " \e IlO\, I fars," \I hi. h, "'''p-
pr;:.;tring III theil SIICttSSOrS, gon-e them t ho, spiriwal l)u' .",r and rel i-
gio us !i(J\'Crcignt), 00(' of them, a J!reill l..ll\iI o f Ihe MRic.. Heap"
rnotlolSterJ neilr I h,a..... allied him"..,..l r " ilh a "iongoJ c bscf .. he
debtcrl a ~I "Rood I YI" 1.illl;.. In this \\ a~ Tibet eamf' undcr rhe
aUlt.-.ril) o f rhe " D..llo; Lama," il mongol rttlc J:i'1'n ' Xl thi~ occa-
sion to lMo fifth incatTla.t io n o r that \Upetiu ll-mn IX·l"'l~"'.
T his Dalai Lama \\" S IK,t c1eMI) 11.., mou imPlJrt ant o f t he
ineamare jo!<xls or n l,..t. T IM' :.o:rni-Iq;cndal) namli H 'S tba t dea l
.. il t. the o rigiro. i n" !Il'nSJr' J;l\C t.ighu standing 10 t he "Pan ch .. n"
of Ta"'5hi U in-po (a monaslct) "est o f l hiIS.J. ). In re..li l)- rh.. 'piri,
rual au thorir j ()f rbc DalOli l a ma gre w OUI nf h il> t .. m l>O..-.l1 am hor-
ity. "11>e f';rnd lf':n himlot·rr h,1~, in sddlnon t u ,Ill Im me nse tel igio us
THE U"' .. ..... FO SOC IE n ~ .. "" ",;'"
I' r.. ~tigt', "..c nla r c harge 01 a province; h,> has his ow n policy as
an u ll~Ilhm i,si\'e vassal. TIle <;;l"ll' i, true , to lesser dq,!:T't'CS, ofother
great lan 'a' , , ince an im portant monaster) is a lief in a harO'I )' cen -
tra lized ki ngdo m , lik e a Mate II ill ,in a stare. But the sovereignty
o f the Dala i Ldmd achieved consisrenc, ill t ha t it ceaved 10 be
hnked tu the tunct to n th a t eSlah lb hed it. In ou r ti me , Ll w ht' illl
o f gO\'em mc n t o f Tibet is '>0 liUl e th e gr;md lama of t he " Ric..
I le;, p" that t his mu naste ry, rebellio us er ti mes, cou ld c on duc t a
pro-eh inese pol ic y 'IIKI t hwarr the pro-Bri t i,h po lic y 01" Lhasa.
This in dccisi \t' c haracter of tht, IUC.lI I IIstirutions is reflec ted
in Ti be t's relations " ilh Ch ina , The authority n ftht' Dalai ~ma,
which is om bascdou any m i l i ~ry power, has ne w . ,",x..rclscd more
t han a lragi le co n tro l ove- r t ht' p ia) of forc es ro \d 'iclt it cou ld
n ot o fft'r an y real obstac le . ,\ M,vt"'eignty is precarious tI,al' d ocs
not ('o m mand bo th th e rel igi ous t'ntl lral1 me n t o f t he peo p le ,l Ot!
t he half-m t'r <:t'nary, half-e m o t io na l obedience o f an army'. Anti in
faet theoc ra uc Ti heT soo n fellunder t he d o mini on " I Ch ina. TIle
o rigin o f th is \';~,s~ lage is OOt clea r. T ile T ibe ta ns dispu te the
C hine se version; t l,.. C1,in es>:. th e Ti beta n one. Tibet "as often
subjec ted t o Ch in e st: rille even in a lll ilill ity, bU I n o t like a fief
s" hjn't" ,1 to a sueere tn (by a t rad ition al ri~ht rec~n i7eu by both
parties ): It was a mat te r offorce, and forct' IllJick ly overturned
" hat forc e llilt! established. China in tervene" in Tlbet as far back
as t he seveu rccn tb century, Il oin~ w hat it cou ld I" co n trol th e
sele c rion o f th e Dalai lalli"" , All amban , backed by a garrison.
h3<1 th e rea} secular powe r. Ct' Ilt'ra lly speaI.. ing , th e garri"' Jll seems
to h3\'~ h~t' n we ak : l l oct "as Jlol H prorcctorarc [t here " 'dS flO
co lon izat ion, d ,.. administranon Tt;mili ni,,~ e n rirclj-T ibe tan}, FllI t
China had th t' u pper h and and ow ing to iN i1g,'n ts the ,m'ereign ty
o f th e Dalai Lama w~s Hctitfo us: It m ay hav.. been d ivine, but it
was a lso powerless.
It was a ll the easier to nu llify the Dalai Lama's pow e r sinct' ..
?1
bizarre mode o t succession periodicall y abandoned lhe c o u n lr)
to regents for lo ng intervals. In the cyes o f th e libcrans the Dalai
Lama i\ ']0 rnn rtill, n r I"iIth,'r, he .li .., nnl )' in ~1'1,..~ ra ncc ami "
soo n ....inca rnate d . H~ was r~gard ~d Ii-om t h.. I.>t'gin ning as rh ..
lncaruatl on o f " m ylhir.:,,1 bd' ig. Chcn·rc ·~i . p rotector a'1(1 of goo
Hbct in the Buddh ist panth e o n. Th e ge nera l re inc a rnati on of
human beings (in o t her ani mal ur human creat ures ] afte r d eath
is the o bject o f a furularm-mu l bclscf fur l:Iu dJhi '1s . rh us on t he
dea th ol'u Dala i Lama, always attribu te d 10 th e desire to die, it is
necessary to go in searc h of a mille c h ild. in ,, 1J(Jsc body he is
soon reborn. An offici al oracle J ~ignatL'" the province and inquir-
les arc co nd ucted concern i'W: ch ild re n born w it h in a pe riod o f
time aJlTt'spo nd illg to the tleildl 0 1 th e late Dalai La ma. The dect-
siw sig n is lilt" recognition " f an ol'jt-et t hat ""5 lISt' d i"llll': pn ,-
vious incarnation: l'hc ch ild must ch o o se it fro m among o the r
similar objects. The )Ullllg Dalai Lama, discove red at the age o f
four }'CaT\, is t hL'n introduced amI enthroned, but he doc'> not cxcr-
d , .. powt't I>..("r.. !'i s n in.. t~t'nth )"'M. rhus. ta k ing acco un t o f
tin; 1irm; I<lpse fo r l-.:: i"" am"l lon, a lo-)-~ar r~g""c}' mtJ ,>1 .' eparal ~
t wo rci gm. Moreover, t h i' r"'g e n e y i' o ften p ro lon&J("'1. It '> tJ mc~s
fo r the }'o u rJg sovereign to di e yo ung. As a ma tle r 01 facr, ti le four
Da lai La mas prior to the thirte e nth d ied befo re or shorrly after
th e assum p rto n of power, a decel o prn enr ill w hich the i nl CI'{'~1S
o f lilt' Chmese "am bans" ere rhough. TO hav e h ad a pan. A reg~m
i ~ m o re man<lgcab le "Iltl. moreo,-c ,-, h a~ ~ m e tme rcst himself in
resorting to poison.
The Powerlessness and Rno ft of the

Thir teenth Dalai Lama
B)' W<l) o f an exce p tion. the thirteenth Dalai Lama survive d. This
" a , perhal" d lie to a nortceab If' d ecl ioe of the Chine se infl coree.
T Ilt" a1 n ll<l n had alr'-"'tI ) 'l ay"" "Il l " f tlling' at t he ti mO' 01 the
,8
d ,i l,]'s sclccrton . I his ne w J.r>II wav born in 1876 ; h.. "as Invested
"ith full p ,"','r, . rd ij!iou, and ..." " br. in 189 5. ' libel was not then
b e tt er a rmed Ihan before, b ut it was gen{'rall~ uclt'mh-lllJ~ an
n lrt'm.. d ink" lt)" o f acccw, Th e de fac to power 01the Da lai Lam"
is a lways po ssible ar the 1i ~1 casing 01 attention on tilt" part 01
III.. C h in....... hur it is t h.'n c o m pletely preca rious . T he young 5o<J\'-
Heign lean e d rl-Is qutc klj, Jnp ite the ignomnn' in \\ hid, lit' \\a.~
kf'pt hy]'h tsolanon fro m e\'el)'thing .and h is u plJn t1gj,~ 3!l an ido l.
as a m o n k los t in meditatton. He made a Hrcr nuvrake. A letter
fro m the vicc ro v o f 1",l i<\ asked fo r t he open ing 01 t he Tibetan
ma rkets to lllndus: T he Dala i l ama re ru me,1 it u no pened. The
matte r "..." ne t very ~ign ifi('<ln t in hse lf bur the British could nor
bear being n ex t to a cou n tl')' t ha t was d o \ cd to the m, tl,..., riske d
king ope ne r! tv Russia n in flu e nc e o r even, it was said, handed
m'er t o Russia b)" th e Chinese. The gO\T n 1llll' n l o f Itldi" sent a
poli t ic al m ission c harged w ith es tab lishing sat isfactory rela tions
" ill l I ha M. T it.. Tibetans upposed thf' enu}' of enYo}·s into rl le ir
te rri tory. In t h is v,ay the mi ssion bec am e mili w r)': At th.. It..ad
uf a ,I.. tac h me nr , Colone l Younghmband b ru l e the resistance and
marched on Lhasa. f he Chineve d id n o t h llllg" ; lJ,f' D..Ia i [ .. m..
ti ed, b ut not before placing th e governmenta l sea l in th e han d s
o f a m on k r("(:ogl1 i ~...<1 li, r h;~ ~ ..i nrli ne ~, "n,1 I.."rn ing, rh ,· only
co nd itio ns the Brit isll impo sc<! on le il\i ng Lhasa were the 0pel1-
ing o f t hr.... T illf't<ln t owns {O commerce, recognit ion o f t heir pro-
re ctorate over a border p rOl Ince , Sikkim• .and las t ly, no m h" r
lilrd gn pm ....r was to inte rvene in Tibet , Th is trc.J.t)' deli m;r1 a ~o ne
o f Brithh inffu ence , b ut it also implici tl y recogn inx! T ibe t's sov-
e re ign ty; it igno red th .. Chinese suzerain ty. T he Chinev.. pu t up
no tic e s in some town s ofTl bet, proda im ing the d f'po s ing o f t he
Dalai Lama, bu t the po p ulace covered t1WSl ' papo.:p; wit h ma nure.
T Ilt: Dala l Lam" stayed four )""A1rs i ll C h ina , go ing frum MonJ4olia
to Shansi, then to Pe k ing. T he rd.,lti o' ll> uf t he Ii, ing Buddha with
THE AeC URSEr, S HA RE
rhe Son o t the He a..e ns rema ined amLiglious ( th.. Ch jn..ce seemed
to forget abo ut the de thr one ment ) am ! strai ned d u ring thi ~ t im...
Ra ther ab rup tl ), th,· Dalar I a r ne wt ou t o n th e return jou r ney to
Ti bet. Bm the <lay h e an-ivcd in Lhasa he had at I,is h.... ls a Ch i-
ne se a rmy. instruct ed to k ill h is m iniste r>; and lock hi m ti l' in a
temple, He resumed the rood of ex ile, th is ti m.. I" ,,"<lrd tl ,.. ""mlJ.
In the d ead o f wiuccr, pass ing th ro ugh snowstorms Oil ho rseback ,
exhausted, lit' and h i' party reached a border post aur! requested
t h e protection o f two Bri t ish t.. l..graph ope rators w ho ", h.. had
d irected to be awakened in the nigh l. In th is way h e de m onstrated
that the m o st firm l) ..stah lisl,..d r.. ligiu lJ s puwn is .,1 th.. rn" rc:'
o f a real power based o n a rmed terc e. He could " n l) has.. him -
selfon fatib'l.lc , o r at best on the prude nce 01 t he neighlJuring conn-
trie s. Thc Brhtsh g lad l) welcomed th is flJ~i li ,,' w h" had I,....n
unable to go,·cm but wit hou t " hom a lJ thorny was usc l...ss. r"r
his pi''' the Oalai Lama , insr ructedby b in..r .. xpeneece, saw t ht-
ad 'amagc he cou ld ,I.. rive fWIlI a" a" tab'"" i,,,, h..t,,,' ..n Hrit i.,h
Indi a ami Cht ro . BUT h,' overesti mated it . The smcrd!(n author-
it y a nd mu tual antag o n is m o f ",.,ig huors a r.. us .. flll If ' a ,,,, r..',
au to nom y but the ) akm .. cannot .. nsu n· il. nit'. ""lici t"d Hrit is!'
failed to S<lt i,f)' the anxious expec rario nv 01 the exiled leader. T ln'y
n·fu, ..d tl w ir '"Pllf" I.• ilm i, ,,,hl ) lim iting tflt' m",lv..s to "" pre\\-
ing Th e ir ,k,ire to see one J ay if stro ng T ibel , released from the
Chi"t'''' )'()k... T Ilt' , i tll~tion w~, finall y " ....(>r<;CJ o nly b)' rhc inter-
nal rlifficuh ies 0 1Ch ina (t ilt' 1..11 " I th.. Lmpir.. in lq l l). -n, .. fi l)Ct
an, d rove ou t o f Lha...~ a garrb on « bose le ad ers no lung e r had iln}
aut ho rity. Th.· ..m han an ,t l i lt' ("( Jlnma nd ..r o r rh .. C h in.., .. lim ''',
surrende red. The Dnlar Lama re-enrered the- capital <1nd rettlrn",,1
to pm ...r aft ... all .. " iI.. 01'C\'en yea r. . I le managed \"('r)' ~ki llfiI Jl)
lo ' tay ill p<)w .. r <J ntil !,is dea th in 1 9 3 ~ .
\ Vhat c1 i q i ll~u " ht-..:I rht s tht rtee n rh Da lili Lama is that ha\ ing
Mltvivt'<I , h.. 3("'jllir.., 1 th.. ""pt'rkncc 01 power - tho ugh under
roo
the most ad verse condi tions, There W3~ no rradiri on that coulr
haec gu ided him. Hi ~ teache rs hi\{' gi\'t~n him a mo nk's educat ion;
10.. 1'01" learned little be)v mllhc captivat ing and pear-eful [~maic
m..J it"t io n, w hic h is struc ture d by m eticulous SpeClJI..Li'JI] am i;,
de ep IllYLh ol og )' an d meta physics. T he srudies pursued in the
Ti be tan lam ascrics ar e quit e de mandi ng and th e mo nb excel at
difficult de bate. But one would eA I~ct that ,,,ch an educatio n
would be more apt to anest hetize tha n to arouse a ' ....ling tor th ..
poltncal necesstues, especially in this part of tl] ~ "od d tha t i~
inaccessible and <lelilw mtt'I)' r-loced to the o utside. And c~pccidll)'
at a ti m e w hen the o nly fi-" ..ignn, a11" .....d into Tibe t "ere Chi-
nese having neither th e dcshc no r tn.. pu~~ ib ili l")' of in fo rm ing.
Slmdy. bu t ste;Klily and o;agacio usly, the tlurt eeurh Dalai Lama
dlscovered lilt' m1r!d. l ie turned his yt'ars ufcxile 10 account, never
m issing an " pl'0 rl ,mity tf) ".-qlli re kno\dedge useful to the con-
d uct of the govc rnme m. Duri ng 3 'hit t o Calcutt" he became
acqua inted with lhe reso urc es of advanced ctvtltzanons. T hu e 1,.-
l:t';~, .. d to he igno rant o f the re st u f a world in which lit" ,,"ilS t o
pld)' hi, part . T hrollf!h him Tibe t beea me aware of th e ..xl<·rndl
1'1a)' u j forces, which could nOI be ignored o r de nied "ith impu-
nity. Mor e exactly, the rd igi o,, ~ <1nd d ivint' [(JfCe t ha t he conaj-
rurcd rccognit cd its hmiu, - and recogru~ed tl.al wit lll)lIt a m ilit.ll)'
fon:~ u could d o notl,ing. His po wer '''l.~ so d ..dr!) Iimile'] to
inte r na1 S<l\"en~iJl:Il[)', ro contro l over sacre d cen.'mo nin dlld sile nt
mednanons. that h.. rarln-r n.a iwl y offe red rh o British the respon-
sib ili t) lor exte rnal socc r.. ign l)" dfld d... is i ()n - m akin~ power over
Tiber's foreign rc lanons. T he)" o nly h;..j 10 conrtnue ro St3Y out
of its inl t' mal affa irs. (Bhutan acce pted dncl appro ved these con-
ditions, hilt rha r little COlllltT) of no rthern India is a stale whose
aflilir.; arc " f tiu l.. {"-"'S..,/" .. nce.] TI ll' Briti sh did no t examine the
proposal: Th"y did net want ,IfJ)' o t he r influe nce in Tibe t th..n
IIlt'ir own, but the)' w arned rigll1s limi ting those o j others, a nd
,m
not a burden of t<,sp(Jn~i h i li l y. AImcst without ilssi,tanct' a"d "ith-
o " t fo rce . the ll alai Lama th us had tu fan, ti l ,," r..,,1 " f , h e world
and til.. ta sk wa~ heavj- tor hi m to be ar.
No n ile can se ne t WO maste rs. "l i b.. t in ih li m e had chosen
t f,.. rn onks: II ' w l neglected the kin!':s. All t he prnt igc IM.:I gon..
to lam", SlJIT')IIIl,Ie, 1 by lege nds and div ine r iul dk 'fhi> 'yst{'rn
h.~c1 '''" J!L..d
in the abanrlnnm Ctll 01 militarv fOru.;. Or rJ tflt't mili-
t",) ' power had died : The fact th at a I" m" carried the pre ~lI gc of
a k ill/:( rook awa)- the latte r's " h il i1 ~' (lJ resist the I'rel;sure lru m
" ilh"ut. He had ceased tn h'l\'t' l h,' force of iltt r.lction necessarv
to assemble en ann~ IC...- t h;,\ pu rpose . Bur gi,-cn llo b stnre o f ..flairs.
the so ve reign n h" had succeeded h im had unl), Jon.. NO (J1I1\\ardly:
llc had no t in!wrilccllhal milit ary po'H' f w h ic h h., bel destroyed.
( rile world o j praye rs h ad prc. ail e d OH'r rha r of arms, b ur it had
de~tro) t'(1 without acquiri"15 lorcc. In onl.,r to cCJllq lJ er, il had been
o bliJ;!;.,d 10 ap pea l to fordgn in rcrv c nrion. And lt hacl rema ined
ar th e me rcv of (] ut.~ t de hJ I CC S , ~ i nc., it h,1(1d estr o yed rha r wllieh
resiste d w ith in.
ThO'C accide ntal rt' b.xa t i(Jn.~ (qll icU, foJlO\\l..d b} l'C-'>u mptiol\.')
of outside pressure, whic h e n ab led the thirr ccnrh I)ali I ama to
e-ndure , in the end o n ly o ffere d him p roof o f his powerlessness.
Being w hat he was, he ... ,,11) did nc r h ave t he me ans W sustain
h is statuv. Pe rhaps 11."rin)· had not be en so unk in d W rhe ninth,
tt'nth, eleventh a nd t " .. lflh Uali Lamas, killed wh .. n rh e)' came
o f age, And Ill.. dl' pa re lll luc k o f t he t hi rt~n l" \\<lS pt'rhaps h is
mi,k"Tun.. , Th.. lhine enth 3<-c t'I'I c<:I it ~n.J p" lnlt~l}' ne verthele ss;
I,.. scrll pII I(JlIS I~ acce p te d th e rc' I'CJn~ i hi li (y' o f a pu,,",r t l,at co<J1d
not be exerc ised, th at was e ssentiall y "pCII to the outside and t hat
c ould expccr no th lll15 lTo m tI,.. (Ju t,iclt' but death . So he resolved
to ren ou nce his own essc nt ial llt' ing.
. .. t .'.' .. .. ., .D "D C ' ~ ' ''' L......'''..
Thr Rr"olt 0/ fhr M onks AlJ"in5' o n A ttrm pt

at MiIi'arj Oryanizafion
With Ih.. h..,p ot a respi te (in Chif\Ol "ltiR"e. t1,ell revo luuon],
that had cea bl..d hi m fiN to " ... I",n: .l.1l, l lhl'n IU ,,,.. reornc, rbc
l)alai Lama arrived al tIlt:' iell''' o f I(,St orin~ to "li bel th.. lXJ\wr l ha'
I a lmi,m had ,!cn ktl it . He " ...._ a.."!>i~ l ('d in rhh t .lSi. b, tl l(' ;1(1. ic..
of hi, Fogli'!' bIOl':l'ap hc" C harles B..I1. a~ the- pOli t Ical agent "I
tilt' !,'U',.. rn me n t uf India. di d finall)' \'Oln ll1 il Fngl ..ml to a fricncll)
poJj q . Din'('t InUit;lI)' aid con tin ued t o be- T('fuSt''' ; no t even sh ip.
mcmv o f arms "ere considered, but ,Iuring .l. p :"r's u llki.,1 mis"
sion C1l<lrl u Bell. " ill hi, 0\' 11 nam..... 'uppon" d d w: [);"lal [ arne
In an .. Ron aimed at mi lital) " "R"l1 i'dllun. Ir in' oh CfI i ncrc:~il1g
Ih.; anTI) ~rad u.all) - in 20 )"C.m - f.. en 6 tho usand men to 17
tho usand! '" ta ,; u n t he S«"U1'lr a nd tlK1llast ie p rope rt it'1> would
cove r 1.... cosrs o l t h.. o pe ra t io n. J lit Da lai La ma's illlti loril )
o bligc,1 th L 11. .. ables to ;t(.quiescx . Bur if it i~ ..a<» pcntont'fh to
renounce, li lt I ~ possible W i"'.-oh e m lnl"l l'''' and digllitarWlo. unt:
, a nnot al I o f a stldd" n depri ve a '>UCit' l) ...f Ir, essence.
Nu t o n l) (he ma jo. ih o f mon k. hilt lhe people " cn' .. lso
.. ff~"C( .. <1. Inc. casinp, t he arm) , CITO ~ I lgh ll), I\U U I<l dimirneh t he
import;tno ' 01 tlK" monks. Ntm. I],el c anno "u n l~ o f rite" tluo'c
is no f~'~ lh'~[, 110 c' lnM; i (JlI sne~ - in shon , I l lt:~ r .. i, no human [ile
iu rhat COlill tl') I,hid, d"..s nOI de pend o n llte m.I:\t" Y l h ill~ "he
revolves aromlC I rhe- " l. If !>l)m.." ne, ~il i nst all Hkclihood, I H 'n' ro
tu rn ilW ") fro m th e re ligio.., ilt' 1\"u M still t:!erh .. hh m""lIi'lG
,md hi~ IlOS.' i hili f)· o f cApreS\ioll from t hr mtKlb. 1 he c m(,I'g c ncc
of a 11C'\ c!c.. ..-ur , I\hich WoIIS no t C(ln tcnt " irh \Un h·i~. ",''''ch
1/''''' . cou ld ..01 lit" illuifl ed 10 the peo plc b, all) o lh.. r luke
hut tbcirs, 10 scch ;In e;\tent \ 1"iL'> tl lC' me aning o f an M: t 'HIl ur a
p&.>Sib ilit}' ghcn b, and fot' tilt' monl.. t hn rhc arm)'5 fe''' ,up-
port...-" pon r.l)-c.-d it as the o nl) mea n.1 0 1 m" inta i"ing the rei,
gion. I" 1909 Ih.. Chinese had bu rne d llx: mo rm.l..ri.." k il1 l'd II..
T"~ ,,"') ..... .. P.
monks .... X, <'..... rW' M tbe hol ~· books_ Bur Fi ber 'las in "'WIlIT
th e !i.1Ime . h injl "" II... m"na~ICt ies. \ \' hu good \\"'~ it , I>l' u pl e
sai d, to flgl,t 10 ul'hv ld .. principle if flght iOR meal'll h...n(l<... in~
tl ,e prin<.' p1.. in Ii,,- li", t plac e ? An impo n MlI lamil plail'K"u it
to alil rles Bell: "It ho i ....) use in<;:rC'Il;inJ! ti ,t' a rm~ in fib...I. (Or
i r is wn nLn in °rl,. IXIUk!i' l hat Tibet wi ll be eOl"lqUC'rt"d h~ (Clr-
e igne,.. lrum ti m .. IfIl imr, h"ll~- " ill noe Stil) I... ~." r \ T Il the
co ncern rha.t t1w mOl1 l~ 1...1 JOr Jr...cping I ~ ir pos it ion, w l.ich
made them o ptx.Kt' th.. tT'I.l lllteTlilnce o f an arm) (thilt would ""n-
comba ted fo n-i E:1l in' ad.......). u ll'l,.1 the-Ill to figllt on another
Il" "c! . Ti le wlmcr o f 1 92 ~ 1 ,} 2) W~ hCd\ } " illl 1 1l['(~a I S o f rlOb
<m<1 cjvil war. One- n i}tllt , placards urgill!( l he people to killlkll
'Inc r« Upal \"riO\[~ public pi", ." in l h asa . Fe bruilr} 1'J bt,J.!,on
t h., f.,sti\al (If t he (i reill I 't,,~,f't. whic h dre" lU I h<lSiI a gatheri ng
of SO to 60 thousand monks. A llolrt o f tl,i ~ c J"(J" d wc nr th rough
ti lt' cil~ sho u ti n/.:: "Come o ur an, ' f, ~l l1 . \ V.. are 1101 " rrai d 10
g i n~ Ollr ]i, ,,s." The fCSlha lll nftJ ld ed in a n alm oo;phn L otrcnsion.
TIl<' dr m~ 's supportcre and Bellllim ,elf "u"ml,,l d fr" 1ll to the storm , 31 th e m e l"C) o f 3 11 .." C iUliOIl tha i
m igh t have r.lk("n ~ ha P<' and <H rc<.li o ll ou " Il~ f!lo m ("nr. r hcre
Iolloe ed a , a rlw r moderate purge - re mar l ab l} mOO"""l" III
(illn - ""xl tI,.. rc bellton lasrcd ill lo ng eim e . ·1,,", mi li tar: polic)
o ft h<-· Il.l b i I u n a "'" pmd c n t : It was ba.'It"d Ull ..I, "'Clll ar, com-
Ill()n , .·m... aod rhe gcncnl tili" could o lk r IK' l h ill~ hull""
o mb l" i1g a irn;t It . t be monks' ca use we ill in t ht' d .."ction of
brrra}.ll , 001 UIlI} o f·l1bc t, bu t o f mOn;l!; t ici~m i'H·If. It C.l.IlX·
up ~ai ""'t lhe Iin nl1<'S5 of an Irltemally suon~ J!O't'mlll<'nt; it " as
lost fro m t .... \ Idli. And the su rprising tl li"J: is not i t' l,n lu fC , ln.t
the f dCT rh". " III\ t IThtSS moccmcne su pported it so anll''' lly. 11,. ,
p.ar.td<»; i\ such rh,u un c i ~ compell ed 101001: f<ll" .I.... p("( reaso ns
behind il.
Th e Consumption 0/ fh e TUrDI Surplus by t h e LamDJ-
I " ill bc..1!in b~ ~n i"l! aside the superficia l exp lana non. Charles
Bdl stresses tht' Ia.; 't th.u the Buddh ist rd ,!,ioll pruh ihiu , iolt' n. t'
and condemns " .o r. B" I o rlwr rdiJ.~jons hoi\<: tbcse princil'l a..ond
one kllOl'~ "hat the comlT1&.. hn.....I ~ lira murch are wurth in priO(·
I in:.. .\ soci al behavior cannot re>< llt from a mor-al rule; il elC P'""'~\C,"S
I he srrucmre- of;l SOCiN)'. a pla~ o f man-rial JOITM tha t a nim., u',
lt , \V hat ..' id' ·nl l}' co mmended Ih i\. lllOH; rnc n t o f h" , t ili l)' wa,
not a mo ral ~cru pk. bill rat her - in ;I pon.kmU5 wJ.) - I ht· \t' 1I-
interest of Ihe m on ks. Moree' cr. lhi~ .'l e mf'nt h tar from C50 "'ping
rh .. alt.. nrton of Chule s Bell. " hn (t ll1 t ril"" ...., valuable inke'ma -
uon '--'" t h.. SUh jl·Cf. One was aware o l t h.. < "' e n l fli l'lfuai sm
bcloee h im : a ffi<lI1 k for nel) three edulr mal e... l"I'l<)naSl ..nM lhal
nu mbe n.:d 7 to 8 rbousaod ffi< .nk' ;lt an) one time . J. lo tal ..1 'SO
10 500 Ihou~ld rdi~i oU'i pc......",., c ue o f a population l.,( 4 to S
m ill ion_ But tbe """Ierial ~~nir..dOl " 01 mulla'>t icism is sp :<:ifled
b) Olarl ~ IWIl in b" cJgc lal} terms,
Au ....nli,~ 10 him . thr total revenue ohlol: XO'emmelll "rI IlaSl
in 19 17 ( the vahn- t,fbrllf'lit\ in goods a nd serv ices add ed to thaI
o f t hc· c u rrc m j } "a~ appr.... imal .. l) l720 .000 ) ea rl). o f t ha i
amoeru, t he.· bud/,.'Ct of th,,; <lml) was i ISO.COO. That or th e admin-
i ~lrMiwl was i 1OU.UUU. O J the rnll<lillOcr. a n "Ilprt'dabl l' shan'
wa.' . ..., a.,id.· b ) ,h,' Da lai Lam a for Ihl: n: lig iom c"-p.. ndlru re-, o f
the g'" ..tIml ,·nl . Hili ill ad ,li t io n 10 ' hc \{' ~()\-...mmeuta l CJOl pt' ndl..
teres, Bell csti m;lte~ IIM I the re'em,t' ~p,'n l )earl y lJ,. t he d c 'll)
(i... ~)me frOlll the prope" ) hold il'b~ uft .... munas,.. n cs. !-Jilis and
Ila) f11e nt.\> 01 rd ij..t lous sen ice<o ) ".Ili \\1'11 O\cr i1 .CKJO,OOO. I hm
In lMa] dN' Il'tOl bt4Jn Dj 1M Church "utlk! hm.., b«n miu tIS Icrgt
m fOOl oj 1M n or r. opht time! tbat oj the- oron.

These I t~urct based o n ;II1"-~J1'-'l 1 a"'-.cssmcnl have no omcial
Charaa"'T. But l hl") llt'\·...'1'tbclcss llIum inat.. l ht' ......J\On lOr the oppo-
s il ion ell("')(lIl tf'rffi by t he militoll) poJi c). If a nat ion ,k-dic-au's
m<
it, vita l (u rt I....., almo st tJ " r.._,e rn~d l ) , to mo uasdc urgiln i~a f ioll_ it
canno t at rh.. Mme t ime ha' .. an a nn )_ FI*" berc no d....ubi a shar-
i n~ is possihl.... beoc ccu rd ig iOtl' .md mililar) life . Rur "hu t be
hud~taJ) ran s "'nt' up sht"" iog I ' pree ,,,d) om exclusive dedica-
l ion. The U l :;,oti" l1 olan arm) ma~ hoI,-.. I n r.llio nall ) ' .:lllcd k>T.
but it "or. lllJJ)et he1 ~ at .xl<l, w it h the I ling on "hic h lif" "a'
lo nnded: it nonetheless imrodec cd .. m aJ;li,;c illt o t he co untry,
Tt l ~J() bad., on SO "b"ute it dccts son "~II.lI, ' h.m: be en 10 ~nounce
..nescl f; it 'HMJ1d bavc I,.......n li\.,e dr()l" n , ~ In order 10 escape til..
ram. On: vull nt"Cd5 10 sa) hl,..- mil; li,:eliTlf! toos, hold in tho. bq!.in-
n il~: UlM.: . Iill needs to >!H m t he deep r..a....m that . UniT upo n it
li m e. cauS(';,! a .. hole' c oulll ry to bccom.. a mOr'lil~ t"I"y. l ha t, in
th.. mi d>! " I'.. r..al ' \I,d d, "n.lll} c au."' " this COU Illr;-, a n i11leg t-..1
p;tn oft hal wo rld, to O p l ou l or H.
ThO' Eco nomic bplolwlion 0/ Lomu;5R1

One " o uld nOI arrhc at the ru l eau:>t' in Ih h in., ta nc e ir .lOt' d i,l
1101 firsl p,>,. e ivc till' gen er-.. l 101" 01 ec oeomj : ( )n t he " hole a
>tlC le t ) a1" olp produce. more tha n i. Ilt"ccssar)' 1m il s sun 1. ~ I: it
has II sUTI'IU!i >It its ,li~po!kIl. It is pr-eci~l ) the U:>t' il males ••1' thi"
surplus that d etcrrmues it : The w rplu~ is the (;tUM" 01 the .Jt;it;t-
t i<lfl, ul' t h.. qructm;\l ch;m~ aJxlu( Ihe e " t ire h i~tof) ,,( ~t
c ry , Rut th.. . urplus t....s Illon: thlln . 1OC o utlet, th.. 1",)St co mmu n
of " hi.-h i, grow th. Am' growt h it..... 1/ bas m >ln}' kn-m s, e.u h one
01 which ..,e nt llOl ll) • " Illes up again st scm .. li m it. "J h " a rt ... J.
d emogr.tphi. gru" th bn. 0I11~ m ilit3rr: it is IOI''-fi' to ~;\ge in
cOflqUCSI. O nce th.' mi lit3') Ii mil i~ reac hed, t he- stlll'lus h.., II-ic
sumpll.IMJ fo t'lre'i of rcl i~ion 115 lin outlet , alOllJ!- " i t h th.' g<lml':S
lind spcct:K"jf'li that 11.. r'i vc thcrd mm, o r pr:rxlltal lu)" UI)_
H ,storr ccaselculy records tile cessation, tl lt' ll the rcsumprlon
o r g row th. I here an' xtatcs 01 eCj uilibri um ," w r" th e inc reas....1
sump l udlJ lile and IIII' r...-luccd bd lk U!;(' ",e ti, il) gi \~ t he excess
"'I: UN" "M ~O SOC ,~,.V L " ... .. ' S ...
its most hu mane outlet. Bu t this state itself dissolves soc i..ty lit -
tl e b) little, and returns it to disequilibrium. So me new move-
m ent t he-n a ppears a, t he on ly bearable solution. LIn d er these
cOndi t ions of I1I;l lai,... d " ,d..t y .. ngagt's a, soo n as it c an in an
u ndertak ing capa ble III inn ea><i ng its lim ..'. II is tl ,.. " r"dll)' to
recast its moralla ws; it uses the surplus for new ends, w hich ~u<J
den ly exclude the Otllt'f ou tlets. Islam condemned e\'cry form of
p rOtlig,,1 ht-ha";or, \'alo ri7ing llli li t'\lT ac uvi t y instead. At a ti m e
wh,'n i" n..igh bo rs t'njoy",] a state o f ('qllilib lilllll it commanded
a growing milit....} force th" l n(){ hi ng could resssr. l\ renewed c ri-
tique u f rhc lim n s ofluxul'} - Pro te sta nt ill' fln;l, t hen re voluriu n-
.,ry - coincided w it h a poss ib il il ) o fi nd usrna t developme nt .
im plicit in tI,.. technical advances of the new axe, T he largl'!;t sha re
o f th e surplus was reserved, in m od ern t imes. lor (a p i ta l i ~t ac,cu-
mu lat ion. Isla m rather quickly rrWI it, lim its; t he tle\'..lo prnc nr
of ind ustry is begi nning to approach the-m in ii ' turn . 1,lam "iI.~il~
re turn e e! 10 the forms 0 1 e quilib rium II/the world it ha.1 «H1-
que re d ;12 by con trast, imhl ~triill "conomy is ill\'o h'ed in a .Ii,,'r-
d ed y agitat ion: It, arl)('ar~ r-ond..mn...1to grow, ami alrcad) it lacks
the possibility o r grow ing.
The positio n o f Ti bet in tl li, sch..."O\ is i" 0\ se -nse «ppos tre 10
th ose o flsla m or the modern \\orIJ. Fr"m t im e im m e m orial the
of succ e ssive invasions hum t he i mmcn ~e plate aus of cen-
\\':1\' .. ,
tr:,1 I\, ia had swe pt to ward the regions where We was ea.~ i er, to
the cast, to th.. wes t anti to the south. Hut aficr t il<" liheenth cen-
tu ry th is overflow from the ba rba rian plat e aus ran u p again,t t he
effect i\'e re sis ta nce o r c<lnnons. ll T he urban c iviltzation o f Tt ber
already re presented in Cenrral Asra an inci pient outlet lo r tlw su r-
plus in a dil lere m di rect io n. No doubt t he horde s o f Mongol COn·
'1ucrOl's used ..ve ry pOlosi bi lity of in"a,i"n (of W'owt h in space)
availab lc tn them in th ei r t im e . Tib..l ollt- r...1 iIM' IFanot h..r "Olu
l ion , which th e Mongols rhcmsclvcs we re t<l adopt in I IJm in th ..
'"l
THE "CClJ .. ,,~ O S""",,
~ iX ICCJ"ll h c~n lu'1' TI~ population!> of the poo;"" ilbleLan<k 'It'n'

pt> riod kall ) (C>n.lcrlln~d w ... ttao.. l.. I~ rich a reas: O,hrr.. ilif' tm,
IH Jt1/d «(V'lK ftfIO\\.
Monal;ti" ism i. .. mode of expenJilurt· (If I~ ...JlCCSIi 11lOIt Tibe t
undou bted I) .!Klnot ,!iJ;<,,,·.. r. bu r d se,,-ht'n' il ''.is gilf'n a place
UIorw!Nk o t her o utle ts. In Ct'n tl'i\ l A.i a l h.. extreme solutiOn c, m-
stsred in J!i..ing the monali tery aI/ t he ext t''S. 'Iocla) Oflt· needs a
cleM I\rasp 0 1 th is principle: A pupeJ!at i"n IM t onnot smnchO'l\
t .....·e lop lhc s)S1t'.1ll o'-e nr"R~ it CHns l itul('S. tha t cannOI inc rease
irs volu me (" irh t he help of ne w rec h nlq ues l)f of wars} , must
waste rull) e"penJ a l/ lh.. surphe, it is br 'IIIK! to produce . I he 11oIra-
des .. I Larneism. " hit h 1'C<k ltcd a perk.. t funn " fler t he.- 'm e n-
li on ot Iireerm s, olmwt"'""! this n«J.~,il). It is lilt" r<tdin l solunon
t ~ a COUlltry t ha t has no utht"r dl\ e rslofl "no ulti mau·l ) hnds il\t·lf
in a d O'ICd clJn l"iner. Not ",'PIl the o ut le t consist ing in the n<:...1
to drr.-n..t onad r. to ha", moulT,,) anJ " uman 1i\ C'!; available !()r
th.n purpose. Itt n>u1II 1) that is IOU poor doe<; nut reall ) It}- One
invades it witbout t Cc u p);1IJ!, it and ~~ books" that a monk ..pole
l li"U >11.<.'11 could /lor lie. <lSSUrillf;: t hat Tibe t would I ~ invedcd In llll
li me to t ime. bUI lion one \\.11.11,15(ol). T hU!i. ill the lIlid'lt of" riclltT
and w .. U-;wmcd'mrM. the p<H '" lountJ) in i ts dLl!lied container
IllU~t giu: t he p,wk n, 01 su rplu~ a '>Olu tion thai checks it) t"xplo-
si\t· violenc e w,tru,,; <In mre-mal c"{),,\l nlct i\'n M> perfec t ..... free
of con trocersion , '>0 IIl'lCondtl< i\~ 10 aocculllUlaliOll. [hal {)(IC c.m-
not en> i~ the k~ ~ro... tit ."f Iht> ")SlCIT1_ The cclib...·) ollhe
ma joril) Hr mon ks .."n :n presente d a th reat of d.-popura tio n. (l " i ~
";1\ t he confided to Bell b) Ihe conunander-in-c bic l 01'
Ct>n n'rn
t he arm ).) T hr n::,'t'.Jtu<: of Ill<: monas u" ri~ cnsu r('<! the coesump-
l ion of re-sources, s u ppo n mg a m ol'l5 o f seert le c nn )lIm e rs. T he
eq uiltb riurn wo uld \OIH >1l be j eopa rdl ~cd if th is rnass " t"re n ut
<Inprod ucl iw and child!......, . T ho;' latx >1 ofrhc rili t ) suflk .·s 10 feed
,""
H iE UN A R M E O 5 0 C ' C "' ~ LA M A 'S ""
them, and the re sou rce s are such th at th e ir number could sca rcely
1><: inc reased. The life of mo st o f the m on h is hard (pro blem'
wou ld res" lt if ther£' wcrP an aJ\'ant<ll,;e in d o ing not h ing). Bu t
rh., parasi t is m oJf lilt' lam as re solve s t he situation SoJ wc llthar the
Ii.'i ng saandardol t he Tibe tan worke r, accorcli n~ to Charles Bell,
is h igher than that o f the Hind u o r Ch inese worker, Pur rhcrmon-,
w rirc rv em 'Jjber agr«' m nuting rhe happy disposit ion of the Tibet-
ans, w ho sing wh.. n t h..) work, ar.. ";"y to gf'l alon~ will" m o r-
a lly p.. rmissivt', an, l ligh r-h.....r l.. c1 {yet lhl; Willlc.r cold is te rrible
a nd rhe houses have n<1 g las, in the windo"s and n<1 fir eplace },
Th,' pier), o f th e mo nks is anothe r mat ter. It is ofsecondary im por-
tanc e , b u t th e system would be inc c ncctvable w it ho u l it. An{!
there is n o dou b t that lamaic en lig l" ..n m e nt morally r";ll i ~_e s till'
essence o f c onsu mp ti o n, which Is 10 ope n. to g ive, to lose. and
which brus hes ca lcu lations asid e
T he Hbc ran sp tem spread to Mo ngo lia at the end o f th e six-
t c c n rh cen t ury, T he com -e rsio n 0 1 t he Mon~oIs, even m OT<' a
c hange o f economy rhan o f reli gio n, was the pe culi ar d e nou eme n t
nf rh.. histOTr uf Cenrral Asia. TIw age-old oudet of illl asi" ns bei ng
, -1 0"<'(1, th is h , t act of the elrama d e fines tbc m<:an ing of Lama ism :
TI,;S totalitarian m onast icism answe rs the ne ro £0 stop the gJ"(,wth
o f a closed ~yslem. J USI as Islam reser ved a ll t he excess ti,r war,
and t he m odern world for indu~t";,,1 <I..,'d " pm .. nt , l.am ahm pu t
e'~T)·th i ng into t h.. cone.. m pI", i, '" iii,', t h.. rr..,' I'I.!)" "I' rhc sellsi-
rive man in rll<' world.
If t he Jif'li.: relll ~takcs arc all playe d o n the same board . th e n
Lam aism is t he o p pos ite o f t he o t her- ~)"stem s : il "I"n.. ""0;, 15
a,"(n'jn ', w hich is always dir ec rc rl re wa rd acqui siti o n "ne! growth.
It ceases - tru e , if h al; n o c ho ic e ~ to s u bj ect lite to an)' o ther
t'mIs bu t li fe il~cl f: Di'cctl)" and im m e diately , lin: is it s OW " e nd .
In th e rt t cs nf T ibet the mil itary forms, e,'oking th e age of t bc
k ings, arc stil l e mbod ied In th e ligures o f th e dances, b ut as obso-
"'9
lese l< orms w hose 1. ",,; . ,f aUlho ril ) i, rhe object of a ritual rcpre-
Kllur i"." In th is "ilJ the la mas celebrate the, le W!) ...tHl O\'cr a
"url.1 "Ilt__ iolcnclr' i~. rudel) unlc~lM"tl 100' Ard lho- OI.lt"cle.
I hei r lri um ph l ' its un l.'.ashing w.thin. BUI II is 00 Ics, , i"lnu
I. ... ~1I rha r, In TilX' l , e ve n 111tJrt: '0 th an in Chlna, Ih e miluary
pllJre ssrcn is held ill n ltllempt. b en alt..r the rclon l\~ ot the th ir-
rcc ntb UaJai I am", a Ia mi l) 0 1 nobles tum plaincd ,,11...\l Il! hAd
il son rvmmi""ioocd ........1 offieet. II did no botlO<! k>r Bell tn po int
OU I tl!<lt in Fngl and no eilre" r was more rt:'\fX" . red; t1~ part;:nr.;
brggecl him IflU.... his influent .. w ith the Da lai l am a 10 \UIJP',rt
their req uest ft.... ol ..ancc l latio n. ( )r • curse, ,," hill' n lt'r"k1S>lic ism is a
pllrt" expe: nd iturt" I I I'; also 01 I't'nunCiati.c lfl ol .. ~pendi '~; in a SfT&.
u is the pcrk-t, o;ulution "bwnnl ml~ ~ complt"tr'l) tumiJ"t; 1-..w'·S
bat-k 10 the <."Iulmn . n Ul 0"" should not und...-co;timatc lhe- o;i!!.
nil,...m....' of'this h" ld so lmion; recen t h;~Wf)' II'!' Ol«"cntuoltcd ii'
l1ar,..!tlxical value . It gi,'/'" a clear illtlit:ittio n c un C" rning thc gcn-
Cra l l u nt iit io n' o r c."nomlc equ ili L. rium. It It' nl tOnI , h u m a n
~I; ,'it) "ilh II.S limits, a."-' dcscnbes - I)r)ond mi li ta!) or pro.-
.I•• "f i\~ A(tl\ il) -;a world thar is Ullo;"btJrdill.lIni ~ ;\Il) OCt C';..~it}.
no
P ART rOUR
The Historical Data III
Industrial Soc ie ty
T he Origin s of Cap i ta l is m
and the Reform ali on
T h r Protesta nt Ff h k and th e Spirit of Capitalism

M"" W.. be-r ha~ .,ho'''' - no t. o nly t hro ug h all.J.lysis l,ul thm ugh
statistics a!> wel l - the pri, ikgcd role ul' P rotestants ill capftalisr
o rgolni:rarion.l E,'en LOda), in a gi,en regio n , o ne sees P ror es ra nt s
bC'i ng d raw n to bus;n,'s., an,1 C~rhol ;n mo..... lu th .. libe ra l p ro -
fesslons. l t see ms tbat the re is an amn iI) between the frame u f
m ind uf a hard -wurki ng , profit-calculat ing indusrriaiist and t he
pros<lk severi ty of th .. r..fj,rnwd n ~[i~ion. T he la rgest part in this
uriCllWU" " was no t played by till' doc trtncs uf Luthe r. But Cal·
vinism 's vc ne of infl ue nc e [ Holl and, Lreat Brita in, lfnited Stares]
ro ughly corresponds to the areas of indlls trial (\t:w lopmcnr. l uthe r
fi)r",,,];,, ...1... nd;".., IMlf-peds..."1 rc,.. .It. Calvin expressed the aspi·
rat ions of the m idd le cl ass uf t he commercial cities; hi s reaction,
were th ose o f a jurist fam iliar wit h business m att er.'.
w ebe r's al'gllmen Ls, q uick l)' bec ome fam o us , have be e n the
" hjed of numerous criti ques. R.H , Taw ney allows that they exag·
gerat ed th e oppos it ion be t ween Cah·inislll an d the various eco-
nom ic doetrin..s " f ns t im..: It se..ms t hat Lhey overlooked the
c ha nges t hat ueClUTC(] bet ween t he initi al te ac hing am ] the la te r
theo ry.z Accord i~ to Tawne y; lip to t he seco nd half of th...~ ..ve n-
tee nrh century the agn:emrn l bel ween the Puritans and capitalism
"<
" as not complete; moreover, it was lew the cauvc ( hall tI)(: dTeG
of the economic g i,ens. BUl. as Taw n ey rcadtlj acknow ledge"
th ese re..cr\'atiom d o 110t nccessanlj- ~o <lgaimot weber's thin king.
:\nrl o n th is po int he focuses more ctoscf, - and "nme",hat nil~"
~",d v - o n the econormc d ocr-i ncs th an o n t he basic reactions,
In any 0"" w..l>f't deccrvev t h", 0: r..,[it for having rigorom l) ana-
1)'l.",1 the C<JIlnect io n b.. t"~n a rdig io us crisi" ao<! the ..con()m i(
t urn ....·!'r t hai ga,-.. ris.. to the mod..rn \.1.flrl,1. O th .. rc, incl u, ling
Engel" look nO I" 01 I hc~." ue, Iw lo rt' him. bu t the, din not defi ne
th eir narure.> And il there wav a [,ller clarificancn - as in Taw-
" "y\ work - \"'",oc r ha d emphasized wh", \\'a~ essential, nle more
dearly art fculatc d find ing, Ih,ll Wn'" o bt" illl"d ~u lJ,nl ,wn rl) ..r..
pe rhaps of secondary Importance.
Economy in rile Doct";ne and Practice

of th e Aliddl e Aye5
The re were con trar) l)peS nf econ nm) cnrre<,pom ling to two
di lfc n:nt n: ligious world~ : Th e l ies betwee n t he prccapitalls t
.., 'o n o m ) ami l{"m.1 n Ca t ho lic-i' lll " "l'ft' [usr a~ Hrong as those
I,.. t w.... n the modern econo my an,l Proresra nnv m. Bu t Weber
, Irt-",,,d the t:'CI tl MI. the lll(J{l.. rn KOllom)' is ess.. nti" I1~- c"p iul-
i~ t i 1111 USIr)", th" dlCvdup m"nt or IV hlch was not r"cili tared by t he
Cat holic C hu rc h and the saate of mi nd it maiura eus, whereas in
tbe Protestant world Calctnlsm provided a favorable , lilning po i l1t .
Moreover, it is easier to mark the oppos ition between lIl(" two
eco nomic spheres if, going ill a dir e c tion that takes us tarthc r rrom
la wne )' t han from \Vebel, Wl' conce ntrate first of all c n rhc wa)'
the a\aila b le revo u rcec a rc used. w hae differc nt ratcs t he rucdi-
cvaleconomj from t he capita list econornj is that to .. vel) lal-ge
.."t""1 th .. fo rme r, sra t tc eco no my made a n on pro duct ive con -
sum p!.i' 'l1 o f Ihe .. ", -.." w .... 1th , wh i I.. tilt' I., tt..,- ace UIllU 1M.., am i
cl"lt:rmi, ,,~~ " d )'llam it: gr(J",tl, of tilt: pr, ..lm 'l i, ,n "p l",r"t","
,,6
l:",',.,.,y'~ i~ all ,;xl c:: n~ i \'c anal)'~is of Christian cce momic thought
of t he Middle A~rcs. [ t ~ basic princ iple was th e su bordinat ion of
pro duc tfvc ac tivity to the laws 0 1 Chr;~ti~ n mlJr~ ri t). Sud.,ly, in
the rh o uf!ht of the Middleo Ag..s, w,,~ a body .-I,mp""';,] hkc all
livi ng nrganbms 01 Il" n h "m"l:~"n""us parts, that is, 01 a hicrar-
Lhy 01 fun ctions: T ho.: dergy, the ll1 i l i [~I)' aristocracy and labo r
fo rmed a unified bod y in w hich the component p~rh ofth.. rhi rd
term were subserv ie nt to the o the r t,,'o (as th e t ru nk "n,1 t h..
me m bers are subsercten t to til': hea d ). The prod ucers mUS I SOIl-
isfy the needs 0 1 the nobles and t he pri ests; in exchange, from
rhe Itlrtn " r lhe y would receive protection, and from the latter th e)
w" " ld rccctcc a share ill the divine life and the mo ral rule to w hich
thei r a, t iv it) had to be strictly StIbonlinaled. The Idea ola n eco-
no m ic world independ"nr of theo ~f'rv ice 01 th.. clt'rin ;111( 1 the
noble s, having its autono m y an,1 its own law, a~ d pa rt 01 natu re,
is " lien to t he th ought "I' th.. M i,I<I[.. Ag'·'. T hc:: sel ler m ust )Xlrt
with t he m n ..-handisc at the ;w.1 pmc. The just pncc is ..lell ned
by t he pus-s ib ilit y of e nsuring t he subs ist~ nce of t he providers, (In
a sense , t hi. i, Ifll' labor value of Ma rxism . and Taw ney sees Ma rx
,,~"th .. I"sl ..,f l he S cholastics."} Money that is le nt cannot be an
o bject of rellt . and usury is expn'lSly pr o hibiled by canon la w.

The scbo tasucs onl) made allowance c.1utiouslr an d bela tedl y for
t he ..Iillc rcncc bet ween loons fo r a business unde rtaking, whid ,
gi\'e rh .. ercxhtor 01 moral ng ht to proflr, and th ose us ed fo r [ h,.
consum pt ion of the OOlTowt'r, fo r w hic h no lnre re vr is justifiable.
Th L' ric h m an has Ilis rt'St'n ..,,: I f L11.. I'</Ur man becomes dcs ti-
not e, '~l n th.. ri..·h m~ " who kee ps him from d)·ing of hunge r, wit h-
out hi m ' d f bt' ing i'K o nv<; Ilit'Il<T d , de mand repay ment of'me re
tha n hc adva nc ed? T his \\'ou ld be tv make tim e pa) ; and t ime,
unli ke ~POlcC, was said to be God 's do main and no t th a t of m..n.
But ti m e is give n in nature: If mu nt') alwdp makt;~ it possible
somewhere to finance profi table ..c n LlJ rc~, a naturalla w gives to
"7
the f.tctor.. MmuuC) + 1;1111:" II.., add itional value of tmcrc« (of..
share of t he ~b1c pw fit ). In thi~ ,,-"} nlur.al lhou{:hl b IIw oqlJl_
t i"n o f n;1 f Olr.l1 1.:1...,; the Lhurch's mtn"'t:nl ion oppuscll a Irt't'
dcn:loprneut orthc prodOCli.,: fUries. Production. accordi'\1. t o
Grislian mo n lh }. h .. sen icc " '1l~ modaltttev (obl igations.
re..Vom ihili ti.. s, pnrogath'e;) an: d "'t'nni ned b, r.hc: "ncJ, served
(b,. lhe d eriu . in sum. who 01'" tI.., j~.) of rbcsc cndsl. nOf. b,
a T\alml JJlO\'Cmcnl. This is a ratitJorlOLl a llli nlQra l - bu t sUl ic -
n lnre pl ion o f the economic order; it is "001 a di , in c, Id t'oI ORi-
cal cosrTlOb"'rry is 10 Ihe il \c:a " I ....u lul ion determined b, a pi..}
o f forces. The world of ttw Mid. lk Ages appeared in fact to be
gi'>e n 0IlC'" and for all.
But fo rm..1 jmlgme nh are nor the onl} OflCS. Ami II.... na ture
of rbc medieval c<:onu m) m ;ty nol l:w 1'1111)' discl osed in the " t it-
illgs of the theol ogians and j un sL'. 11 ma)' not he de fined in the
rca ] pracli<.... d tlw r. howe \~r removed the latter was Jrorn tilt' ril-l"r
of the t heor),. 1\ ..H~r illl i llo' l i ng d e m e nt may lie in the undc.... t.. Il<I-
iog rhar a society hM 0 1 weal t h. T his lJo<l t:r sta mling b diOCl'l; n l
from t he 1l00iuos . olTlIl1on l)' ex pressed by t1lUSC " ho hild il . and
do ubt less il wool[..1 be J U~1 as fm ile to loo k for it in l he o ppu:.i-
l iOJl of t he fac15 10 the II.....o r..ti .-a1 m les. It has to do \\ itll t he
str0fl; and c1~arl) OIptXlr('1lI JT1O'ICffiCIlb t bat, even unli.rmIlJared.
("ilIl dete rmine Ihe m ll iTe o f an eCOllomi<: system.
\ \ e.alth c~ rnc..nill,'li acc:onIing fO t he ad..",nl.ll&C we b pce t

fnMn i ts possession. l or John it is the ~ib;:llr) of lnan-iagt'; lOr
Robert. lci511rc; lOr [ ..h\-oIn l. " • ha nge of 'IUC i.tl :....ncJ if'll!.. But ill ..
gi '~ ~ there arc eOllstAr>l'i. The ad\", n... ~ rhoU mencrs must.
in t he .--ap iralisl era, is lhe 1>Ol.Sibilit } of in't'Sli"f:.. Th h is nul 01
partic ular poim uf \' it"\\~ Joh n. Robert alld Edward i"' C't lht'i r
sa' ings with diJtercnt im cnliuru.., and Joiwl's im cntion is the same
as Jarl.·s, whu i\ bu)~ a piece: o f propert)·; bill an ..........ntial portion
o f the avadsble teM'U~S is St"1 aside COr t he growth o f Ihe prudll'---
" b
rive forces. It is out t he final ru r~t' 01 an)' irnli vidlIill in 11<1111<.l 1.
lar, bur collecttvely that of rhe socie ty InOl I OIn epoch nilS chosen.
It gh-es precedence in rbc usc of the available TC<,.()UTces 10 the
expa nsio n of en terprises amI tnt' i n c rt' ~ sc of e-"pita l c<lllipmcnt;
in o ther "urds, it pn:fen an ,ncr,,,,.,,, pJwwlth t" its immediate U'>e.
But before the Refc rmauon thi s was not yet the case. " he pos-
stbllt ry o f an increase was not !<h-en . A development is induced
by an ope n; ng-up of un" " pl"itet l t"rT;tories, I» t ...-I1I1i<<l.1 , hang"s,
or 1»' th e appe;uilnce of new products from "'hidl new needs Misc.
But 01 society Gill 0I1s0 be led to consume ",II its products. llcncc
it m ust so mehow destroy the surplus resources it ha~ at its di s-
IXlsa!. Id le ness is the sim plest means lor th is p urpose. The man
ofl ds ure dcs lmrS Lhr- pm<lll<'ls nc<essa')' lo r his subsistence no
less fu lly tha n dues Flre . BUI the wo rker who labors a t the Lon-
st ruc tio n of a pyramid des troys chose produc ts just as usclc';.';l)':
h o m t he sta nd poin t of pro nt t he pyrami d is a monume nta l mis-
tak e; o ne m ight JUSI as well di g a n ennTIJIOUS hole , rhen rcHll ir
and pack the gn JU nd. \Ve obtain t he same result if we ingest a
substance. such as alcoho l. w hose consumption cloes not enable
us to wo rk m ore - o r even de prives U~, fur a ti m e, of our \tTength
to pn}(lu ce. h l!<:ncss, the pyra mi d o r alco hol haW' Ill<' adv,Ultagt'_
of rons uming w ithou t a re tu rn - wit ho ut a p<Ufit - the resoun-es
m atl hey usc: TIlf')' Simply MltisJy US; th e)' eOHc.~pu nJ lu th e UllIjfl-
mGty cJ,aia tha t we make u f II\('m . In a society whose prod uc -
nvc forces d o not incre ase -Ilr in crease li ttle - this satisfact ion,
in its collective form , d c rc rmincs the value of wea lt h, a nd t hus
th e nat ure ul t he CCOfIOmy. TI, e mOI';J.1 pri ncip les OIn<1 rulex by'
w hich prod uc tioo is cl osel y bou nd ( but at tim es in com pletely
SUpl"rnc ial ways ) m C<ln 1,,\ , than th i\ "'Io,factin n that (!t"cirl c \ the
use o f prod u<:ls (at least t he use of w h'lt rt:IT"li ns a\-a;la blt: Uey-onJ
subsistence). II was nOI the theories of the Schcolmen that defined
rhc cconomic suciety, b ut rarhee- the need ir had for th e sat tsfac-
" 9
, " E. "c cuRs eD s .. .. .. ~
non o r "dthedrals and abb.~y s, id le priests ,,11,1 rncnkc. 111 o t h'< f

words. l ilt: p'~ib i ll t) 1)1b'ood <lmh solio{nrIfJ to (>oJ ('\Ol tisrn. ti o n
in m~lie.<Il lo1JC id ) could l1ot l1tJfll;nall } be mat ol l1l/ln)gencraJl~
del~rlTli n("d the rnotk ur consumption of thl: a.-ai4ble resoerccs.
'n lis re ligitJI.lS d ct enn ination o r t he eC(ltltJlTl) i§ not ...tnprisirl/.;
it even tlefirl(':l. religion. Rd ig ion i~
the 'ldl i~ I:'K tion that Ollolll i·
t't). g h't:s to t he I IM~ of excess rt:SOIlfCCS, of rather t o thei ,' desme -
tio n (.11 least inso rur as t l.....') are u'oC li,I). T his i\ " hat !!h'CS rclig iom
tht;ir rich ' n.'llCrial ~t, \\ hid l unl) ,'e.w:::s to be ~ " hen
an etnad atoo spiritUill Uk \\ it M ,.,.\ s fro m labor .. ti m.. d"", could
Io.n ·c been cm plored in pruducinR' The otll) po int i~ t hc ~lll e
of utility, th e BrorllllOt.llnO.l of these t·olkcti. e deter minarioes. T hr.)
d o r'l'nd c r ol ~ni("f, true , in that tIIC" crn-ilx nc to t ht'''''' ~ra tu i lOUs
iKti , il ie., conscquee ces in the real m o fsll pcrna lllr;l1 e ffic olq ;
bu t thr.) are ~ rul o n th at pl il llC ptce::isd) in~fillr ;u t ~}' are ~13
runo os, if1.'>Ofar as tht.~ art; ncctllcss ccnsurnprjons of resou rres
fin;1 and Iurc most.
R..lig io us at:1i vi t ie.'\ - sac r!Ii, es, fest h als , I" ~II ri(lUS am e n i-
t ies - ~,bs" rb t he excess .."crID· of a socit't)', but a l>I; ' ond.ll)· e m -
Cile}' is IIS..... U) attri bu ted ro a l hil'l{:. "hoM- pri rTl3l) m e.m inl! w':'s
In bJcaki'l: the- c hain ul .. nk aciuus ;actions. T his rew lts tn e gtC.1(
rTl3Llisc -;a '--cling of wr\mg, of dupery - ,, !Itch peon'!> the ",li-
g io1ls sphere, f\ sacrifice in ,k" of a' n Kle resu lt, such;V, In t Hit}
of t il.. Ilelds, is l'>..peri,,", ed as a c()m rno n p lacc ac tion t hc Ic \'d
61
of t Il<' ai ' loc , o f t hc l(<<:m1. whic h religion ( ails into pia). In rhc -
Uf)~ j"l,vlJofJ in Chrimanu ) li ber.n o the dMb of rel igio us lili:: from
lho- (Io"",in o f prooJ ucth c ani- 11) , Bu t iI the laithfi Jl 'li .lah"l; o n
is tho- ..~\\";art.l (or Ilis mt Ots . if ~ ' 6n achieve il b)' his de eds , then
he has sim ply brough. rnocc do~l) itl w the , Iornain " I religion
the l·(lIlC.lIl' nation tllilt m.. kc:s usefu l wo rk w re tc hed in his 11'cs,
He m-e t1lU SC t!«os b,' whic h a C h ristian rrlcs t il win his \.llv.ltio n
can ill turn be nms iile re d pruf.lnat ions_ bcn the me re fael of
no
d~i llg Sl h Olt ioll ~ a goal appcar) ' onll'<ll)' to t he tru t h of grace.
Gr.KC alone bringi about all acc ced " it h the di'inil)". " h.ch can..
nol be ).lJ bj c c l cl! 10 ClI.,>",,1 \Cn.... M tlutl(p c an, me gin I.... ' ui' ·ln·
it} m a kes ofi tsd f lu lhc r..i l hl,,1wu l Canno l be paid for.
Th e Irlorol Position of Luther

The m ..:d i", 'al pracnre of c hariry , II1\" rel igio lls c"tlllll . mi ti t"~ and
the mendicant monk s, the IeHivil ics arKl lllc p i lgri m"l,."'~ po' maps
,lid not ince nse Luther so milch bec-ause of t heir al)IJM:~ : \ \l h"l
Lull....,r ~j e C"led ,,'as ma in ly Ihe Idea o f m..rits acquired ~ t hese
meam. 4 lit: r ondem ned an e" tr<l' ''Sant cco""mi,' regime fo r its
r-ontrad icricn " il h the Gru.pel'~ pri nci ple o f Ilos til il) 10 wu ll h
and I" " ,,') ; bill he: did no l so muc h o bject to I,,),ur} it'>Cl f ~ to
the pos.~ibi h t } o f {:ai ning he.n ..,.n b}' maling an C" l ra\~am I...... of
ind h·id u.u wealth. He IICCmt:<l to couccntrare his t hilll irtJ; un a
point wbe re a d h inc wurtd appeared free fro m compmmbe and
c om plet od) uocon ~tcd " ill . Ih e m.ac l>inat in.... 0 1 th is world.
T hluugh the hU)'ing " f ind ulgcnces. the laithllll Roman Cnholk
could eve n ellll>! I'} his resou rces IU pu rc ha)oC a ri m e in paladi"C
(ill fact the se rceoun e'> c o n tri buted to clerical o pule nce ".'Ki
illk ·
ness ). T ht: Lut he ran eOIlC t:pt ion WJ ~ r,)ll lt all)' o p posed [0 lhi, : it
provided 110 means (other Ih<tn _,in ) o r rcmcn'ing weahh t mm ur tl-
if } and rendc ri'llJ. it It l lh t: ' m rl d ofglory. I he disciple o fl . It!wr
could nOI (fCa'ml" isl, a n}lhing Ilcn: 1,.·low t hai " Ol' fIO t hmlc _
or cu lpab le - " !wr"." th.. folhm cr 0 1 RIlI1lt: was urjl;ell to make
t he cnu""h lhe "art"' l) r ...liancc 0 1 ( ;oc.l. But in m ak ing d inn il )
rad ialc in the "nfls o f Thili wo-ld , Ro me was redUCing It ' 0 base
arttullS. T he un l} fCCourse, in Inc t:')d nf a l ut hn , dPllC<lred IU
lit: ," ill dt:e.i si' c scp.tr-. t iun between c.n<l and c,c ')uli ng In.a t
Woi;3; nu l the dee p inn,' r life Offilll h, c'CT) thing m at we can do •.I1d
I'MI~ can} '"Iu e n e l l .
\ \'o:alth was th us d cpriu;:cl 0 1 me"ning. ilt>an from it, prt)lluc..
'"
I I\\" ,"aim' . \U llt.. mpL..l j,"C idl c n('5s, gh-ing ttl t he poor and t lw
splomdur of l:ercmlln i.,s a....1 ch urc hes ceased tn have t he I Ciol ~t
"urth o r were clln"il lc~d a ~ign uf tho- de. ;1. Lut he r's doct rine is
thout{n "'l:al lun o f a ~)"SlCnl 0 1 int cru.c C'"t......n npr.on of rcsoeeces,
An immense ann) o f secular and regu lar d erE} squalldc.....d II...
su rplu s rid ,.;s uf fmu pl:. in. itlllg th... nub les anll tho" rnerr Mnts
10 rh-al !><lll<1.ooerillg'i. This ,WIS 11'10' SC,lIldal l ha t provoked Lutt1<'r,
be n he was orll) ahl.: lO ul'post' it "illl a Ino n- r um p lcl" Ill:g a-
tiU11 of ,he "urld . In 1Tl'l l.. illg a g igan t il , Iaste ,1'10' means ul 01X'fl-
ing Ih,· gal,s o llwan:n to mallkioo. tbc Chul ch g,I\"C a pilinflll
impresstor u It had succccdc..1 less lll lOil-king earth h c'l\"cnl ~ thall
ill fllakinp; heaven banal. At lhe ..... me li me it had turned its 00, k
011 all its pos~ibililies. Bur it h'ld k<,pI. the «:UOOfn}' rdati, .. I, ~I~
bit·. It i ~ a ~i'l\ub,r lact thai the Roman Church. ill ,h.: image that
a m.. dieval ..illagc ~ Idt " hhc "OfM it (rea te ,I, Ieprc5Cnted in
a It:licilOu5 "a) t he cl l"ct of;m im m ..did lC use of " e.alth. T h i'
came about in a lOlnglc " f (orll rdJ iel ion~. but t h", Ii!\ht it . ast has
k.>und I\~ wa) 10 us: Shi lling Ihroug h d1O' wurl d uf IJUT.. uri l;I) lhat
sucr ced....l it, wh<.:rc "c:.ll th lost it. im rncOiale ' .lIIlC, it sl il l radt-
ales i n O ll r C) t'5 .
Catvtntsm
l uthe r') " 'actiorl remained st r ic ti ) ncgarh"t:. III h;" ,ie". !Y.J""',,,r
p.", erlc.~ ma n "<l!> to please GOO ;n hi, t2tlhl) a<"th "it), the latter
'n usl willbe ' Ul> j'·l l ' u mo r..1 I.m" Lueh cr IlPt.c:IoJ lhe C!mrch's
tra. Htio llal C UniC' ag.tinu usu')"anJ geocrall ) had the avuralon fur
bu siness that w,,~ illhcrclll ;\1 Ihe arc N.;c co-cepuce "f the: eccn-
om). l\llt Cal. in ;a Nnd" l.....d lh t' i1ueu ina l COlldcml1at ion of loa,~
at inte re't anti genn ;ally fl'CDglli /t' d lilt: lIlu rallrr o f e-onunerce,
"'W hat rc,,-so ll is there " h) tilt' iOl"uon", Ircm bul;ine'i) ;,hollid nt.t
he la'l!c r 111iI1l Ihu from lanilU\1ni ng ? Whence du Ihe merchant 's
prufir) come e x' Cpl trunl h is oWn diligence and ind ustT) ;>""5 "or
'"
t h i~ rea son \ \d le.. g i..es Cahini1.m.l d« i~h l' role in the It ,nn.I·
rion o f tM; c..pilalisr Spiril. hum rhe Ii,.,t it ""'" rhe rdigiufl 01
the corn mcrd Al b")l.lrgt'oi~ ie of C0<:1'1"' " and the f'octherl ands. Cal-
, in had .I se nse of t be • ont.Iil iom and Importa nce o f economic
de\-e1opmctn: he spuk dlI a lori ~t and a pl"JClicAl man. Tawllf'), ' ,I·
lowi ng \ \'c b.,r, u ntlcrx<)n..~ 1M s ign ifka.-.a: 01 h i~ rI"m~hl tor rhe
IlOtl'llcu i5 "mid 10 which it ga \'(' cXl'n:Uion . Iv. • o n l i ng ttl Ta" -
nc), Iw was III th e bo or,l(coisieuf hh Il m t " hM Marx was ro rhc
prolctarier 01o urs: lie p rovided the organi nll on and the docrrinc.e
0" a basu 1,..•..,.1, Itw d oct rine has In.: same m eamng as thar o i
I lit her. C . I. in rejects meri t and \\U,k\ ' 'I() lesshrml j (han I mllt' r
.Ioe., bU I his p rinci p les, amc ula ted a litt le diOi..'re ntl ). aIM.> hiln~
more (on~ucncCl'. In TawnC) 's , i.. w IIw <li m il> not "perwnal
s;>h-al ion, W I the f/-luri Gcation "fGu,;!, IU be !IOt~>ht, nul ~ pr;l)tt
onl)~ but t, <lellOIl - rhe loOIn, lif'ir<llmn oft he: ""rid t,. srrih: and
labor. r OT CAI \ i nbm, \\ it h all its ~podi,tti'Hl "I' J'It.-r.;oII./lI mf'ri t ,
is im e ru;el) prollCl Ni&J. Good worb are not a \\") o f anaining .... 1-
"'lion , bul tho..~ arc indi!tJCnsab!..- Zi a pmol 11l..1I .-.d.'aliu n bas been
er ramed." Dcl)li\'c d o f (he va Iue thai the Churd , llad g;''C1l the m ,
wll rks are ~inh'tl(luc~1 in a sense, bill lhc ) arc dif f erent wo rk •.
T h~ Il ~ga l i () n of p rac t Ires in vo l\·ing a nee dless expemlirur.. ' If
w~ah.l , i~ ' 11'1 less com plete than in the doctrine o f r llt!ln. in d ,m
\'alllt~ was " ithOuw n fro m co n lt:m plali,'" id lt:nt:~ , ffUm O\tCll -
tatious lu xu ry alltl from lhe form s Oi l hotril) that ma in ta ine d null-
prod uctive po,·.. rl) , aud g;'~ n 10 the . il'lues tha I haw their b.:I\i~
in u t ili(}: Toc rclonn<..-d Clllistiao ledro be hu",blt-, !>iI\'i ,\!, IL1n )·
w..rki ng (lte II((CI to bong the g:re<t lcSI 'ell) to hi s profess ion. I~ it
in com me rce, i nduSl~ o r w hatt:n:r); ..... t:\(:n had 10 hdp duni·
NIc beggi ng ••• hich w" n l ag~i m l pril'l< iples " ht,!oe no rm ..a\
ptoducli \'l' <let i\ it l . '
Cal. ini ' m in a ""'me , .....-i"d the O\-.;:ltumir~ o f values "'...... Ier!
b) Luther to iu. clu n: mc conscqucre C. Ca l. in d id not j ust repe-
" l
,. .. <;<;LflS£ C .,........
J iat.. Ih..... Ium.~ 01dj, ioe lx"ul l 10 ", hich the Chun h laid daim.
I i rn ili n~ man\ ~,bl lir, fU w.eful wuM. ,, 1,.11 II(" ofb red .... n
as .. m ean, u f g lnri l)" il1/o: <'; 0,", was the ocgeuon o f his m, n g l"')'_
T h.· rrue SMlC lil} urCa h in i", "ur!ts resided in t ho; . hand.mmelll
o f ~li l} - in l ilt- n:flunda rion o f ,,~. lift: thou f".~l ll 11.1" 0 111
I h i ~ world a hal" .,r sp lrllliur. The s;ux:tilic.ariOll of God W;l!o I nm
link-d tu tilt- .1,.".. rali7a1 ioo .,f h uman Iilic. Th i\ was a" tse \0111'-
tion because (fl(l' lilt' I Uli l i t ~ nI b"OUd "orks ........ Clu bl.ishcd. the",
le m aincd a man " lIh Ihe po....e r, u.. rather the n,-"C.:..~ity. of ac t-
ing. 10 whom It wu no t c n.,ugh ... ....) Ihar dee ds are uN,'a lllllg.
AllolChmt-n1 10 a p roft·~~ ion . to t he lalok l hat tlw w d al complex
a ,~ ign ~ t he in d i vid ua l. w as no dling " " ) no.:..... bill uruil rhe n it
had nOI u l..en o n lhe dee p <ignifk;lllce a nd , om hl, h e value that
(",.,1 , ,n h m ga \<; tt , [ho.: , Iet.i ~i un ~ to rescu.. d h in .. ~ I u l)· fro m t he
(:o lJl l'ru m ' ~"'~ in
w hi( h lilt' ChUK h bad placed it cou ld no t ha\'l'
had a m ' lr.. r;ul il'al r onceq ucncc t h an ti ll: rcle ga'i n n 0 1 JTla r,l i ml
10 glo ryless aCI" II ) .
The Distant [ lJect of lire Reform ation:

TIll' A u tor>(I my of ti,e lVorld of Product ion
ll: IOlIow ing " c ber, tJf'It! l-un~ io.l~ Ihh ptkit ion as it rdat~ to
the spin l o f cepir alism . olle (·ilnl1O l irNgine anrt hing mo re la"or-
ab le to the rhe or ind usrr ). A (Ot><Jo.:m llar iur1 o f id le ness M'ld lux-
UI) on the o n" h';lI1d . olin affi rm.t t io n of rhe n lue 01en terprise on
t he tJlhe r. lm m ('(I1,l1... use o f thf. in finite wealth Ihat is tht- uni-
verse bcillJl ~trH t1) reserved Wl r God. ma n lO r h i~ pot" W..I \ unre-
SC:T\-edl} dc:.l" .. t ..d to I.lbot-. (Q t h e a llocatio n " I ",....It II - t ime .
ma teriel and " ,cl) ki, ><J of resource - to the de....: Inpmcnl uf tl ...
p rocluu i o n ill>par.lIU"',
Ta"l1l1 pL1illb out nnncrl... Iess rlIM ca pi talism TC<:]1,J1~.111 adtIi-
t io l'l;J I dem en t ; It i\ .oil unre SlriCie d gfOtn h o f im pe rsonal p ro-
. hH·t;"t' lOrcts: it is Ihe HbtTat iun n l the rsatu ral mOt'l'mc nt o l ihc
"4
TH {. (; " ,-:; ,NS 0' '-' ... ... ,T A US' . ...... " ' ''E "ErO'''''A T IO ''
~ conolTl)', whose g~ nt: ra1 momentu m {l ~pen{h o n Lhc indi vidual

pursuit o f profit. upilili\m is nor [ust an accu mu lation o f ... h..,
for comme rcial, finan ci al 0 1" indusrrtal ventures, bu r g~nt'-I"a l Indl-
\' i JuaJi ~ JTI , fre e ~ntnpTi~" . Ca p ita lism cou ld not have co<.:x istl-d
with the o ld economic lcgislauon, w hu,t' moral pri nd pl e wa \ the
su bord inati on of e nte rp rise 10 sodel}; w h ich imposed pric-e CO II-
t rois, c om batte d flnaTK 'ia] sd ";lllcs a m" p l.l, t:d serious ....-smcnons
on loans .II Interest. Tawney o bserves that in l he cou n tries \\' I'ne
Ca lvinism was clom inan l {thi ~ was th e case in Ceneca , w ith ell l\ ill
and TI,,;~odorll~ lien, or in Sco tl.m.l, w id , Joh n Knox], it tended
toward a collective (Ii{:tatorship _'" B UI il was on ly " a minorit y, liv-
ing on the defensi ve be n eath the suspicious eyes o f a ho~til e go\' -
crnmcn r"; it ~li pJlt'c1 t ow anl e x treme in.l i\ i(]ualism. In I"~a l i t) it
"'<IS o nl y ill I' ng lant.!, in th~ ".." o n" Ila lf of rhc scvcruce ot b ccn-
IUI,.-, that Puritans lin ked th e PTi llC ipl~ o h he lree pursuit o f profit
to the Ca lvinist tradition. It \\'a.~ o nl)' a t tl,,1t late d at e t hat the
in<lepenclcllce " f econ om ic law s W aS poxit L,<' , a nd that the abd i-
cati on o!" toc m ural so\"Crngl1t; of the re ligious wo rld in the sphere
of pro d uction carne to pass. flut ti le lat eness 01 this de velop m en t
is a fact w ho se importance ~ ho u l d not Ill' ...xal!b~ral nl. Impli cit
in t he first form ul ati on , it need..,1 to r~ ~ol \'( · a ba -,rc d ilHcu lt),.
\Vhat was c ruc ially at s take in th e Reformat ion. lrom the eco-
nom ic stand poi n t, d id not ~u nnic h depe nd o n the M.,'1 ling o f prin-
ci p les as on the x""'riflg o f Jl] i nd~ ; th\: la lln could 1101 e fTe cli vd )
be achieved except O il one Loni/ ilion, Ihal it be concealed at f,""t.
The dlange would be mea ningliJl o n ly it it wa s t he d lling ot men
uf " n a ~~a ; l a ble m or"l autho r!t)'. xpl.:,,"i ng to d own-to -earth int e r-
~~L~ 0 11 behalf o f higher \""Ilal was needed "as less to give
plft ' OC r.;.
com plete freed o m to the natu ral impulse s of the merc hants tha n
to t ie t ht'm to some d o mitMIlI mora l po "it;oll. 1\ was first a m at-
rer o f d e sr Il•.'):ing th e aUlhority that lo undcd the mediev al ceonomr
TlJi s cou ld 1101 have been done b y sta ting rhc pri nc iple 0 1" (''' pi-
" \
, ,,. " c c ......... "" . ""C
tali\( inl c re,;.t d irectl). \ Vhal OIlCOUlI t~ jor I~ laic momCnt " I,cn
the cum.cqlJcl'lI"-,> o f th e docrrmev of the Rclonnilliufl .. tTW~1
is the d ifficul t y (If o.kfo::nd ing th." tla (IJ~ o r capireltsm (1 fVK'¥J. II
" re m.oulablc d l.ll tnc \fliril mel rh.c- cUlic " f ' -il pitall~m ro."t' .lI111lO't
rever been n~ in a r u n · kmn. It eo OflJ) b) ""iI) 01 an t'M f"p--
tio n that 0IlC u n S.), as \ \ d Joe r QOC"i concerning t~ principle<.
-et funh IJl rh.. mi&.lle o f Ihr- eij!hlo::t:nth cenro l) ~ Benjamin
h a nkl;n, lhal thq e "pt"bS t~ sp iril of ca pi ral jsrn with .In almost
cbsl;icaJ pulit}. BUI in ' il lll\ them, I " ill s" o" in lact thai it " ul 'kl
ha...: 1)t'C'n im~ ibl { 10 gi'" tbem fret: rf"in without a l>rdlllbk -
w ithout fil"!il gi\ ing th..m rill: mask of all ina< n :....stbl e d O- iflll ).
r ra nld io "ri l" ~:
Re me m ber t hat lime j< mo ney. IIe t h"t can earn le n ~h ill i ngs
a day b). hi s labour, a rid ~ocs ab road, o r sit, id ll·. o n.. hal f u f
th"t dily, though Ilt' ~pt: lI'J, bill sixpcn<'"l' during hi, di ...:" io n
o r i, Ile,.,.."-,, o Uj::h t not to n;ckOl, that t h.. ooly expense: he has
rt:all } spe nt, o r r.uh e r t hro w n aw.lIy. fin: shi lli ng' b.. "~ i "cs .
Remem ber, Ih.ll rmm..) i\ 01 the prolitic. ~neralln~ nature.
Mo rltl can bq;ecl monel. and ilS "flsprlng can bLl;"t mere, and
so em. Fi \"t~ shill in"", tu r ned is \1" . I Urneo.l again II is SC'"c n and
threepcroa:, oIl'll! S<J (lO , till it becomes a hund r..d poun,h. Tht.·
fllllre t he re is uf it. thc m or.. it prodUCC'i e>-ct:\. turning. I,U Ihat
the profils ree tjuid.e r and quicker. H.. tn.lt kills a br«:<Ii' l{!'
SQ.... dcstrols all ...... r tlflSpfi' l\ t o th e t hou-..ndth gem rati ot l.
He that m urders a U ('I'\\'I. r1': slmp all that it might Iu\ c pm--
duced, .... .:n scores o f pounds.
Nuthin~ is m ere c)niCil Il)

oppoqd w the Spilll 0 1" n:: ligi lnl~
sac ri lia:. " hi. h coorteucd, priOI W the Rc ltmmrion. ' 0 juslif)
1111 immense unprod eu-trve coosum p t loll and the iJ lenen o f all
tbose who had a free choice ill lite . O f COUl"... I ra rlkli n'~ p,in,i·
,,'
, .. Ie O", ' G '''s O ~ C APH AL 'SU A '" ~HE Il ~ FO " " ""'O ..
pl .. - seldom formulated - con noues t o guide the ..co no",}

(I Owa rd.m illl l)ilSSC no d ou bt ]. Bll t in Luther\ lime if could not
be stat ed in ove rt upposition 10 that Qf the dlu re h.
If o ne nuw consi.I.·,.. It.: ~pi rituol moc emene " h«.r ~ I()Il, Protl-
n' ss t hrough 111.., ,I,x t rin a1 mcamle l1i goc~ frum r urhc r's scanda l-
i', cd trip t o Rome til h an ld in\ labori o us ca ndor. a pr-v ileg et.l
direc tio n emell;<:S. Bul ' be irnpn;::iSion is nol thitt of a n",u lutc
and tklermincd mU'l:~ll , am if rlx-TI' is Oil cUCbtiUX1 in lho: direc-
riOl"1, it appc:an to boo ghen frum lhot' oe isldc, in In-- de m ands o f
tilt' produc rtve fon-cs . The mi nd t ries gro ping l) lO anvwc r th.. st'
dem ands - ill filer n s hesit alion hel ps it to d o so - b ut onl ) the
objccth~ dcmaods me...~ th ings he~itan l l} t.,., an:! the.' f:,'Uai . This
is ~, ha l Conm l) ro the lh i nl:i ~ uf Mu \ \ c be r, " IIU is c rcd -
itt'll . rxmaps wrong !}. w ilh ha, ing ;tS.\tgncd all ini rinlii i.. shapi.-..c
power tu rcl i/<:io n. But it I ~ «·rtain th.lI rhe revolutton effcct ...1
L) the Rcfo nuau on has, as Welx:r saw. a profc )l ll)d si/<:niHca rwc:
It lIlula:tl l.he passaJ.eC to a ne" fonn o f «"onom,.. Rd,·tri ng bad .
to tb e spirit of the &,",,,1 rek:rrncrs, lU: CM1 C\'Cn sa} lhal b) ..ccqx
inl! lho: ex tre me c~quenc~ o f a de mand "or religiu us punt}
il t.Ic~ t rofcd t~ sac rt:t.1 worlel, the world of nunprodueli, 'c r-on-
sUlll pt io n. and hand l,.'<1 Ihe uauh o ver tu rh.. mcn o f prod uc t ion ,
to the bOUIl"oeoi~. Thi s does n{ll alter rhto pri mal")' mcanil'll: o l" 1.11OS("
C~ UCIICes: In the spht.·f't: uf re lig io n t he) "1.:"": Ck t rc me (;and
a1 N'.-I) imfXlMiMe ;as such). 1..lu....:n-r. in the ct'OI'lOmie order c'-1
~Il' re pr~n tcd a ~gi nl1 ing ; ) el if ca n ntJI: IJot: dcuicdt bar tile}
inaugu rated the world oft hc IXJ•.Il'gt·or\ i... ...11OSt: accompli, Il/llt'1lI
is c ('Onom ic. ma nkind .
III
Th e Bourg eoi s Wo rl d
The Fundamental Con tradiction of the Sea rch

for Intimacy in Wo rks
At t he o rigin a t ind ustria l society, based O n the primae ) and
autono m y o f com mod it ie s. of thjnf/s, we finel a cont rary im pu lse
t o p lace what is essential - n hat COUSCf one to t rem ble l\ ith Jeor and
deliBht - o utside the wo rld of ac t tvity, the world o f thines. But
howe ver t his is shown it doe, not controvert the fac t that in ge n-
eral a cap italise socie t y red uces wha t is human t o the cond it io n
of a thine (of a co m mod ity). Re ligi on and ec onomy were deli v-
ered in o ne and the same movement fro m th at wh ich ind ebt ed
them to one an other. t he former 'rom profane calc ulat io n, the
latter fro m lim its brivc n fro m the o uts ide. But th is fundame n tal
opposition (this unexpec ted c on trad ictio n) is more intc rcsting
than it m ight seem at first. T he proble m that Calvinism so bold ly
so lved is not li mit ed to th e in terest that th e h istorical stud} of
religious matters always arouses. In fact it i" st ill the problem th at
d ominate s us. Re ligi on in general ans we red the d esire that man
al wa ys had t o find h imself, to regain an in t imae} that was alwa ys
strangely lost. But th e mistake of all religion is t o always give man
a contradictory ans wer: a n external f orm oj intimocy. So the succes-
sive so lutions o nly exace rba te the prob lem: Inti mac} is never scp-
. 29
a rated from ex te rnal elements , w it ho ut w h ic h it could not be
siBni{ied. Where we t h ink we have caugh t hold o f the G rail , we
have only grasped a tJunB' and what is left in o ur han ds is only a
cooking pot . _..
Man's c urre nt q uest does not d iffer from those o f Gal ab ad or
Ca lvin e it her in it~ o bject or in the di sapp oint me nt t hat comes
o nce the object is fo u nd . But t he modern wo rld goes about it in
a different vvay: lt doe s not look for anything illusory and it means
to achieve an essen tial conq uest by directl y ::-.olving the pro ble ms
th at are posed by thinBs. Perhaps it is absolutely right: Often a com-
plete sepa rat ion seems nec e cosary. If we are in ..ea rch o f an object
o f possession , the n we can only propose to lo ok for tlu·nBs, since
only thlfiEJS are within the province of activity and th e search always
c omm its us t o ac t ivity. T he Protesta nt critiq ue of t he Ro man
Church (Le ., of th e purs uit of activity ex pressed in wo rks ) was
not due to a strange scruple : and its ul ti mat e ( ind irect) conse-
q uence, w hic h co mm its mankind only to do - without any fur-
th er aim - t hat w hic h can be d one in the order oj tmnBs, is Inde ed
the only solution. Rut if man is to find himsel fi n the end , he loch
in vain w hen he fo ll ows th e pa t hs that have led h im t o ..elf-
estrangement. All he could ex pec t by tolImving them was to adapt,
for serv ice, th ose thwBs that are suc h, however, only to serve him .
It is reasonable then to think that man ca n no t rediscover his
truth w it hout solving the problem of economy; but wit h res pect
to th is necessar y cond it io n. he can say and beli eve it is sllffiaent.
he can affirm that he will be free once he has com plied with the
ex igencies given in tmnBs thar are nt~ce~ary, in th e physical arrange-
ments without which hi s n eeds cannot be sati sfied.
An o bstacle wi ll stop him, however: He will not be able to
gras p that which he is bere ft of any better than if he had taken
paths more o pen to c rit ic ism ; what he grasps will be n o di ffe r-
e n t fro m w hat was gra~pcd by those w ho prece ded hi m in hi s
' 30
T H E BOURGEO IS W OR L D
q uest: A,:,> always he w ill o nly ca tch hold of thinas an d w ill take
the shadow which they are for the prey he was hu nt ing.
I mai ntain that the argument according t o w hic h the solut ion
of t he mat erial problem is tllfjiCJem b the most adm issible one at
first. 1O But eve n if the volution of the problems of life - the key
to wh ich is a man's not becoming merely Q thion, but of bcion 10 a
sovereign manner - were the unavo idab le conseq uence of a saris-
factory response to material exige ncies, it re mains radicall y d is-
tinct from that n~~pon~e, with which it is often co nfuse d.
l-o r this reason 1 can say concerni ng Calvinism. having capi-
tal ism as a conseq uence. that it poses a fundam ental problem: How
can man find him self - or rq:pin hImseIJ - seems that the action to which
th e search commits him in one way or another is precisely what estranges
him from hims<lj!
The different sta temen ts, in mode rn ti mes, of th is di sconcert-
ing problem help to make us awa re both of w ha t is at issu e now,
in his tory, and of t he proj ected fulfi llment t hat is offered us.
The Resemblance Between the Reformation

and Marxism
Considering the course foll owed by the re formers an t! it" co nse-
q uences. would it be paradoxical t o conclude: " It pu t an end t o
the relat ive sta b ili ty and e q uilibrium o f a world in wh ic h man
was less estranged from hi mself than we al-e at presen t"? It wo uld
be easy in fact t o find ourselves persona lly loo kin g for a form of
humanity that does nat betray it, shunning those vacant lots. those
su burbs and tac ro rles, w hose appearance expresses the nature 0 1
industrial societies, and making o u r way toward some dead ci ty,
bristli ng w irh go t h ic spires. We can not deny that p re se nt-nay
hu manity has lost th e secret, kept until the c urrent age, of giv·
ing: itself a face in w hich it might recognize th e splendo r th at is
pro per to it. Dou btl ess the "works" o f the Middle Ages in a sense
T HE AC C U R S ED SHA R e
were on ly thinSS: They could rightly appear wort hless t o an)'o nl'
who envivioned, bevond. in its inaccessibl e purity. th e wealth th at
he attributed to God. And yet th e med ieval representat ion o f soc i-
cr)' has the power t oday of evok ing that "l osr in ri mac y'"!
Ii" church ic; perhaps a thinf/: It is littl e d ille re nt tram a bam.
wh ich c leerlj i.. a t hing. A thJnf/ is what we know fru m \\ irh o ut ,
w hat I ~ giv en to U~ as a physical reality (\iC'rgmg on a uu liry, avail-
ab le \\ ithou t rese rve). \Ve ca nnot penetrale a !hinf/, and it has no
meaning other than its ma te rial qualities. adapted o r no t to some
u..efu l purpose, in th e producti ve se nse o f the word . But th e
ch urch ex pre'ise~ an intimate feeling and addresses it self ro int i-
mate feeling. It i~ perhaps the thln8 that a buildi ng is, b UI the thmf/
that a bam reall y is is adapted 10 th e gathering in of the c ro P\: It
comes d own to the physica l q ualities that were given to It. meas-
uring t he coste OIgainst the anticipated advantages. in orde r to sub-
ord inate it t o that usc. The ex press io n ofi n timacy in rhe chu rc h
co rres po nds rather t o the ne edle ss consumption 0 1 lab or: From
the start the purpose of the ed ifice \\ ithd raws it from publi c util-
iry, and thi s firs t movement is accentuated in a profusio n o f use-
less o rna ments. For t he co nstruct io n o f a church is not a pro fitabl e
use of t he ava ilable labo r. but rathe r Its consum pt ion. the destru c-
tinn of it~ uti lity. Intimac y is not expressed by a thin8 exce pt o n
o ne conditi on: t hat rhl s thins be essent ially the opposite o f a thin8,
th e o pposite of a produc t . o f a cOlTl modit y l2 - a consum pt ion and
a sacrifice. Since intimate feeli ng is a consu mption, it b con'iump-
ti on that ex presses ir, no t a thl118' w hich is its negation. T he ca pi-
ta livt bourgeoi sie relegated the co ns t ruc t io n o f c hu rches to a
subord inate plane. prefe rring tu co n..truct fac roncs instead . But:
the Church dominated the whole ')yste m of th e M idd le Ages. It
erected its stee ple, w herever men were grouped together for com-
mo n works: Thus it was clear and " b ible fro m afar that the basest
works had a high er p urpoS(', apa rt fro m their tangi ble intere st ;
IJ2
T HE BOUR G EO I S WO R LD
thi s purpose was th e glo ry of Go d , but is no t God in a sense a

distan t expression o f man. in the angui ~h of th e depth:') he perceives?
T hat said. th e lo nging for a bygone wo rld is none th el ess ba.. .ed
o n a lim ite d judgment. T he reg re t that I mi g ht have fo r a ti me
when th e obscu re int im acy of t he an imal was sca rcely d i.. . tin-
g uished fro m the im mense flu x of the wor j d indi c ates a power
th ar is t ruly lost , but it fails to recog nize w hat matters more to
me. Even if he has lost the wo rld in leaving animality beh ind. man
has n one thel ess bec ome that consciousness of havin g lo st it w hich
we are. and which is more , in a sen.. .c , th an a possession 01 wh ich
the animal is no t consc io us: It is ma n. in a word. being th at which
alone matters t o m e anti wh ich t he animal cannot be . Likewi se
the ro man ti c lo nging for t he Midd le .Ages is in fact on ly an aba n-
don ment. it has the meani ng of a protest agains t the rise ofi nd u.. . -
t ry. ven us the n onproduc t ive use of re sou rces ; it co rrelate.. . with
the o ppos it ion to the valu es given in the cathed rals o f capita list
interest (to w h ich m odem society can be reduced ], Th is lon g-
ing refu se-, to see , at the basis of t he indust rial rise . th e . . . p irit of
contestat ion and c hange , the need to go from all parts to the limit
of the wo rld's possibilities. It ca n doub tless be said o f the Prot-
estant critique of sointlv works that it gave the wo rld ove r to pro-
fane works. that the de mand for divin e purity only managed to
ex ile the di vine. and to com plete man's separation fro m it. It ca n
be said , finall y, t hat sta rti ng t he n thilJ8~ dominat ed man, Insofar
as he lived fo r enterprise and less and less in the presen t rime.
Hut dom inat io n is never to tal. and in a deep se nse it is only a
comedy: It never dec ei ves m o re th an partly. w hile in the propi-
tiou s da rkness a new truth tu rns . . . rormy.
T he Prorevtant positing of an unattainab le divinity, irreduc-
ib le to t he actio n-bound m ind. no longe r has any real mea ning
for us. O ne co uld even declare it absent fro m the world (h aving
lost its connect ion to th at unco mprom ising demand, t he current
' 33
THE A C CU R S E D SHARE
Protestant '\\'3) o fth in king is more human ), as if the pos il ing we re

itselfbo uncl to re..emble th e divinity it d efined . But t his absence
may be i1J uso ry, an alogous to that o f the t rai tor w hom no o ne
deno unces and wh o is everywh ere . In a li m it ed sense. the Refer-
mario n has ceased to exe rt any ac t io n ; yet it s urvives in the rig-
o rs of conscio usness , in the lack of naivete, in the maturi ty of the
modern world. Ch en th e lethargy of th e m ult itude, Calc in's sub-
tle demand tor inlt.>gl-ity, the sharp-cdged tension of reason ( which
is no t satisfied with little and is never satisfie d w it h itc;('If) and
an extremist and rebellious wa} of t hinking take o n the appearance
of a pathetic \ igil. "l he multitude has surrendered t o th e sornno-
Ien cc o f prod uc ti on. living the mec ha n ica l e xtsre nce - half-
lud icrous, half-revolting - of thi"f}j. But conscious thought reaches
the last d t:grec of ale rtness in th e same move ment. On the one
hand it pu rsue s, in an ex tension o f technical acti vit)', th e investi -
gat ion that leads to an inc reasingl} cl ear and distinct know le<.1ge
o f thIngs. In It se lf sc ie nce limits co nsc io us ness to objects ; it
does no t lead t o sclj-COIlSCiouSIJCSS (it can know th e subject o nly by
tak ing it fo r an o b ject. for a th ing); but it con t ribu tes t o th e
wakefulness by accuslo mi ng us to prec isio n and by disappoin ting
us: For it ac kno w ledge, its limits. It admits its powerl evsness to
ar ri ve at selj-consctcusness. On the o t he r hand , t ho ught doe s not at
all aband on, in th e face o f ind ustrial develo pm ent, man's basic
desi re to find hi mse lf (to have a sovere ign exis tence} beyond a
useful ac t io n that he ca nn o t avoid. This desire has o nly beco me
more insistent. Pro te stan t ism re ferred man's e nco unter w it h his
tru t h to t he o ther world. Marx ism, which inherited its rigo r, and
gave a pre cise form to di sorderly impulse s. de ni es even more
than Calvinism a te nd enc y of man t o loo k for himsel f directl y
w hen he ac ts ; it reso lutel y ex cl udes th e foo lishn e!'..\ of se nt imen-
ta l act io n.D By reservmg ac t io n lor the c ilanging of th e material
o rgan izat io n , Ma r x cl early form ul at ed t hat w hi c h Ca lvin had
'34
THE BOURG E OIS WORLD
rn crc iy o u tlined, a rad ical ind e pende nc e of thln8 s ( of th e econ-

o my) in rel atio n t o o ther (religi ous or, generally, affec tive ) con-
cem s. Co nversely, he im pli ed th e in de pe nd ence . w ith re sp ect
t o action, of the return move me n t o f ma n to hirn sc lf (to t he
profundi ty, the intimacy o f his bei ng ). T his mo vem ent can take
plac e only aft er the liberation is ac hieve d , and on ly alter t he
ac t io n is completed.
T his specific aspe ct of Marxism is us ually ove rlooked : Marx-
ism is charged w ith t he co ntus io n of which I speak above . For
Marx, "the solu t tc n of the material pro ble m is sufflClem," but fo r
man the fact " of'not rony merely like a thln8, but 01 brin8 in a sov-
crei8n manner, " in theory given as " it s un avo idable conseq uence,"
nonetheless remain s differen t from " a sat isfactory re sp on se to
materia l dem and s." Marx's o riginality in thi s regard hes in his want-
ing t o ach ieve a m oral result o nly negat ivel y, by the e li m inatio n
of mate rial obstacles. This le-ads people to attribute an ex clusive
Conce rn w ith material goods t o him; they fail to nc rice, in t he
provocative cl arity, hi s ut t er di sc re ti o n and hi s aversio n for reli-
gio us forms whereby man's t ruth is subord inated t o h idden ends.
The fundamental propositi on o f Marx ism io; t o free t ile world of
!hin8s (of the econo my ) ent irely from eve ry e lement that is extra-
neous to thmEJS (to the econo my): It was by going to th e limit 01the
possibili ties implie d in thIn8S ( by com plying w ith t heir demand s
w ithout re servat io n, by replaCing th e govern ment of part ic ular
inter ests w it h the Ugovern me nt of th ings," by carrYing to it-, ulti-
mate c o nsequences the m ovement that red uces man t o t he con-
di ti o n o f a thiTl8, that Ma rx wa v de te rmi ned to reduce thin8s to
the co nd iti on of man, and man to t he free disposition of himself
In this perspective of man libe rat ed th ro ugh ac t io n, having
effected a perfect adequation ofh rmself to thiTl8S, man wo uld have
the m behi nd h im, as it were ; they wo uld no longe r ens lave hi m.
A new chapte r wo uld begin, where ma n wo uld finall )' be free to
IJ S
T l-j E . ~ "'SO:;
return t o h is ow n in ti m ate truth, to lreclv d ispose o f the being

that he ll ,/I be, that he is not ne w beca use he is se rvi le .
But by t he very fact of th is po sition (wh ic h, as far as in t irna cv
i\ concerned , d isso lves a \\3)'. o tters noth ing ), Marx ism i-, less th e
co m ple t ion of the Calc inist p roj ect than a c ri tique o f capitalism.
whi ch it reproac hev w ith havi ng libe rat ed tllln[,.~ \\ irho ut rig or.
w it ho ut <my othe r e nd . w it hou t any o t he- r 13" t ha n c ha nce -
an d private in re rcs t ,
The World of Modern Indu stry. Or.

The Bourgeois World
Capita lism in a se nse is an un reserved su rrender t o l hmfl~. heed -
le ss o f consequences and sec-ing not h ing be yo nd t hem. For com-
mon capita lism . thinn f (prod uc ts and productio n) are not . as fo r
th e Puritans, what b beco ming and wants to beco me : if things
are w ith in it. if it is ihcll t he thinB. t h is i~ in the wa) t hat Satan
inha bi ts the soul of someone possesse d. un beknow n to him. o r
th at the po ssessed, \\ rth o u t kn owing it, is Satan hi m self.
Sel f-d en ial, \\ hic h in Ca lv in ism was th e affirmati on of God.
was an u nattainab le id eal in a sense: It cou ld be t he act of ' t ra ng
personal ities, ca pab le o f imposing the values \\ ith \\ h ic h th e) iden-
t ified . but excep tions always ca me into pl ay. On th e o t her hand ,
freed om g hen to things " as t he com mon possibility. T he re was
n o n eed to m ain ta in the pu rest - and poores t c- spiritual it ). which
alo ne was rigorous enough in the h:-ginn ing to counterba lance the
subject io n at th e " hole bo d y an d o f ac t ivit}, t o thjnB~ ' Bu t o nce
the pri nc ipl e o f servitude was g ran ted. the wo rld o f !h inss (the
world o f mode rn industry) cou ld devel op o f in-e lf. w ithout any
further tho ught o f the abse n t G()(1. T he adva n tage W 3:) c lea r, in
m ind s 31""a)'5 quic k to g r<l!o p the real object. 0 1allow ing in t imacy
10 rece de beyond t he threshold o f consc io usne ss. T he re ign of
tl1 ings \\'3:) su p ported . mo re over. by the natural propensity to ser-
110
THE BOUFlGEOl5 WORL D
vit ude. It corresponded in the same movement to t hat pure w ill

to power (to grow th fo r its own sake) th at . o utwardly contrary
to the serv ile spirit, is ba.. .ically o nly its complemen t . In the service
o f a power t hat is not use d - the pe rfec t form of t he absorpt ion
of resources in g row t h - is fou nd the o nly genuine nulli fic at ion,
the least slippery renu nci ati on of life . But th is attitude is often
d ifficult t o disn ngui sh fro m that of the pure Calvinist . although
it is the latter's opposite.
At least th e Calvinist was at the highe~( point of alertness and
tension . The man of ind ustrial gro\'vt h - having no othe r purpose
than grm...-th - o n th e contra ry is the expression of so mnolence.
No rensron arou nd him, n o desire to adapt a world to his sta n-
dards. T ile m e n w hose ac tion re sul te d in modem ind ustry were
not even aware, the idea not having occurred to them , that such
a wo rld m ight be possibl e: T he) were utterly unconcerned abo ut
an impotenc e in the movement that carried them along. that co uld
not red uc e th e wo rld to its law. T hey eve n used, for the develop-
ment of ente rp rise, t he opening.. . that were maintai ned by the con-
tinued ex istence of varrouv move m ents contrary to theirs. In the
ca pita list wo rld th ere was no princi pled prefere nce g iven to tilt'
producti on 01 th e m eans of producrion (this preference was to
appear o nly in com m unis t accu mulatio n) . I he bo urgeo isie was
unaware o f any o pposit ion be tween the primac y of growth and
its co nt raries : un productive expenditures of all so rts. institu ti on s
and values that create ex penditures. The o pposi tio n only con-
cerned (and o nly affec ted) the amou nt of the expendi ture. Bour-
geois capitalism was opposed to luxury. b ut only in a fee ble and
illogical way: Its avarice and irs ac t io n did ac tuall y re du ce lux-
ur y. but if one excludes the uncalcul ared effects, it never- departed
Ii-om laisscz-faire.
Th us the b ourgeoi sie created th e world of confusion. It wa..
essentially a wo rld of thjnBs, but as man's redu c tio n was no longer
'l7
T HF A C CU RS ED S H A RE
linked to his nulltficati c n be for e God , all that di d no t enter into

th e sleep of growt h suffered from the abandonment o f th e search
for a beyond. Ho wever. no paths were closed: Precisely because
things generally prevailed and dom inated the move m en t of th e
multitude , all th e abo rted dreams re ma ine d availabl e; life ( th e
global m ovemen t ofl ife] bec am e deta ched fro m the m no do ubt,
but th ey st ill serve as consolat ion for tro uble d bei ngs. A c haos
began. w here, in th e most co nt rary ways, t'"ve ryt hing became
eq ually possi bl e. SOciety's unity was mainta ined owing to th e
unquesti on ed importanc e and success of th e dominant ac rivrty,
In this un certai nty, t he te mptati ons of the past eas ily su rvived
their invalidation. The contradictions to which they had led ceased
-
t o be feh. in a wo rld w here reality wa s all the more hateful lor
being publicl y the measure of man. The ro ma ntic pro test itself
was free. But that freedo m in every sense meant that man, regarcle<!
in his unity (in t he undifferenti ated agg regate ), consented to be
only a thine_
The Resolution of Material Difficulties and

the Radicalism of Marx
To the ex tent that mankind is in comp lici ty w it h the bo urgeo i-
sie ( on the whole. th at is), it V£lgUe1 y consents to be no thi ng mo re
(as mankind) than thinss. Yet it is w ithin this confused m ultitude,
and tied to confusio n as a plant is tied t o th e g ro und, t hat the
spiri t of rigor proliferates. Its essence is in wa nt ing - through a
co mple tio n of thinf/". an adequation of th in f/s (of pro d uc tio n) and
man - the access o r return of man to himsel f. And to the extent
that this rigor has the goal of developi ng t he pure sc iences and
th e techniques, the bourgeoi s wo rld leave s it an o pe n field.
Within the limits of strictly eco no m ic activity. the rigor has
a precise o bject: the dedication of excess resOU TCC<i to the remova l
of life's difficulti es and to th e redu ction of lab o r time . This is th e
Ij 8
T,.." BO URCCO'!; WO" LO
o nlv usc of weal th that coinci des with an ad eq ua tion o f m an to

thiny! an,1 it retains the negat ive c haracter of acnon. w ho'c gn.~ 1
lor m an re ma ins th e possib ility of bt:ing cmi rc l;.- al his ow n <.I i,-
posal. The spirit of rigo r. li ... <1 to rhe ,Ic,·dopm t.nt " fl h., "":Je nu:s
and tt:e 1ll1i'I"cs, is w..11 erluipp.. <1 lor this lundamcmal operatio n,
But th .. lIst: of lhe ' o",for t ...m.l t h.. m) riad services of ind us trial
,l,'il,~.a ti o" <CannoLbe limi ted to a sm all numbe r of pri,·i1eb>(.,(1 per-
s""s: Sllmf'tllal)' usc had fu nc rio nsj it m anifested values and it
implied the connect io n be t ween wea lth and the rcsponsibilirj of
ma nifesting those ,-alu es. But th is m anifesta tio n resulted troll' th e
erro r that makes us want 10 gra~p. like thi ng~. that wh ic h i, pr..di-
cared o n th e negatio n 0 1 thi np . T he ~I'i rit of rigo r is rhu s corn-
mi tred to destroy inti: t he r"m nants "f ' he an de n' wo rld . T Ilt'
capitalist law leaves tr In:.. to ,I" ,'d o p the m"'... ri,,1 pu ssll'il iti t s
th :lr it bears " it hin it , Imt at till: same time t ole rates pri vileges
that hind t r t his ,lc-velo pmen t. U nder t hese cond it io ns , the rigo r
{f uickl~' leads o ne to d raw lrom the sciences and tec hniq ut" t he
conseq uences th at red uce the c haos of t he pr esent wo rld to the
rib-or of tIIH'f/! the msel ves, w hich i ~ th e rat i onalli nki n~ to~ether
of .111 t he o pe rat io ns o n 1I""y!. It then has a revol utionary s i~n ili
ca nce that Ma rx fo rm ulated in a so"e re i ~n way.
Thl' R cmrrorr b of Peu do t ism a nd ReliBio rr

T he necessity of Iirsr di Jl1 i n~ l in g the , alues o f t he past m ust be
mad e cle ar. how~ e t. In the t:<':o!lOm k system o f rhc M idd le Ages
we"h h ,,';\.~ " " ew'" nl ., di stri buted oct \\ een those w ho m anifest ed
the accepted values, in the na me o f w hic h wea lt h \\"a~ wasted ,
a nd th ose- who furn ished the wasrcdlebor.'? T he work of the fields
o r t he t owns rhus had a servile q ua lity w ith respec t to t he calues
m anif "stoo , bur so di d Ih., wo rke r wir h r~pect ( 0 the clertcs and
no bl es . These latt e r claimed no t 10 be thin8s, bUI th e qualil ) of
thinyhooJ, ve rba l protesls norwirhsrandinp, fell squa rely o n th e
'"
WQl kt'. Thi~ nri/o!Ina l silUat i"ll lla!> .l spt"Cillc eonsc.... uc ex e: O ne
cannot CApt"< Ill ' hberate man by goi l~ to tl, e- li " ,ir of rhc posei-
bilhl e- ~ of Ih'"81 au d uonethe!..~~ leave Ircc. a, 1;"pil"l h m docs.
Ihulo/' ,d,o han : Ot! o the r lea.' nll lo r being than tile lwg.lfio n 01
" or\... " I'idl i , 1),lS(', in fll'·ur 01 mo.... d"">ltt'11 ilCfh 'il i~ . ..ssen ed
t o be t he 0 11 1~ Ollr~ c"pa ll ie o f restllrmg ma n t o him \<:lf. In a
....nse, the rem nallls . ,f kt.rn.lh m .md relill' t1n. whtch u piulhrn
" , ....looks. re p ro-em t he rm m utab le a nd euc o nsctous t!""irt' t o
nla\..e a th,,'R (li lhe worker, Cl>mparni,·d~. the- wo rker can ol1l ~'
be a 11",'1/ if ""t· hberate ou rse lves ~. d e \'llI ill/o! ou.....elves Il , an
ilCth it ) tha t le pucJ l'll es II,.. laOOI of tho.: wo rke r. 11,.. Iulfrllmcn r
of lhi ug.\ (t he co m ple te OIuell',al inn of man to prcxl' l< li nn) can
hav e a librratinj:! eflect o n l~ il li... old values. lied t o Ut)l1pro-
d uc tic c l" lo. JlC ' Klil ures. arc de nou nc ed a nd ch'>mallt kd. as th e
Roman .alucs we re cl u rin~ II'e HelOflll.lti oll . Ind eed. rhe re is 110
,I"ullf Ih.ll m..Il's re t um I" hi m14:l f im pl ies first llf all d un (he
d"'U·II Ii.,llaces o f t bc arisn x , aL~ and of n:liJl.ion be unmb Lt'11. lor
tI.C) are nut rt'all ) {hl' fac e of man. hil i hiv ap pe arance leu r III
rllil\g~ . Ma n\ return 10 hi m seJl ( .0111101 be (nnfll\t"ll w it h the e rro r
of rhese who claim to gras p inli m acy <IS o ne grd~ IJS J loaf of bread
or •• h.l m m~r.
Communism and Man'! Adequa tion to

lilt! U tility 01 ThinO!f
A ratliC"a l positioo. 10 " hit..h Ih.. wOrl..illf!. da~~ woeid hob /o! in'n
ib pc"',{ical cnll\C(lu cncco;. c m"rge\ lro m Ih f' above. In a ....IN· lt
i~ a ~lI a nge p(l~i l i nn . It is firsl of all a radic al :.Ilirrnatio n <,f real
mat e rial forc es. dlld " no k~s rild ical negat illll o j spiritllal values.
T il e- comm umsrs al" <I)S gin' pn 'eec!e nl;; c t o th,,'(}s. <IS ~ ,1i ll\t tha t
" h.d. ,!art', not ha~ e t heir subt'r<!i nat.. c haracter. T hh illl ilUlk-
h based '>ll 1i,1I~ ( n 11M' ras...~ 01 tile p",lr tarialls. who com moll l~
lac\.. a sell\(" 01 'pi rim al \<l l\les... ho o f I"'...ir Own acco rd red uce
0, 0
man's in terest to [ntere~t p lll"€ and sim ple, <100 w ho see rhe human
umcerse as a sys te m of thiny5 subordinated [0 one .,,,,,tllt"T: tilt'
plow ploughs til t'Held, the ti.. lcl prod""." wh ..at, th.. wll....t f....,b
t he bla d :., m irll, ",I" , t<,,'g'" t il.. ph,.." rl li ' i ll no "'d~· (;xd u(lcs the
h ifh<>r "'pir"t io n" bIll l h n o.: <in:: d,allgo::ab lc, '-<lgllC, o pen. by c o n-
tT,,,r wit l, th" ",,: o f d,e "ld lype o ( pop ula tions , wh ich an' u su-
ally traditional and irnrmnabic. Indeed, the prolnallan, undertake
man's li beration Sl,llting from rlm'lls (to " h ie" t hey were reduc ed
.
bv a world W / lOl>C values were almovt meccessible to them). T he,.
do not involve h im in ambitious p rojec ts; t hey d o nor co nstruc t
a rich and \ ariegat ed wo rld, modell'(] o n t he anc rcnr my tl,o logi ..,
o r t he m e diccal the ologi es. I heir at ten tio n is apt to be lim ited
to ..-h"l ir thele , b u t t he~ are no t cl osely bound ~. the eleva ted
ph rases rha r e x press the ir fe eli ngs. In rhc h unlvt- ....... lil..r.. I~ no
lirm limi t o p pos ed 10 rhe gene ral li nbg.. of ,hinn< <lJ/xJrffiTj(l\inO
our onorMr. A rigoruu~l ~ prac t ic al politics, a bn' la l pu li ' il~. !'t',h'l-
inl/: it, reasons trJ Hriu r.. a lil~, i, , t ill ",h" l bo t co rr"' I" lIlds t rJ
t l'e ir pass io n, a pu li t il:\ ti M' r.., ..,lIs II,.. in tt' lltior " rJf .. , d fish
!;r<lI'p, a mi is " II rhe m o r" rlll1,[o;" . A m ili l.." , ol this pe rsuasion
i, ..",ik n:,lrK;t';{l lrJ a , l r;I;1 .\ I,lxmli llal;" n. H.. readily auc:epu being
filld ll~ rt'd uc..<I, b)· tile work of libera tio n. 10 the condit io n o f a
rhino, whi ch is the case, fOl exam ple, when di sc ip line pre<;cli bes
t wo conrrad ic ro rv slq;:ans in successio n. '1his radical areirude has
a strange' co nseq ue nce : It I/:ives 10 the bo u rge o is, to t he cx ploita-
t io n " hi dl th e workers "OI nt 10 abo ltch, II,e le t."l ing Ili llp h" !rl-
ing freedom to r m ankind, of <I\'oid ing the reducrion rJf ill,li\ ir\ll"b
. .
to thinnr. A" , I \"el, wh<l t i' Involved i, onlv ..n CJlormous e l len
"
w hose "im is sell-de r.. nnindl io n.
I" ar; t" " l f<ICt, d ,c bOllTgeois uan norrcally forgelthJI rhe free-
,10m of the ir w"rl d is t he freedom o f confiiston. I" t he el1<l th e~
a IT m e rel y hel ple ss. T he immense res ult s of wo rk ing-c lass poli -
t ics, rhc ge ne ra lized provisional servit ude rhar is its o nly sure con-
.,'
TH ~ " C C " RSE O S " A~ C
St(ruencc, lrigh t""s rlwm, but I h c~" Call only be moan the si tualio ""
T hq no lo nger bd\f' i\ wrrse of their h b lOrical m ission: the Iac t
is tha t as a re-sponse 10 tile ascendanr m ovement of rhe commu-
nisrs, tI,ey CiI.'lll"r gi\"e rise to the I..as' h" P"""
'4'
PART FIVJ::
The Present Data

Soviet Indu!itrialization
The Dist ress of Noncommunist /-lullm"ify

It has always been ~~ible tn ~}'. "The m oral cm pt i nc'~ of rodav's
world is appalling." To ,nme degree the lacl of n O CT Leill<il: assur ed
define- the future, ju,1 as that of having an im pe n t>trabl e nigh l
ah..ad of one d efines th e I' l'e ; O;' nl. Yet t here arc gflod reaso ns at
pr"""'l t fm d w ell ing 0 '1 the di stress. I am th inkill/! not so m uc h
o f th e inc re ased rl.mger o f ca tast ro phe - more ilWigol"ilt ing tha n
it appcal"S _ as of Ihe absence "I fait h, or rMh el' the absence "f
ideas, th at aba ml<)ll~ mod em tlloUglll 10 impot ence. Thirty ).",t'<
ago a n umb e r o f conflicting spo.:r.:ula rio lls ill umi nat ed a f"lmc
that was adapted to man. T ile ge nc'ral bchet in ineiefinil t' pr og-
re ss mad.. the c urlre Illanel and all time 10 com e a domain tha t
see m... l at one's disposal w ithou t rest rict io n. Sine.. rlrcn the sir-
uatiou has g rcatly d lallged. \ ,ylle n a c rus hing victory e nsured tllC
r"!lIlT' to pcace, a f~d i ng of inftriilnf;1 vis-a-vis tllt" Inevitable prob-
I.. ms graduall y seiz ed hold 01 the- m ajorit y. O nly the com munist
worl d - t he USSR and affil ian-><:l parties - ,,~aS an e xce pt io n, a
mono lit h ill ti lt" m idst of an anglli, hc<:I, incolwrent hurnanitj; ,,, >V
sc~si n!l no ot hel' uni t y than ;mgllisllo
r ar trom hd pin p; to m ainta ill " fragi l.. opt im ism , thi' bl oc -
which p" ssessc's an un sha kea ble assurance o n its O Wfi behalf - is
,"
ma" ifll; tile di\tr'C'I!> ( onrple te-. 1\ IXlu ncll e.!> hope for itself, it i~ at
dlot" s.lme ti me d lenOl" lor II"O'>C \\ bo rcj eu it<; law .lJlll dn not auro-
m.Jlt icitll) conc ur irs pr ;l\e.; pi n . '-loIn. and l ugels ~),dd l U1(,d
II i I h
in 1847 ( d~ oil" Ill.: firM words (II rhe lItJmj <"SltJ): " A \ pt"Ct l'T;!>
hauming [ 1lR>pt" - lilt' 'pt'Ctt:' r o f Comm un i!im." In 1949 corn-
mu n is m c eased to be iI phantom: II i ~ .l. ~l3 t l" and an MTll~' ( I~ far
the rrxet !X"n~rflll llt1 ~7I1h ,. lillpplemented 1.,- .In ' It/;,mm:''d m('lOlt'
me nt and lTI<'Iintained in 01 rnu llC, lithic ("uhrsion b)- a rI("~.l t;()(l of
(.."'\\:~" jorm 0 1 ~ I ;nt r rf'Sl . And E.urop(: is not alene ;1I 1X.i ng
sha l.en. bu t .o\5ia as we ll ; . k\p ih" it S m ilil3 l') and ind us trial supe'
nuti ty, Amc:rica ilscll is Jo(r()\\In~ kn"". a nd the il H.II/;ltill io ll it
e" preliM'S in rhc 1101111<' n f nan,'" ;n.-Ih id uahsm poorl j conce... h
all exasperated rea r. Tori,,) rlu fear ol the U ~" R n b<-f"S.\t"\ amI di ~
heartc uv the w ho lt" nuucornm un ist world . No th ing h 1'0 0 1\'(.'(1 ,
lu re o f usclf, cndowcJ w itll an unl'''" 11mmi~i ng w ill In O'l:i1n;7(',
e"lcpl for 1111" USSH. I \~(· l1t ia fl). the re st of t he wo rld li nc ) up
~ainst th e 131u; r tllrough ine rt ia: It w ill ing l}" I"rre nder.. to t1 1('
nmtrd<!ill;(ll\S th ar u bears " ilhin it; it lives frum dol) t(l ILt). blinc-I.
ric h or poor. (kpre«cJ. 311C\ us speech 11.... become a n Impo" :,,t
p'n u-st - even 01 g ro an.
TIl(' Intdl('Cl ual P05irians with Regard to Communism

I n t he absence nf aSCl"llfLu lI ielt:il\ , in tll., al:.....:" c l.' u f a hope 111011
wo u ld uni t e am i d ... "t..,. h uman tholl!!h t ill \\'"",rl"n1 I urup<"and
Am e nca is ",",,\ ~h l l.l I "I fI.... t and foremost;n relat ion to the d(lO:-
rrine and Ill<- ~..J it) o l l he Sc" il" t Un ion. That doctri ne has rtWl)
prupOlll"llts who molil.<- the c1 k lOlt(l M ip o f the pr" letariat a nc.l tl1l"
OIbolit io n o f capi tal i\m Ihe 1',,·li rni'larJ condit ions of;ll satisfied
hu man liw. T he bas ic aim or the So--iet sla te is, ;u.cordinJ:. 10 tilt"
Constitu tion 01"1918. "\Il p pc'f"oSing all .... ploitarion o f man b) 111311,
a bo lishing foreve r t he (Ii- I~ion o f societ y into classes, nll h ll"$~l )
s uppressing all e~ pl() i ll· r.-, bringi ng about the soc i a li~1 organi:.ca-
'. 8
Un ll of socit'ty and the tri u mph o f soc i ~li sm in "II < ouomes," 1 he
goal of firs t au ,i""illl/ " MX ial, '>fll in one country," and the "...t hl;
that II... Russian l"e\'(llut iun has fOI.l(l",~! YJlU:" 1918 M~ ~, ,,cl.cd
the l.ppul>i t ioo o f . t'n.Ji" c om mun ist .. I..menu . Bu t tbus Iilr on l)
tht faithful ~lI ppo tters of till' Soc ie1 Union, dete rm illt"!: l tu remain
in h.u mon~ " ilh it a nd carry out the- U'\u h lrion in Ii,<-Ir country,
1101'" been abl e 10 deri n ' h um lhe ir opi n ioll the force to tillite
t h.. \\Uni'l! rnassea. 1ltr comm unist diSl;i<!CncC has wlTtl the
su,-i li t) of the c aher ecuve ten"{"lIc it.'S within tfl.. .!e lnocr.lcics.
Fo r it is inl ormcd U) an .a\ e r<ioll. il re jection, and n m b)." re l l)-
IUh ' ho pe drising from its 0\\ n ~sol u ti on ,
J\10R:O\cr. tile r{"an io n l' ( the o pponen ts has Iwo con l ra, )
5<' 111'( es, III the fim p lace. the ram ilk .. t;ons of the p rinci ples o f
t he Sovie t Un ion h oi\'<' been limited by the g iH:1l cond iliOflS: The
d omain 01 soci alism ha s I>«>n lim ite d not [uvt to a single conn-
I ')", b ut Ul a ll und erdeveloped ind usartal COUlI l!"}', Acco rd ing t o
Marx, sociali!)l'll \\'Ou l.1 rcsu h from an c ),uemc d e \"{" I.' pmcm o f
producti\"e lOrcO'S: PreKnt~ ) i\mfTicMl societ), UKl not the Rus-
sian <;odetl' lJI 1917 . ,,"01.1111 I'll' ripe (or soc i.llhm. Furthermore.
Leni n sal' ill the Oc tober revolut ion tilt" hegm ning mcvc enerue-
diverted - II I ~ world r..\,o lut iull. Lar..r, ~ laH n. in o pposi tion \ 0
Trllts!.:)', ceased t o ma ke worl.l rC\o lul ion a pn"C-o oo il io n lOt rh...
blUiJ di~ of S<JCial il;(!1 m R us.~~ I" all) case till' S.,..ier Union camr
to accept the gamc I t ha<! m ...lru 10 a\-Qid. Rill apparcntl )'. con-
t r.ll')· to Tm tsJ-y's optimism , th Cl"t: \\~oIli 110 c ho ice in rhe m auer.
Tile c Ul1SCq lJC l\('l'S nf "J;()(;ialism in one c oun try" c~n nOi be dis-
"ll,vdcd. 10 ~)" Jln. 1lint of mal..,ial diflic ulries, wi thilul any eon-
necnon t o t h. l!>l:' a g lo bal socialism wou ld eocoun tce, the fact of
being bo.....d to one nali o n could al ter Ill.., n:\'Olutioll'l'h·i.'ig il a
compllSitc fo rm d jffic u lt tn dtt iphc, and dccch"ini! ill apl:>e.lr"'tICe.
!'lUI h e re it is til<' reactionary a spec t o f " Sfdl ini sm " that p ro-
vokcs the C'tlposit io ll. f rom another ang le, rhe- crtaic fsm 0 1 til<"
."
"anti ·Stal i "i~h .. f,n in " ,,11 thaI 01 ant ico m mun i,m ill general.
A rcschn... <;<lfl lo.:lll p l lOr ind ;.,tc luali nt erest , lor t hooght . for
pt'~nal concen tionv and ~hu has c harac l o.:ri f.t'<1 rhe Rl ,14 f'\ ,I.
reIo ol ut ion from IIJc. stan. In tI,i... r~.ud. Sla li,,'s po lit: ) hrin" nut
the traits o t Leum's, bur dOf'lo nl.. bre.l.k new i!ro ooo. ··&, I<;.I ik
f1 r mllO!;n 'J) po~a "ll)O'TUpllil,..r:.I i~m." Ita rred o t co mmunism,
so general and so SHang 11(l\,-.wl.ap. l~ iI' priffldT} ~ourc", In l hal
compfeu' nql:ation. pushed to j(... r>. tr...ne cnru.o::q lJenc~. 0 1 incti-
, it}.,;d """ if) . For tht: ,roncO! tlm un ist \\url,1 in ~.ocncr.JI. 11 >(' iooi. " I-
IJ.l..I i... tJ1f" " ltima' .. "'NI; '';l lm~ and m nh ate refe rred to thc solnud..
o f a p riva te lite. d \ ,,1 alll l bliml tt> Ihal w h ich it i' nOI (t h,,-) an:
reklTC'(l, mo t e prccbcl)'. 10 its " .. onomic i'Klt'pt"ll<l" llce). AI th e
OO'i \ 01 th e democ radc idu , [ tfu- bourgeois i,k,,) ..1 ti ,.. ;lId; I'irl-
ual , there i ~ " '>l lr... 1] ) rh-e-e-paion • •avaric e and .. llo:galiml o f ma n
a~ an clemen t " f ll"'l l") (IJI th.. universa l acti on 01 l hat "l. lch
i, ); ti le modern boU~ClIi~ "ppeat, ", rhe po ore~l r;~lI r€' or a pe r·
so n thM humanity has assu me d . bu t to this " person" mnred t o
rhe i ~ .. lati Oll
- and mc.Hocril)· - 0 1 b i~ lite, CU IllIll\l(II\m o liN'; "
dea th leap. To I"'· lo llte. t he " pt'I:IOI1" refuses to le ap. bill do..~ not
become a sti n ing hope fnr Ih"I I:":I. The r...·uluriomrics «ho con-
cur in h is al1~u i\b .an' e m barrassed b} it. Bur St3.linhlll h so radi-
QlI that ;[5 com munist OppOIlCflIS ha ve e nded up in <<<IU' r l " ilh
the buurgco is. I h i~ c ollus.lcn, whe the r co nsc ious o r n Ol, has
~Ieatl ) conmburc d ro IIlot' \\,t'a l~ and inert ia of a ll lh.,l'>I.; "he
wanted t n ".'>Capt' the t l/"'Ot o f Stalin is I com rnnmvm.
",,>'O m ";mpie Jc.clirl' sueh.n a<~. l'lflX%'i lioll or hatn-d.
the c om plexitj nfStalinhm. the ilKIec' phcr.ililc ligu rc rhet rh..
condit i()1lli o f its dC\c1ul'mcl1 l ha,·c Rh'CIl it, i~ .apt 10 prO\* thr-
mosr confused mtdl«uJlJ/ ~I iore.. \ >"'idKllIl a <Inum . o ne o f lhe
mcst serious problf'1m for Ihe $m ie l Uru.... Ind,,} i , lied totbe
narfoeal 10n11 Ih al Snt iali_m ha~ lalen there, Fu r a !I.ng l ime: a
paralld "as d ra wn bel w.... II c e- ,ta, n enema! Icatvres uf H;I k ri II:
reo
socia lh m , so-called, an d tI,OS" of Sralinist socia lism : a leader, a
single p"rty, Importanc e 01 the army. a }'ollth otga n izatinn , nega-
tion 01 individ ual thought , and repression. T he aims and rhe socio-
econo m ic seru cru rc s w e r.. ra,l iu ll)' d iJfe rent, s..lt inl-( t h e two
systems in mortal o pposi tion to eolC h othe r. but tilt" similarity o f
methods was strik ing. T he .. rnph...~ ;s t hat was plac e d o n tI,,:; form
and e ven OIl the natio nal t r..dhions focu sed atlt'll ti,," on d ,e st:
dubious comparisons . Mo reove r, rhis ki nd 01 c rit icism linked the
o p p<lSit io n com m u nists to !>ou rgcois liberali s m : A m,we me n t o f
" a nti to tali t ari a n" o p in ion has Iormed whic h t .. nds tn paral jv e
ac ti o n; its sO-id ly conservat ive effect is cert a in.
T holl ght is so d eepl y dh tm bed by thi s paradoxical s it ua tion
that it is g ive n over; spo rad ica lly. to the m ost h""-ilr<! m ls inte rp re -
tations. They arc not a lways printed. I will m ""ti",, rile foll ow-
ing nn c , "ltic h is brtlliaru it not so li d . It seems t hat Stalinism is
no t at all t he analogue o f H itlcri sm ; on the contri\ ry. it is 1I0t a
IWtional LII I rather a n imperiQI.IOCiClliun . Mor.. O\'.. r. JmpefJal is t o be
und.. ",tno d in a sense o pposi te to that of rhe im pe riahsm o f a
na t io n : The word would ....f..r to the necessit y o f a ll emp ire, t hat
is , of a ani versot da//' tI ,a t w'lUld pUI an end to th.. economic and
m ili tary anarchy o f the pr eseru ilge. /\'Q/iQII<JI Socwli!/Il WM bound
to fail. for it s very principl..s limited its scope to one I1<Itio n: Th ere
was no way to inc o rporat c t he c onq uered cOlllllri..s, no ,va}' to
joi n lh c adventi ti ous c..ll s to t h t' mother cd!. fhc Sov iet Uni o n
" n me <:Olltrary is a fia m..wor!< in ,,',idl any narlon can be inserted:
It co uldlate r inc orporat .. a Chilean Re p ubli c ill ti, .. same way as
a Uk rainian RCJlublic is alIT",l y inc orpo rate d. 1 his "-ily ofthink-
illl!: is II0t o p posed to Mi\rx ism; it is d iffere nt, huwc.:~er. in th at it
gives t he state the p r...po nclcrant a nd d e fini ti ,-.. I' la,"C rhar J lege l
gave it. Mall as d efined by t he Hegelian id ..;\ is not an indi\iduilJ,
IlIlt the st ate . T h e indi v id ual has die d in h , has be en absorb.. .!
into the h ig her rea li ty ancl into the service 01 th.. sLIte; in a wi de r
-5-
S<'"I~, Ill<' "SIJ It"'-m aO" i~ Ill<' sea " '10 "hich O"W1; Ihe nvce ot bts-
IOn.. Insu f;,.r as he partiei"...I.::. in ri ll' ~t J r O'. ITlo'm la ' t'$ lx'll, an i-
ma liry arNI indn 'dual' l) bt. 111110 hi m: He is no I""ger "'P"'"".1te Irom
u n i,·O'r-;,t1 r~a1i l~-, bc') isol.lble parI of til<' " 0 '1.1 rd u -.; to the- lo:otaI·
. Iy, bu t II... su p rem...lU tI ,ori l~ ot thc ..." rld seate can o n ly refe.
10 itself T11is ,antell' ;011, wh ich is C\u ill: tonr r.v) IU 110., popu-
lao- ....a lit ) of comrrarrnvm and fn r.. IT\O\-t"<I tr o m acl i,-,,,t cmhl~i ·
'"SOl , is an o b,- i "u ~ paraclox. but It is int""C~ling 1<,. Ihe \\ "y i'
ulldenc l'lR"!i rh.. re!n;'T meaningle-.~ and P'''TIt~ "I IIwc indi -
vid ual rcse ....·e. 0".. canno l mis._ II... occasion ro place the human
illdi,·idual in .. pn'>itiun o rh.... th.l n IIIt;n...tc ..nel .mel 10 Iibrrau~
hsrn h y ~ I,uwi nj!. hi m a less narroc, horivon . wh a, \\1' k now of
x".-iM lift· rclato. to till: limil3tiOll' {lfl t:m..-peisc ami to the muic·
I ion" o f !>t<l'W"",1 frccII(JIll. h"1 OUT llilbiu arC turned upsi de ,10\\"11
in il and in an}' ca se " ha l il l " lh in to '1"~linl1~'" 1>l!) <'' 'l<1 duo
Il./I fTOW pt; f'\pec. li\(~1; III w hich we w ill ingl)' ton ful(' Ollnches.
It 15 o f r c urse il'\e, itabh: that til" r rel>t'J'lC(, - "rI. ll lle t h re al -
of lilt' USSR cause diverse r..acl ion,._ P-!r'" Ilj"(:I;O" end h'lIred
smack of llCf!l igt"IIC C. III th is ins tanc l'. the courage 10 prt"ft:r t ill;
silence of thought. contempt 1m a failed urgani/ "til>ll "Old l\.1trcd
10.. rbe OO rtlt'1'1i pu t in t l l~' v.a} ,;I peo ple. h-ad ( l llO: to (\t"sire • hard
and I\o>ciSil e I • Uk t he (~OUI bellcvce who o1CQ']> h rh .. worst
"heOl<.I o f time. b" t "hO'>e pr,,}er la}~ s i ~-gt" 10 11I' O\,-cn. some ..."it
res ignt"d1y klr II ,.. OCtemc.101 a I~ inrr;v;t"b!:t: alt itude, but ll;,n.Un
faitl1ful to Ihe e.t""1 111.11 "ppedrt:<:1 III rhc rn 10 be compatible ....ith
a peac·., lul l', o lu liu l\ of the worlel. Q lhen find ;1 d i8it::uh 10;~
inc thi,. wor ld c( ,m p!e u:!) subj llgatc..l l hf(,u~ 1 all "'pamion of lhe
So-'iet Unio n. but the ICilSion the laUt"< nl<li Olaill'> '<Ct:'lb 10 i ml,l ~
ti lt" nrceuil) of .111 econom ic I"'nsf"mation. In ...."lit). a " vn-
Ilerflll men ia l chdO.'> co mes l..lIn Ihe acl; o n of Hc,lshCloi, m in t ilt"
"arid. an<l lrom rhe ~;';h. the rnoea l ocecxiste nc e , Ih.-ll it
enccuutered. But hi-lOry j,. pcrl lOlps tilt: only thi ng C<lp;,.hle o f r"l-
'p
SO V 'FT "OU S T " ' '' ' '7"T ' O~
ting an end to su c h c h aos, thmugh some milirarv decisi o n. \ \ie

ca n onl ~ propose to seek the nature o f that acti o n o f lk>lshevi~m.
w h ic h upse ts t he esrabltshed o rd er unde r o ur \'er} eyt::s, much
more th oroughl y th an I Htler m an aged to do.
'Th e Workinfi -Clon Movement A/luin sl Accu mula t ion

T he USSR Gin change the world direct I}; Fhc 10KCS it co mprises
c an prevail over th c American coalition.
IT C;tn ;tIM) c hange it l hm lJgh the re pe rcussions o f its anion:
TI lC com ba t dte cc rcd agains t it would bring its e ne m ies to c hall;c
th c j u rid ical founda t io ns o f the ir eco nom}.
At all events, unl e ss a t otal cataMm p he occurs, a c h anlle o f
social struc ture is nece ssitat ed b} a .try rapid developmenr of lhe
produ c ti ve fo rces. \\ hic h the c u rrent reg re ssio n 01r urope is slack-
enin~ o nly lo r a ti m e .
TI le precise so l ut io n 10 which o ur troubl es " ill lead rna} have
on lv a secon da ry m t'Olll illg tor us. But «c G Ul be c ome aware o f
rhe natu re o f the rOK CS involved.
Und oub tcJI~' th.. mostco llsc, /ucn tla l change in the di sp osal 01
cxcess re sourcc s was thei r allocat ion ma in l} to the deve lop men t
o f capital eq ui pment; it opened rill' ind usn-ia l era a nti it re m;\ins
th e basis ot tbe capi ta li_~t e c onomy" W I"' t is called "accumulat ton"
sign ifles that a nu mber o f we<lh h}" irl<lh'idua] s d ecli ne d 10 c nga,>:e
in the un p rod uctive uxp..nd uurev o f an os renranou s lue -sryle an d
..mploved rheir available fu nd s lo r rhc purch ase o f means o f pro ·
duc rion. w hence t hc pOSS ib ili ty o f all ac cele rating d c \c1o p m c lll
and cvcn. as l h i ~ rlc\'c1 opmcl1l ocr u rred , the allocation of a pan
o f tlll: inc reased re so u rce s to ncrn p rorluc rive expenditures .
I n th e last an alysi s. the \\oTking--clas~ m O'"em en t itsc]f llc aT".
essen rtally o n thi s p ro b le m o f th.. d istribut ion of wC<llth in c on-
t rar:-' W <lp . W hat is the ,leeper signillc<loce of th.. smkes. the q rug-
~ l cs of wage .. <ltrlCI'; filr increase d """b'CS andthe red uc ti on o flabor
'n
time ? T r.c ~lJCCCSS of wllrl..ers' da im s a ugments t h~' (031 uf pro-
duct ion and reaoccs noI onJ) the d ""r(' reserved lQr th e IUlC UI)
of the !.x):S$O>, hut thai r~ for accumo la t ion. One hou r III
labor less ami ,,,, inc re<lSO: in 11M:: cost of ho uri}' [ahor. which l he
growt h of n::5O Ul'CQ N~ made pmsib le. shu" up in the dhl ri bu-
tion o f wealth: I r Iht' "on.t'r had .... orked more a nd earned less. 3
large r quantit ) of capn..l" t profi l could ~\ t' beefl u'iiCt'llOr lhe
develop rnenr o f t he prod UCl iH: forces. Soe-Ial ...." t Uril) g tt'.l ll)
inc reases Ihis effect in I UnI . In rhi, wa}. t he worl i ll~-d~ 1I1O\'C -
m e m and Ic h ·wi ,~ po l i t iC~, w h ic h a re OIl least Iibcl';ll toward
"''\tC ..... rners, maifll) signif). in opposition to capiuli~m, a grt'olIcr
share of wealt h devot ed 10 'lIJ11 pnxloc ti \T expendi ture. True. this
alloc ll t io n d ocs not have some s hining value as ib aim: It mere!)
le nds to g i\'C ma n a !"TeMer di 'iipou.l of hi msel f, T he , Ilare allo t-
led 10 p r~nt s.lrisfact iu n b ' lIl1ll'thelcs.\ increased at the expc"!>C
of th., shan: allo tted to the coocern for an lmpro vio!" Iur ure. Th i ~
is why the lett th.'1 we arc tamlliar w it h gcncuJl )' con\ep .l !It'IlSC,
if no t o f lOO)CllCSS, 0 1 n: 1;tXoitlnll ; t ht' rig ht , a sc n!>\: o f tight nc » .
o f parsi m o ni ous calc ul a uo n. In ftwO') t he p rngrcM he parti e<;
are a nimatt'<1 by a ~neroU5 ' llO\'t:m ent and a fo nrlnbs for li- ing
\\ irho ue deJay.
l 'h e In o bility 01 the C70n t o AuunJulot e

o nd Comm unist A ccunJullUion
The n:onocnic del't'lopmen t of Russia has dirJUeJ prol<llndl) from
ours and the t;on"idt' r.u ions I have introduc ed Colnnol: be applie<l
U) it , h 'en in t he \ \e n . thr lefl -w ing fTlO\cments d id noI af firsl
h'I\-e the meaning l hal I Sl id. T he t re nch Rc' olu l illn 1"ClI;"lced in
a re " oc tion o r the: ..umpl "" ')' expenditures 0 1 the court and l he
nobles on bc~f of ind ustrial accum ulat ion. ThP revolution of
1789 remedied lhe had " lIn lllt:oiS o f l he Frct'Il. h bourg""i~ie re la-
l ive to English c.lpitalism, Jr was m uch late r, " hc'11 the Ic h nn
'<4
~ ') , " '-' '-''> T'' ' A U LA '
10n12er o pposed a sq uande ring nobi lity, hut rather iln in dus trial
bourgeols le, th at it became generou s witlm ut mdintain ing .. g reat
reserve . No w, the Gari~t H lI ,,-~ i.a ofl~I7 was no r '"Cry dilTcre nl from
the Fra-ce of ill.. A ncien Rt-gim e; it was dom inated b~ a da'i.\ th at
\\"a~ incapa ble o f acClmlllla t ing. [he ine xhaustible resourc es of a
,~,t territo ry were une xploitcd fOTwa nt of capital. I I was o nly at
th e e nd 0/ t he ntne reen rh ce nru l)' that an ind ustry of some scale
de, e: lo pe d. Mo reover, t he ind ustry that (lid d evelop was overly
de pe ndent o n fo re ign capital. " In 19.H, o nly B % of t he funds
invested in thi s imillsu y " e re R u~>i all." l And Ihi ' .l.., d"pm..m
was sO inade<luate that, in almost eve l)' bra nc h, the Russ!a n Infc -
riority ilK .."".,..cl YCMly in relaoon IO co un tries like franc e o r Ge r-
m any; " \Ve arc falling Inrrhe r an.! furthe r be hind ," wrote Len in.;
U nde r these co nd itions, the revolutionary si rugglt: ~a i nst th e
o "r.; andIandcwners - from the dr-moc ranc p.1r1y' ( K.D.) to Ih e
Bols heviks - for a ' 'IT) short time was prope lled, as in a whi rlp()f) I,
b~' the same set ofcomplex m o ve m ent s th at in I ranee occupied
the pe riod trom /7 89 umil rc c.."l1}. But i ~ economic principles
predete rmined t he direction it was to ta ke- : It could a n i)' plll an
e nd to nonproductive spending and reserve the resources fUl" equ ip-
ping th.· <'; ' llJntry. It wa.> bo und to ha ve a gO.l.1 o pposed to t ha t
aimed fo r natu rally. in the ind usrrialived stales, b~ the work ing
masses and the part ies that su pponc d the m . It was necessary to
re d uc e tho se nonproduc rtve expenditures lor the benef u " f a, CIJ-
m ula t jo n . No doubt t he reduct io n wo uld affect t he pro pertied
classes, but the share thaI wa., levied in thi s way could nu t , <>I'
nOl prim arily, he used to im prove tilt' lo t o j th e wo rker,,; it had
to he de voted above <Ill to ind ust rial eq u ipmen t.
The Fir.;1 Worl d V\-'a r showed fro m the outset. in Russ ia. that
w he n the com birsuions of indust rial forces that constitut e natio ns
increase o n all sides, no ne of t hem Gill ,tay be hind . The Second
World \ \'.l.r comple tcd tile de monstration. \V hil" th., devel0pllIent
'If
of rhe leading inrh l\trbl ullmt ri c~ "",,"' den-rmined from within,
il WdS rnainlv determined from tlw o utside in rhc ease 01 one bac k-
ward cou mI)' wharcccr one may '>IIy 01 t hc in t f'rM I nt"ces' ity for
Russi.. 10 ex ploit Illd u,trial1 ~ its resources, it needs to be added
that ill an)' case an i)' that ex ploi ta tion e nllhlf'd it to overcome till"
ordeal o llhe recem war. TIlt' Ruwia of 1917, ruled b)' mnl w ho
lived d'l} to <13)', could survive on ly o n one c onrlition: It must
,I...·dop ils potelltia!. To do so, it called on t he leaders hip 01" a
class that d espised ", t"llt'lU OU ~ S<]uanderillg. lhe cont ribution of
fO reign capitalism .1ml t he incfl>asing l<lg in RU'5i,,'s ind ustrial devel -
opmen t arc dear indications that Ill(' R usvi an bourgeoisie d id no t
ha ve th e q uan titative im portance no r t he <lsct-n<\"m character that
wou ld 1..1\"(' e nabled it I<J prevail. Whence the parado >. o f a pro-
lcta riat forced t o im pose its "ill int1c'CilJl y 011 it....lt, to renounce
lift- in order to m ake lilt- povsible. . A parsimonious bo urge ois
loregoes Iht: vamcs r luxur}. but he neve rtheless l'njoys well -being;
by contrast, tilf' worker's renunciation too k place unde r co ndi-
{iom of de ~ li l uli on ,
" No one;' wrutt" I eI'O)~ Bt-a l l l iel l , "can su lkr like 3 Russian;
no one call die like " Russian," BUI th i\ ex treme e ndurance appear>
\'CI)' rliffi.rf'n t (m m ~ c.<llcuIMion. It seems that in 110 other area
ofE uro pe was m311 so igno rant of the rati o nal virtues ofoourgcois
lite . These virt ues requi re conditions 01secumy: A r-aphalisr 'pec-
ula tion rcqurrc v 3 rigo J'Ousl} es rabhs hed o roc r, w here il is poss i-
ble to see a head of o ne, I o ug be inj.( e xposed to tilt' iucurvio ns of'
barbarians orer vast flat expanses, haun te d by rhc specter of hun-
gel' and cold,3 Russian lift' gave rise ins tead to the co nt.rary vir-
tues 01 insouciance , to ugh ness and living ill t he prcsc m , A Sevier
wo rker's ren unciation of im med iate "dvant<lgt' lo r <l Iurure gnod
detn<lnded rhar trust tw place-d in third parries. And nol on l) tll<lt:
l ie must also ) ic ld to constraint. Necessary t Horts h<lo to respond
to st ro ng and im medi3 lc incc mhc\: Originally rh esc were given
'so
.",,, .....'. ,
in the na ture o f;l danbJt: rOU'i. poor .l.oo immense I.. rod; tt1C) w,;re
10 remain cormJl(.muraIC w,th th<. t imJTK'n§il~ and lhat JX1"crt}
The m.-n " .;It lhe hc;td o f the p ro k LUiat . respoodcd ",'h-
00"1 jmanoaJ moons to lilt: necessi ty o r industrial iFing Ru,-, .., COIJ1d
11m in an) ease ha~ e the cal m and c.lk ul at ing mind thaI (l(e:.ide\
O\'l: t the capi t ~l i~t e n terpr ise. B) ' I rt ur ol tbe revolut ion the) had
ma de and the t.Olllllr) in whic h t he ) " erc bo rn , Iher bdonj,(t'd

.."tirel y to th e " odd 0 1 W.Jr. Bt>i njo( ~ rn fxture of te rro r and :m lor.
with the mili t~r)' code on one side an,1 lIlt: Il.ljo( on the ot her, this
wor ld WL\ g" ' lCtall) opposed ro rbar o f ind usl ry, to tlw cold COIII-
ptlSilion 01 inl erests, Pre-soc i.. t Ru\s ia had a basically agrio;;ullu r..l
ce onom) d ominat ed bv the needs of Ih.. army. "hue the use of
eesousces "as more or II"lS Iirnired In ~ ualltkr an,1 "arf.',e . TI ll::
ar my' bene fited a n i) slightly lrom rhe indus trial com rib ut i,' n,
"hich is /l.i\'Cn to it unsparingl ~ in ()Ilwr co unt ries.. T he abrupt
kap In III <'7a rism 10 co m m un ism ntC<lnl t hat t .....allccan cn ~
resources 10 eq uipment co uld nol bot- carr ied 01.11 iD it ,,-a, d Sf'-
«beee, ind epend e ntly 01 the IlI<.CTI I;'C co nsr tt ured b). the b rut al
necessity o f war. CapHali sl sa~ in/l. ,-,,"cs pla< c in a sort of calm
rt:St:r....e . she ltered fro m the gales Ih<. t in toxicate or tcni f)': It.. la-
rively spea" injl,. t he rich boulJ!.C(lis i... f..arless :lnO dispassio na te .
.• he Bolshevik [catle r 011 t he cont ra ry bel onged. [ike t h.. l'7ariS I
proprie tor. t o li lt' woeld 01 fear :1Il(1 passion. But . Irk.. Ihe c;api-
lal ist uf the Iirq pe riod , he wd5 ' lpp()'Cd to wasteful ~pcndjng.
\ Vh.lI is more. nO' . . han-\>t' ht' c oenrnands, On t his
point the 1l1Or.tI j(lenr i,:. at th e c e sser, o f the BoI ~I-.e\ il leaders
and. the w ori..iJl.( c1ol'~ is unden iable.
\-\- hat rc nw-Ltble about this " 01) d dc,ing th i'1!s is, in a cer-
j,
u i n sense, the hol<lill(l. of all o f lil e und er t he "'''',1\' o f rh.. pR'-

sent m rc rcse. Sebscq ue n r results an: doubt less the jUSlillc"l io n
'<7
TH~ "'C C u " SEO S "A ''''
for I"bo r, bll t th e}' are im oked to m~pire cclf-sacrlfice, ~ nthu, i

asrn aDd pa~s i "n ; and sim ilarly, threat s have t1w acu ity ofan ir ra-
uonal con tagion of fcar. Thi ~ i ~ on ly o ne (>'Irt olrhe pic t ure , but
a pa rt o n wh ic h t h.. " lllphOls is is plaecd. LI nde r these conditio ne,
me cli'p"rily be-tw..-cn tl,t· value of th e labor fumh h"'fl by the work-
en; and t hat of th(' wages di stributed to t he m can be ('1111.,j,lenbl.,.
In 19 38, " t he prod uc tion total to fw reac hed was '>Ct at 184
bi llion ruble s. o f which 114 .5 billi on were res erve d for the pro-
,lu ctio n of II,.., means of produc tion a nd o nly (,4 bil lion for that
of o bje<:t, of consu mptio n.t'v This proporti o n d oes not exactly
co rrespo nd to the d h parit)· be t w",en w~~es and 100bm, ~et it i~ cv i-
de nt that t he ob jects " FU)IIS11 m pl illIl1U be d istribute d, w hich
nrst had 10 en te r iuto Ih.. rtrnl lJlt"Tat io n olthc labor that was used
to produce chem. could not pay lo r m o re rhan a ~ma ll p~ rt of the
to tal labor. The (\i ~p~ri1 y has ten d('<:! ro dec re ase- ~ince t h.. ",,,r,
but hca,·y indu~tTy has k pl its p rhik~_~l place . T he man in c harge
of st~tf~ plann ing, Vrollt"'S'>l: Il,k i, ad m heed thh o n Ma rch 15. 1946;
"The rhvrhm uf produc tio n o t the means of pr oducti OIl envisaged
b, the plan." he Mid , " is somcwlrar g reater th~n lhat of I/w pro~
ductio n of objects of co n,umpt io n."~
T1w Rusdan enmmny as., umed it., cu rrent form as early as 19 29.
at th e beginning of t he Ilvc-year p lan . It is chara c rc rizcd by th e
al loc atio n o t ncarly all the excess re sourc es to prod uction o fthe
m eans of procluc t io n. Capitalism was the firH sys t., m To e m plo,'
.a subs tantial share of the availa ble reso urces for t hat pur lXlSC, but
there w,l..' nOlhillg w ith in it th at opposed t he freedom 0 1 !i(1U<ln-
dcr (the reduced sq uander rClllaine<l free , and mo reover it-, occu r-
rence could be ad vantageous to ca pit<l lism). Soviet co mmunism
cl osed itself firm ly to th., prillc.iple of nOllprml U<;ti\'e cxpendj-
ture . h did no t . Iu away ",ilh [IX" hil er by all) m eans, but the
soc taluaes formarto n il brought about eli m inated t he m ost eost l)'
for m s of suc h '> pe nding and its inc essant ac ti o n t..n.ls to de man d
,,8
th e maximum prod ucti"ity lrom each in di,i d llM, '11 Iht:' limit of
hu man powcr,. 1'10 previous fonn uf <:cu llu m}' was able TO n~~ern:
such a la rge sha re of the excess available resources fo r lilt' incre-ase
ot rhc prod ucuvc forct.'>, that i~, for the wowth of the systcm. In
c'Try social organization. a, in e~er}' Ih ' in,io: 0llla ni,m, the surpl us
is d istribute d bel " e c n II,,,, growth o f th e 'ptem and pure ex p('n -
dtrurc, of no usc e ither 1O the maintenance of Iite o r LO ,l1:rowth.
BUI the very nation that had almost pcrtshcd lro m il~ inability to
rese rve a la~>c e nou,io:h share for grow lh. b)' a sudden im·e r.;io n of
its equi libriu m retl uc e" to a minimum the share that used In he
g i\'cn over to lu x ury ,lIltl in e rti a: ' Iooay it only lives for rhc limit-
Ie" growl h o f it s p roduc tive forces.
We kn ow t hat a lte r ha'ing lcfi Ru S>. ia wherc he was an c ng i-
necr a nd a parl)' member, Vietor Kra,'che"k" publis hed in t he
Un ite d States "sensat ional" memoirs in which he veheme nrly
denoun ces th e re g im e . 6 whatever the value of' Kra ccbcnkots
dLracb, rhis descriprion of Russian ind ust ria l activit \. oflf..." a haunt-
ing "isioll of a wo rl,1 absorbed in a g igan t ic project. The au t hor
disputes lhe value of til.. m ean, employed. There i' n o dou bt rhat
they were vcr)' ha rsh: Aro un d 1937, th e repression was r uthless,
the d eportation frcquem; lh.. res ults announced were someumcs
on l~· a fac;ade fo r propagan da pUlpose.,; ,1 portio n of the wasted
labo r wa s d ue to disorder: an d t he con trol of a pol ice that s.a"
o;.abot.Jgt: and oppossuon everywhere tended to ~rnor.ll i~e th e lead -
..Nhil' and hinder produc tion. Th C~I' lailings are wel l known [tom
othe r source, [ there was even a subseq ue nt rcedcncy 10,Ic Ho unc e
the purpe.• o f t har peri od ax Ilt'ing too se'e re): \-Vc are- only lIn in-
fonned o f their irnportencc ..,,<It he r(" h no sufliciently re liable
testimony tll,1L g h"CS predsc dcr.. il,. Hut Kravc h cnk o's accusauons
cannot be c ited agai nsllhe , uh' la n<: e of h i, eesnmony.
An im mense machinerv ,~a, iI.'......·", b l..tl ill whi<h indilidua l " ill
was minimi zed w ith a .. iew 1O th e grea tCl;l outpl Jl. l\ o roOlll was
'"
le ft lOr .. hims). T~ ,,'Or\.(>r In this machin~ F) n-ocrc ed a labor
pa.'6--book a nd Irom d""l momCIlI o nward ho.: could not meM' from
one luwn or £K:t or) Iv 'Lnolhcr. A worker 10 rninUf~ laic could
be sen tenced t n iorcf'd labor. An mdusrrial m anl,>cr. o r milia!)
leader, could be loC nt .. llOOUI 'lrJ,!umcnt to 'iOme IOrs.ll rn place
in Sjberia. 11K- >e!) example o f Kr;t>chcnko """ 'als the C\'ieT'Itt
of a world in wh>ch t~ Ofll) pussibili!) i~ 10ibur. th e const ruc-
lion o f a gigamk illd u~t l) for Ihe benefit of a flll un~ linle. In suc h
a world , passion . be il ha p p, or 00, is onl}' a brif'l c p i'>()(jt· . le a>·
ing fe.> traces in mt'1l'IOl). l'olil ic.ll despair and IIII' '1ccess il} of
silL'Tlt"c com plere thl'" piclun:: In the end. all of one's w.lkinl'! hours
are dedicated to the fc>-cr o f work.
O n C H'T) etde , amlcl t he g rincl ing 0 1 tee t h lin e! the ltOIlgS, rh..·
h'-.lv}' , il..,><: e- or the I"" ise 0 1 the speeches. the po\l::n) "ncl llw
cx ahat ion, day aftcr elil) ;\0 e normous labor fo tCl'. " hi, h lh e t:/a r'
le ti- powerless, convt " !CI S rh e edifice on whic h t he 11Mbk wealth
accu mulates .1 11,1 mu lt ip lie,.
Thf' " CoJ1f?ct h ·i 71J' i on " o[ L ands

1his seme rcc.lllc ti \'C dfurl "<IS "rutJght Iu bear vn th e coum r) -
s tde. 1 1 00\~'~r. lhe eollccli\ i/-",tio n ofb mk i~ III t hf'Olj t h<' mn,,'
q uesueeable JWrt o'- the c ha nJ!-e.. in ecooornic st ruc ture. There
i5 no d ou bt trn.t it emt dC.l .I~ : indeed. it is rt.l!;lHICfl as the: cru-
dest moment o f an CI ~or that ,,;u nC\'cr mild . But if one i'~
this d("\'Clopmt:nt of 1tlJ5.SiMl n::sou rc-c:s in a go-... ral ".). "'M: ri~M
forv:Uing the corl(!ilions ill which it "OJ'> bl'gun m (he nc:<cs·
, itl lhal compe lled it , One fails 10 understand the: " 'l-'Cnc- ) " I a
liquidatio n t hat d id oot tM):ct m;h lancl......T... ~ bUl raLhcr (he c~
o f l ulals. \\hrn.c su nc.la rd u f li> illg ...as ~arccl) hi~lC' t han that
o f punr pl·.. ~.lJ lt~. It would ha> c been w i:sc. it seem s, nO( to upoct
agricuhuft" just as an incl u, ' rial task ,,-as bf'ing u nclc rta~Cn t hai
de maodPd d n, m"bili/.•arion o f C>-";' } resource. II is d iflkult to
~ O VtF' ~ '" :.;,,,,AU 7A T ' C N
judge fm m so far aW,'). but Iht', foll"w i ug t'x pl.'nation ca n ne r be

d ism issed w it hout good reason.
At t h c s tart o f rhe first five -ye ar pIa" it wa., nece>.."IT} tn p ro-
vide fo r rw J com pensat ion for the ag ric u lt ural rn)dlJ,t~ t ba t rho
worke rs wo u ld consume. Since the plan had to neglect light ind us-
try fo r heavy indush} fro m t he beg in n ing. it was bard to envisage
~"ppl)'iIlg the ~ma ll objects needed by t he ta nn e rs on a substa n·
l ial ~t:alc. I towcvc r, il was feasible 10 se ll them tractors , the sup-
plying of which w,.., ,tll lht mDr" in kecp iTlJl: WIth t he plan beca use
the p lants that pr<K l" c e d rhc m ,,"oul<1a l, o ....n ·c to ma nufacture
wa r m ilC h ines if the ne e d arose. RlJ l lh.. , ,,,all h o ldings " r Th..
kulaks h ad nO use fo r Tractors. W h cnce the " e <c." ily of replacing
their pri vate ente rpri ses wit h m uc h larg.." "nCs <: fltru'lnl l" as",..
c tared peasan ts. {Moreover, t he n cc c ssar) and verifiable acco un t-
i n~ 01 the se c ollective farms Iacifirated re q uisitioning : wirho u t
the latt e r, the peasants" consum ptio n cou ld not have been regu·
1'l1C<.1 J.u;o n ling to a " Ian t ha t t e nded to reduce the sh are o f con-
,u m ab l.. g{)t x h across rh e board. And e\'tryont is aware o f the
major " "Slaclt- I" t"C<I" i., it im ls Tx " e d b)' sma ll er ncrp rises.}
T h e se considerat ions ha.1 a ll th.. m ,), .. li1<c " smce in nu stri al-
iaati cn always d e m ands a large d i'p lacem..n l " f the P" lx ,b tion
to the cines. If in d ustria lizat io n is sl"w, the <lisp[dCem.. u, OC <;l JrS
o firse ll in a balanced WilY' Agriculruralme c han i / al in n makes up

lor the depop Ulation o f the ru ral areas. But a su dden developmenl
crt'..re s a GIll lo r manpower to wh ic h t he re~po n~c cannot lo ng
be dela yed. (l nl )' a~rari a n
"collec tivism," coup led " ith mecha-
n i,ation, could e nsure t he maintenance and growt h of <wriculruraJ
p roduction; wi thout th e m . rbe p rolifcrarion o f lacto-ies would
o nly ha ~e ltd TO dbequ il ibriUIIl.
But t his ca n n ot, it. is said. JU\lif)' rhr- <"wIly wi lh w h ich rhe
k ula ks were tre at ed.
It is ne cessa r) at t hts point t o pow the question m ore full }.
,6,
The Weakness of the Cri ticism AnoillSt the
THlJon of Soviet Industriolizotion
In the pt'-<lc,.eti m e worM to w hich th e !'rcnch are accusromed, one
"0 lon gt'r im agi"c~ th"t nut' I!)' (';\11 ~t'e", lJ ll.wo id ablc. Bu t thh
world of ea"" has it, limits. RC)'0I1J ii, si1Uatiom ..rise in w h ic h,
wro ngly or rightl y, ects o f crucltv, harming indh iduals, seem n eg-
lig ib le in , jcw o f th e m isfort unes Ih c)' arc meant 10 acotd. If one
considers in isolation th e a,hanlage th at a ma nufacture of rrac-
tors has over rha r o f sim p le imp leme n ts. it is dif]] c LJh to unde r-
~tand the e xecu tio ns and deportations " hose victims arc estimated
b) so me 10 be in t he mi Jlio m . Bu t o n e irnrn cdiarc interest can
be the co m ll,,'1' "f an'>thcr " ho<.e vital character ca nnot b.: denied.
Today it is ea~y' 10 sec rh..1 til<' Sovie ts organ ilillg p reK.!ud ion wt'rt
re plying in adva nce to a questi on o fl ifc and d eath .
I do nor mean to jusrify, but to u nderM ann; given t hat pur-
pose. lt seems supe rficial to me 10 dwel l o n horror. It is lO as}" to
affirm - for Ihe sim p le reason th at tilt, rcpn>s'io n was re rrfble :111(1
rhat (jlle h ates terror - t hai gell tlene11 WOLJ ld have sue:etxelf'el le r-
ter. Kravc henko argues rhi-, in "- hap h azard fash ion. He aho says ,
wi th o ul d ,le com id.-rat ion , rhar th (' !l-atll-...,hip wou ld have pre-
pared more dll.·t:ti u;l)' lilT war using rmm : hum aile methods. w hat
Stalin o b tained from the workers and peas-ll ns went again,r many
particular inte re sts a nd e \'tn. in a gen eral way, aga ins t t he ir nmc -
diate i n t tre~t o f eac h person. If Ill) me<l n ing is clear, one will n o r
lm ag ine thai a una nimous population yielded w it hou t resrsrance
to suc h a ha rsh renuncia tj cn. Kravchcnko c ouk] on ly u ph olel hi s
cri ti cism s b y d e m o nst rating the fail ure o f fnd usntallza uon more
c onc retel y'. I Ie c onfinf's htm celf to st ate men ts concerning the dis-
<>reler allel Ih.. ,,:Ire lesslll"s.~ . -n, .. proof o f the futil ity' o f rh e indus-
tria l ach ic"el1lClll' wou ld fo lio " tro m th .. hum iliari ng d e feats o f
1~1 1 and 1') 4 2. And )el th e Red Arm}' c rus hed th e WCrm adn . 1"0
doubr w it h th e aid 01 le nd-l e ase. But h e letv th iS ~ urprising sen-
,"
- -- - - - - - - - - -
Sl)YI~l ' ' ' O U S TI'' '''L 'ZA T I O t.
renee slip o ut: "The Sralinl/:r;ul triumph was c!illd'eu befor e 111<'
g rea t now o f lend-lease go l statt e d; but American and AJl ieti help
belongs immediarelj the reati e r ill t he est im ate ."] Thus, in Ih..
decisive baltic of lilt· war it was R ussian ;,rm s, it was tile result
o f l h t' ind ust rial effort, th aI came ; IlI O p lay. ""Iorem er. te stifying
in \ Va,bi llgttlfl befo re the c o ngressional commruee c harge d w ith
in vestig at ing ;lIlri· Am erican acci vitiu s Krac c hen ko m akes t his
no less s urprising st ate ment: " I t h as to be und e rsto od," h e says,
"tha t all the ta lk ,Iboll' t h e irn possilnlitv of Ilian u fK l u r i njo!; th e
dLOITIIc bomb ill the USSR becaus e of the lag in technical devol-
o pmcm o f R ussian illcl" st ry cOlllpi.rc<.l with Am e rican o r British

indu st ry is n ot on ly tiresome , 1,111 ~ Iso da ngerous. be c ause it
,Ic<:.. i\'{".~ pub lic opin ion:'
Provided "-c 11o n o t adhe re too c lose ly 10 t Ile ~i nn o f an ant i-
Stalinht I' wl'agand a, Kra\ c hc n ko \ wo rk i ~ 'l ui le inte re 'ti ng , but
it is dcmi,I of the o re ti c al \allle. Ins o far it>; it does no t e ngage th e
re ader's .. m o tio ns, b ut his intell igenc e , tile author's c rtrtcfsm IS
unsubstant ial. liMla) it serves America, p u tt ing Americans on g uard

(in th c sratc m e m to t he in\,,,_,ti~ating com m ittec ) dga il151 i m~g
in ing thaI thc Krem li n 10..., g ive n up us p lans lor wo rld rec olu-
l io n; ye t it d e no u nces a m u...mcllt toward COlln te lTC\o lu tion in
Sralsetsm . Ifit sees a po litical a nd ffOllom ic prob lem in th e cur-
rent c o m m un ist o rga niza tio n, it has "nl} ""l' r"_'ponse: Stal in and
his a"'I){;i .l te~ arc responsible for an in adrntsstbl.. s tate o f affairs.
Thc implic ati , ," is that o t her men and e ther m etho ds WOlJltI have
succeed.. d " I,cr.. St.llin is su p posed tu have failed . [n rea lit y il
c.'arles the pain fu l ;,d ut io n "f t he problem. Ap par e n tl y th e S",i" l
Un ion, and even. sp.... k ing m" re ge n e rally, Russia - ow ing to Ih..
c zarist legacy - wo uld " ot ha n ' bcen able to su rvive w it hou t a
masstve allocation olIts rcso urc.._, t o incl 'Jst ,; a! equ ipment. Appar-
..n l ly, if ch is all ocati o n had been en,,, a lit tl.. le~s rigo ro us, even a
lilJle I~s.~ hard to bear than Stalin ma d.. iI, R lJ " i~, o luJd have fo u n-
dceed. Of course t h.,S" pruposilio lls C'lII no l I,., cvrablishcd iu an
absolu te wa)" b ut th e dppedr<tJlCe is com ind ng , and Kravchen ko's
wor k docs not give th" lic 10 it. On the contraTy, it soppltes evi-
dellee in ~u ppo rl 01 that massive, ri~rous and S("a r«· I\" bearable
allocation b}' showing ib results: Al Sta li ngrdJ, Russi" saved it'ie lf
b} ' 'Is own means.
It is no usc dwel li ng earnes tly o n th e Iac rnrs of e rror, disor-
der and produc t io n shortfa lls. I he..., facTOrs art" "m]"niable am]
no t d e nied b} the n'g im t' it..d! , b"t h ow e v.. r 1'.... 'dl<;"l II,,·)' wc re,
a dccis.ivc result wav ac.hiece rl. Fhe </ uest ion u l' le ss U""T<JU \ mcrh-
ods , o ra more rati o n al p roduction, ;.. rhc onl y one lcft ..t<1n rling.
Some wiU say: l!'the oars had ccnrinued, the capiralisr ri .. e WOl Jld
have fi., 1I"wc.:]; others w ill,pt><lk of[l:lcn..ne\fi~m; ami t he least jool-
ish , o f som.. o ther f(lrm of'Bclshcvis ur. But thc c-ars an<I the rul-
ing d :ts' on w l' i<,h they r..li ed were like a lea k - a crack - in a
d 0 5c<I spte m ; Mc n, hc\ i..m cal ling lo r an ascenden t bo urgcmsie
w JS a cl) in the wiklerrcsst an d ' [ro(';kl ism im p lit's ,Iistmst tow",,1
th e p""ibili ti,'s " f"""" ,,,li, m in o nc eOlJnt r)·... lt on l~ remdi " s li,r
o ne to defend ,IIC Ilrcalcr eflecriveuess of" I c\~ callous Stalinism,
fo re se eing t he eflecr o f it s ac ti on.., a nd depen d ing on volu ntary
c onsent ror the o n it y n e ed e d to o peT<l tc a socia l mach ine! Fhe
tlllt lt is t l1,,' wc n"bel aJl:ainst an Inhuman ha rthiess. And \'>c wo uld
rMh..r .u.. th'lIl e" tdb[ i~h d r....g ll ()f t e rror; bu t a sing k ma n c an
, Ii<:, ,"KI illl immense popu lat ion is Iaccd w irh no o rbcr possib ilitJ
th an life . Ttl c Russian wurld hat! to make lJ P lor t tlt'.. b;,d ,mm l","s"
o f czarist society a",1t his "a, """,ril}' so pain fu l, il <l"milllflftl
Il ...
iln c OOT! so g rc.u, rhat Liw IMn l w"'y - in c\'cr)' sense the most
c o s t ly wa} - be c am e its u n l} sol u t ion. If we h ave t he c hoice
between rhat w hic h appeals 10 us and th at w hic h inc reases our
re so urces, it is alwil)'5 h ard to g l\'C up our desire in exc hange fo r
lilturt' benelitv. II rna) be cas}' il \'C arc in good condition: Ratio-
nal in rc tcs r o perates w itho ut hindranc e . Dot i f we are e xha usted ,
SO~ liT OUS T ~' " 'TA'
o nly t"lTOr and exall<l tion kee p us from go i n~ slac k. Witho ut .a

\'iol..nt ,tim lllant Russia co uld no t have recovered. [ France's c ur-
rem t r""hles ullder less unla\·o rab le condt aion s , 110\ \ ehe exrc nr
of t hat nec c", it v: I-ro m ~ material standpoint lite du rin~ til.. Ou"J-
patt o n was rclat i",l) ..a,} (Iu.. to the lee k o f accum ulanon _ WI'
wil] al wap find it n,ry difficu lt t o work lor the furu re.j Stalinism
worked as wel l as it could. hut a]wa)" rOllghl), wuh the clements
of tear and ho pe that We n : prt'\t'n t in a /lraH" yn promhing sn ua-
tion. lu ll of o pen possib ilities.
Fur rbc rmore, the c ritiq ue ofStalini,m 1.1ile.1 when it tried to
p...., .." t t ile po licy of tile c urre nt leade rs ii' an ..xp....ssio n o f the
inte-r.._' t" if IIl,t of a class, at least of a gro up t llat is .11001 fro m
thc m il" " ' . N.. itll ..r t he collecrivizanon of Iands no r th.. o ri..nta-
non of imlustrial pl~", <;< mrspond ed to the im crests of tI,e !t'ad ..rs
as a g ro up ha\'iJlI; a d ilT......nt eco no m ic position. Even eXlrcmt'l)
host ile au tho rs do nol d.. ,,} ti lt' qualities o f Stalin's entourOlg".
Kravchcnko is clea r abouL , h i" am I he personally knew men at
t he Kre m lin w ho we re ncar the to p: " 1 "a n attest . howe,·cr. d ull
t h.. grea t maj o rity of the leader-, w ith w hom I carm- in co ntact
" ..r.. a hl.. m en w ho kne w their bu siness; (Iplil m ir men deeply
d.. ,O(.. <1 to the w ork in hand .'·~ In abou t 19_\1, liori, Souva rinc,
\\ hn Knew Ih., Kre m li n fro m t he fil'>t period , re pl ierl to III ) ' ' llll':S-
ti cru " [n }~)Il r opi nio n w hat reason could Stalin have: had fi,r pllSlt-
ing him sclf fo rw;lr(1 ;I~ It.. did, and shoving aside all rbc nt lt..n;?"
"Undoubte dly;" SOIJ\'a rin" ~n., \\,.,red , " he believed he was tile onl}
o ne, after Lenin's death. "I", h~d t il.. ' trengrh to carry o ut th e
revoh nton,' Scuvari nc Mid this qllit.. ,,[ain[}, with out a trace of
iro ny, " he Iacr is th at Sta li ni st po licy i, t it.. rig orous - ,ery rig-
o rnl)' - respo nse to OIn o rgan ized ccollolI,k' n..n ':,\siry. which ecru-
all}- calls lor ~n extreme rigo r.
1 1w sL rolng.,sr th ins;! is that it is judged to h., t.. rrori~ti" <Inri
I hcrm ido rian at th e ,arll .. time. There could not b.. a mor.. art-
IC"iS t~l i mon) 10 Ih.. c ()n lu~iem tNt an in ncAlble allllll<l.· m rro-
duce..,." ; 11 t ht" minc ls o f Ih,' o ppo nents, -, he tru t h is lha t W.. hal..
terror and ,,~ rcadil)"OItuibutt" il to a TNCtiona l') polilia. nul the
agreement berweeu n,u io nal'sm OIl.! t.l an.ism rC'pmwk d no )('$ ,
di rt'£ t l) than ram pant irMI ustrlali1ati on t o a ' 1" <'"Sli on o f liIe and
death: Multi~ lack in~ coo\ in io n would no t h>l\ e be en ab{t·
lu fiJ<hl unan im'''JsI) lor th .. m m m un ist rC\"Olul ion. lil he rev o-
hnton had n....1 linlt"<l u \ clcstinr to t hat of t h.. ."'I iclll. it \\ oulcl
Ikl\ e had to consen t to perish. U n tI'is poinf. \ V: H. C hamberlin
recalls an inc ick nt , hiU mad.· a strong irnprescio n on him: "Tht.· rr
had be en a t im(' "hen nauonal tsm W;)!i contrn b.1 l1cl, ahllO\l cou u-
rcrr evolorjouary, I ...-member silt ing inrb e Slith ' Ope-ra I louse in
Moscow anel w" i ti n~ Ii" the unl ailing burvt of"ppIOluS(' rha r fol-
10wcII an aria in Mnus\orgsl ) '5 K lw n llll sl ,inn, !ha! op('r<l of old
R ussia. The alia WI!.\" prayCf th at Goo would send some bri ght
s pirit t o saw 'Rill' (tl u' old I M IlI .. lor Russia), T he- a ppl ause' \\iIli
the ncJ~>1 lhi ng to a ck'ffi<mSt ratio n against th .. Sodl't rt'gimt·......,·
\ Vi lh t he war appru ac hing. it ..... ou td nfll hil,.. be .. n reas ona ble 10
ign u..c such deep rr Kl ion , . hU I is it neco!iar) 10 in ler t he aban-
donrnenr 0 1 th.. inl<'Tllilllonalist principlc' of Mal,. ismt TI,,· ,,--port.,
o t ihe d osed mcct i"'lls of the Part) Ccm mtnee of 11l('!loo na rl..oln
(go-'cmmcnl of In,. HUS!oian Federated Republic], {!.;um b) Krav-
cben ko, leave litt le mom Ii,. d(ltJm. lv \ Vilhin the Kre rnjin prc-
cirrL~. d~part) dc:dsio n-makcl'S spolc cunst.l l1ll) o r lho.· " Il" trc.;(t
from Lenini sm" u a "temporary racncal ma,,, 'U\·er."
The GJolXJ1 Probtem l'f'nu~ , hf' RU,u;an Problem

~ would ha,... tel blincUokl 0I'l0"\C1 1 no t 10 sa: in ti,e » iet Union
0 1 (0001), ;llong with ils har<;h and intole ran t ;lSpt"<:Il>, r...• n;pr"",-
, ion. not 0 1 iI decadence, bur 01 a terri fi, ' '''l5.i" n, d ,kte nnllla-
rion that fu,;; lIeWdr~" n bar !.. iII,,1 ,~ iI1 not draw back lrom 31l)lhinJ{
in o rder to solve the rool problems of rhe Re\ ·ol l/rio n. II i , po~~ i .
,~,
b le to o ffe r " m o ral" criticis ms aga ins t t h.. facts, strt'ssing that
w h ich, in reali ty, d epa rts from th e " id eal" 01 s"<'.ll i,m thM th ..
Sovie t Llnicn on ce a ffirmed, Iro m the no tio n 01 indi , id u.ll inter-
cats and ind i vid ual tl",ug!' I. T !wst' con<1irio ns, however, arc th.."e
of t he U ~SR - n o t tho se o f th e c ut ir.. m, rI<' - <l m l o ne wo u ld
a lso 1"1""'" to cover o ne's eyes in o rde r no t lO sec the conseq uences
ofa rea! <'pposit ion betwe en the doctrine and method s 01 th e Sovi-
Cb (t ied to circum st an ces pec ul iar to R ussia) and the econo m ic
proble ms o f o ther co um ne.....
In a fu ndamental ", ay, t he cu rre n t spt..", 01 th.. U SS R , hei ng
geared 1O Ilrod uci nJl: t he means o f p rodu c tion, ru ns counter to
t he wor kers' move-m eurs 0/ o tlle r cou n t ries , ti le effect of w hich
te n ds t o re d uce lilt' pro<'uct ion o f (·ap ita l e quiprnen t , inc reasing
th at of o bje c ts o f consumption. Rut . 'It least on rhe w hole. th e se
wo rke rs ' m oveme nt s arc respo nd ing to the economic necf'ss it)
th at cond irions th e m ju st as the Sov ie t app,lI'atus is n"po m l,ng
1O its own. T he "meld econom ic sit uat ion is in fact do m tnarcd
by the developmen t o f American ind ustr)" that is, by an ab unda nce
o f t he means o f produc tio n am i o f th e nWan, for im ....' asillg the m .
Th.. U n ired Sta te s even has. in theo ry, th e capacity to even tua lly
p lac e the iml " stri.._, of it, allie s in c onditio ns ap proxima rinp irs
own. T h us in t he 01<1 in<' ust riill n arions (i n spite 0 1 curren t con-
[rilt;· aspects ), lilt: eco nomic problem is he c o m illJl: a problem no t
o f cutlers {alreadv to a lilrge ex te n t q uest io ns o f nu th-ts have n o
po ssibl e an w,·er ), b ut o f consum pt ion o f profits witho ut compen-
sanon. It is dou b tful rhar rhe jurid iClI b.lsis of production can be
m aauaincd . [n any CiISC , the prescll1 worl d call, for r:lpid c hanges
on all sides. Never before WiIS th e canh a" im" t..d b~ 'lIl}tlting like
tl lis mll i r i pl i ci ~' of virtigmous move ments. U f ecorse. ne it her did
the ""ri ~ o l1 .,, 'e r ap p"ar to threaten such Jl:reat a nd sudden c atas-
u o ph c s. Should it be S<l i<J? l f rile)' come to p.1SS, onlv th e m eth-
ods o f t he U SSR would - in a wo ndrous sile nce of the indiv idual
."
H H " C C U f1 S E O S H ~ " ~
voice l - be eq ual ro a ruined rmm ensnj, {Indeed, it may be thar,

in so me obscure way, mankind aspires to bu ild 011 J USt suc h a com -
ph-to " "goHio n of niggan ll y diso rder.] Ilut , w ithout ma nifc,ting
n10 l-C lear - , inc<' de~th soon p ut s an end to inlOk rablt ,ulk ring -
it i ~ ti lll. ' 10 come had, 10 t h i ~ wo rl d and to take nOH' o f its
in<;r...as<>d p<)~~ ib il il in. Nol/l ing is d osed 1O aJl}'o ne who ~ i mp lr
re..;og ni7.es t ile Illdtn ial conditions o f th oug ht. On all si dp~ and
in even', wav, '
the "ud d i m it c ~ m an to change i t . l)o lJbt lt:,~ man
0 11 t his <icle is nOI necessarily bou nd to lollu\\ t he illl perio u, "'d)"
of till' USSR. Pe r th ..· movt part . he i~ ex ha usting hi rn ~clf i n the
~Ieri li ty 0101. lcar ful a nticommunism. flut if he has hi s o" n prob-
lems 10 solve, h e has mo n- im po rt a nt thi ngs to do than b lin d ly
10 anathcmari zc, rhan to com p lain ofa tl j~tn~..., ca used by his mani-
fold con tradicrio r ». I d him rry to ll", k n.ta nd , o r beuer, let him
ad m ire , h... c rue l e nng}' of dlOW w ho bro ke the Russia n grou m!;
he " ill be closer to t lte tasb lh at awai t hi m. " o r, Of) <lll lJdcs and
ill e,er} \\~". (1 norM in mOliOll w<ln t , t o be d J<lngcd.
,68
Tb e Marsh all Pla n
The Threat of Wa r
Apa rt frofll the coeurnuni sr eOll'rpri~ and decrrin.. . the human
m md ac<;.. plS urK:cn-aint ) and i ~ sat i~ l1ed wil h shortsighted ne5S.
Uu tsi, l.. th e Soviet \\o d d . tll ere is no thing , h"l has the value 01
an ascendant movement, no t hing advances wlth an~' , i"..eu. Tln'Il'
p',- N Sts ill powerless c1is.sonance o f m oa ns, o f I h ill~ allT3fl, hearel.
01 bold le( lillMII', t o resol u te inc o m pn::he ns. c> n. '- 'his disor der j"
more f<J\'orable no douht 10 the I>," h ()f an .."tha ltlc ~Jo(;or>scioUJ
tlt't< lhan is its 0 ppo"il ... Mid o ne mig/II ......n ....~ lha' w ithou l this
l)tJwe rlessncs.~ - and wnhou r 11ll' (f' nsioo lha t IS m ain t;line d b )
cornmunisrn 'v ;Iggressi, cucss - consciousness wo u l, l nOI be tree ,
wo uld nor Ilt' Ok'Il.
In Inl lh, l he si luati on is painfUl and c e u din l) 0 1 a nal ure 10
b l ing indi.'- iduals OUI of tllcir apart1}' A "schism." a com plete rift ,
lliv icl~ not jw.t minds, bu t the nund in {:enf':fa l. for bet wee n rhe
parties in (IU..Slion C\ c')'rhing is originall) in common . T he- d i' i-
sio n and I he hat red art" nonet heless o.:ornpr.. t c arn l " ltat the, IK)r-
1('1ll1. it appears. is war: an Incxpiabk- war. ine-luctably rh.. cruelest
.10l1 most co stl) in h i s\( ~ .
f\-\orC()\"t"r. reflectio n .at , h.. threshold 01 war i\ .su hjcci to singu-
lar cOfl(litlOfl\.; In deed. hl",..,..,r one ~ il. one cannot imag-
,..,
lne - assu m ing it takes place - pUr.iui ng it beyond a ,-onflagp l;Ofl.
W hill ",,,,,1, 1 be the rneaning , in the C\'"n r o f a Ru ssian , i,,-
texy, o f" \Vorl,] generally ruill"d, where the l ln it.-.:I States, lar from
as,o;ist ing Ollw r coun mcs , ,,0,,1l1 he m o re comp le relc d n""l aH~,1
than Ge rman) to(I.lyt I he USSI{ WO Il I.-l then also Ill' ravaged, ami
Ill.. ''''\<l rx i ~ ", ' hat wou ld ht· c St:lhli' he d in t he wo d d wou ld be ar
no rescrnblam-e TO the o ne d emanded by th,· d e velc pmenr 01 pro -
,l"clive to rces. Wha t wou ld be 1.1 ,.. mU lling of a dest ruction o f
capitalism th ai ",0111,1 be at th ., '<arne ti me the <I...st r uction o f capt-
raltsm's ac h it'"t' men ts' {lb~i tJ lJ_, I}· it wo u ld be the crudes t posvi-
h i.. d en ial o ll\1.lrl<\ l u c lIJ it )'. T h e h u m ani l )' rha r wou ld ha ve
,1,,-'lJ'O)'cd the work o f the iJKhJsmal revolution \\uu l,l be t he poor.
e st ol"all time; ,Ioe memo ry o f tl,.. rec em weal rh wo u ld finish the
job 01" lllilkillJ;: that humani rc unbe .•arabl e. I e n!n dell n ed sO<:l;,I-
ism as " UIt' '()\ ' l 'I S, plus elec-t rilicarton," As a " "m e r o f/ac t, social-
"
"
ism docs n<>l iust require tlo" po we r cf rhe pto()pl~, but wealth <I.'
well. And uo re aso nabl e perso n l:iln imagi ll ~ it base d on a wo rld
in wh ic h sh an rj tow ns '~o lJ hJ rake th e p lato.. " f t he c ivi li,.a tio n
symbolized by t il(' na me s oI" N.." York and L" ...Ion. Thilt civtli-
n t ,o n is perh ap s d..t csub lc ; it some timcv seems to be only il b,u l
dream; and the re i , I lU qu estio n rha r it J;:c n..r"tt;:s the boredom
amI irrttarion thar la' -ol;\ , lid.. re wa r d ca ras tropbc, Bu t no ont'
ca n re asonabl y c cus idcr so mtol hilljl; lh"t on ly bas the au r,n;rion
o f un reaso n in its lavor.
O f course, o ne sti ll has til<" " p tio n of imaJ;:illiI1J1: " viLtor) 01
rhe Un ite d SWt." m cr Russia tha t wo uld 110 t d evastate rhc world
"" com pletely. Rllt tIl<' "sc h ism" c-ould not h., reduc ed for t1w
f.K t t hat tilt' \-iClo ry was ,~o n lit littl e cost To tin> vic to r, Ap par-
f'Tlt ly wo rld d o min ion would the n belong 10 Ihe single ho l,ler o f
th e decisiv e ,,,,allo n s, but ill thr 1<"')" I1K'1 fhl: vxttm belolly ' - to the
CACC IJtioffl:r . TI, j ~ t:'ccutio ncr'~ bu rde n IS 'if , un.. n" i~ h lc. t he awa re -
nt:ss t hat such a b lood y so lutio n wo u ld certainl -, poi son sccial Hje
'7 0
T ( .. ... ~ !i~ .. . ..
illC so su u'lf!. there tht'A' ,lotos nor Ui\ l, o n the Arnc'ric;an ..KIe, ,In}
:!>U~lan tia l o pinion in f,l' or o f wa r in rh l" near fut ure . Hence it h
d t'...... , r at least probable, that rime bon Ihe side of Russia.
Thr Possibility oj 6 Non m ilitary Corupeu tio n

Bf'toveen Me' hods uf Production
If o ne CIl\·j""gc's, on lIlt' o ne hand, the silence o f r om mu uism unt-
\('rsall) im posed Il) co nc e n t ratio n ea mps , aml, on rhc o r her,
frr«!om e" le rrn i nal it1~ the co uunu mvtv, rb c rc c an be no u·rnain·
ing doubt: " he ~ i lljaljon c o uld hardl ) be IX:ttt'T for ;m a"al en'
ing o f rhe m in(!.
RUI ....Iiile il is t i ll' resu lt o f m.." ace. a nd t hough it was o ne..
linke.:1to the rl"f"lil~ ,,, iI useleil> eITon, or me !-",n w aln:ad ~ 10M, lhl:'
alert con.o;c;:iOll.\.nt'M. canner in ,In) ).lJ roendn to anguish; il "
" iI )
do minated r.athcr b, the ..." Ur.lIK.... or rh.. moment (the 1.1U~h.lhl e
idN thou II<!Ii,~ $$ alorM: wtll be t he ilns"cr 10 d uo" "ill 10 ~ I.
lkll. up 10 ehe l ;\lo l , It will nc r be able 10 };i..• up tilt' froTlt/l,Il / pur-
'I' ,il of yooJ fut urw. It " iIIl,'h"t' u p o n!) ill the h.JPfry C\'etll of £k:.ltll.
In 1M .JJl uatiM (lJ a l:lOIUlr u:ham. \. I..,t ~r''''Tln ~ from k lH" i"B
,.." to be irw,'ita b/r 'I 1#W i lk" I/",t untkr ,hr p~mt ,ortdJIKHlS "'Iw
rc/lfJO'1l.I; " to a/rtf CkrUU " ;fL~ phraY, mIl/ill "wTl/m~ il t, OlM 171M/IS."
Tlw conflict Ih ~l is t>ngal,,'C'd in I hc' eronorruc ~p '1t' rt' ll P PClS<'~
lllt-' world ofi ntllJH'i,LI development - o f na~n: "1 accuurularionc-
10 that o f de-el opc- !rom I'W side o f exubeeam pro-
ducrion that I hC" c!augcr c l "<I f comes: Ir e "p'''lal itln I ~ d ifficult.
olld if ' 10 mhu OCJfkt i1 <pm. o n ly " a r Cil 11 be the chent of a p i...
I h" ric inclu stl'). me Am c n Cil n econo my is in r<o<:l the I;rc;31 t
expio§.i", TJIii'\$ l hr "0f'1d has ...-er ll"lOl'n. 'Irue, ih explo~i>-e pro·
!>lITe is not favored as II " as in r..-rman), bot h extcrnolll) ~ l he
p ro ximi t) or dense mil;r",: popu la tions .Inc! infi' mall) b) a dis-

cq utffb rtum l*tw C"cll IIl'I: .I irk rc m parts o i lhe- d .,...,·lop mc:llt o r
'7'
t hc prod ucrtv e lorc:t"~. III re t urn . the idea 111"1 11\.011 CIl<) nnous
machitlCT), Iln \ t"1l Il) an /on"iltlbk m oo.-cmcnl o f gl1M"lh. h . ialdf"-
b.ilinccd ;md ""tiornl - ,ml" in. alllhc ~I"!i of 1~11t\a!;nos.
lbe !act lhal ;t ""<1'!1 OCict} J;i.'CIl
,,,...- unrt'St"n'CC'll~ and "ll ~tlotlg"r'IIl~>C plans to the fllO\"emem
that pr,,,.,I, it . ll l~ painful to 1t.1lO\' that it i~ la'1,>t'I} unacqm inted
" ith d ie: la...~ o f its ,1C\'t'lop mCtll and Iha t II proc.l ucf"'li ... It hou t
~i nJ: th.. coeecqveeccs o f th e pmduetio n. n ,is ,:,c,:unnrnr "";1';
apablc of Iwu " 01....; a\.\Um il¥ in moccmcm 01 gTO\\ th cllnri"u.....
" hat sudden ~I)rll Illigh l wal e it cdpablc o f fW"l:c ? ' 1huw " I,,)
keep it ru oning al e lI,1.i...·I) Cllll\'irn:ed uf Iw ring no OI I\('r purp.lM'.
Rut should the) no t be asked " I..-th..r ti ll) ' arc nOI utICo rnc.:i ousl )
pU I>uing the o ppoehc o f w h;jl Ih..ir c o nsciousne ss ac1mils? ' I he
A"'e ria\ns arc used 10 5C el llg " 11,p ts s lm -r ...a rs, and l:l\pericnct,
has show n them rhe- oI,h anl age " f " .til ing.
K ' tl' is pcastrnlsric .. ..} of loo king at tI 'ing», h'Ml:\"cr, it is nee..
CS5ill) I. , " PI" )'," a clear vic.. , based on t h.. idea III a vavr pro jcc t
whose r..aJil'. ,l iIJll has bq~ulI" While it is t rue- d ldl it is IlMII ro
itTlill:ine the llnned '\la lt'~ l>n.l!ipc ri ng lOr lo ng " 11 hou r Iht" ai<l o f
a hecat om b of rid ....... in ,1..-lQnn of airpl..nc..., IJOm l~ OInd <lll,.. r
milil Ol. <) cc/uipmctll. on.- t:,ln conceive of an cqu i••ale nt ht'C".Illlmh
d ...w oeed to nonlet hal "orl~. In other words , if "M is 'lC<-~')
to rhe American cconom). it .kln. •• ,1 10110\\' t hill "ar I\;&S I Q held
to t1~ t.,.l,tional lorm. h"'k:nI . ON: e ....,,;I} imagit"le'\, oomil'lf( Iroeu
ac r~ til.. A, lanlie, a resolute movement ....rw.in/l; to 10110\\ the
routi ne: A c<mflici i... not ~es..u.ri l} rnilitar); 0 ..... can ..n' lsage a
vest economic <-' omI'Clil ion. \\ hjch, fo r the eompt' l illlr with the
in itiall\"C, "-olll,1 1:0:,;1 ~ rJ lkcs comparable: to those of ";\1', and
w hk h, from ;II 1JlX1b>t'1 of t he: 'Ym.' scale: .II.'> war budb't'h, ...." dd
i nvolve e cpcrxlitu rcs thai '.ould not be coeupensatcel by "11) h" p"
of c.lpilalisr profi t . W hat I ha. c said <-"()flCem ing the inert ia of t he
'7'
w csiern worM requires atleast rhis nne qualificariom There d o<'s
no t ex ist in th at wo rld either iI politi G,1 current (in th e ~CnM' o f
propaganda) o r an irucllecrua l movement that reacts, bu t th ere
is a specific d c tc muna non that is rQ;ponding to rhc So.' id pres-
su re. T Il<.: Marshall Pla n i, an isolated -reac tion, to be sure; it is
the on ly undcrtaki ng rhat re sults fro m a ,)" te mati. vie w 0 p po'-
ing the Kremlin's will to world dom inatio n, Thc MarshallPlan
succeeds in giving a deal' focus to [he cu rre nt c onflict - It is not
essentially the st n lgg le o f t wo military powe rs 1'01' hegemo ny; it
i, the struggle o f t wo economic met hod " The Marsh all Plan o fICr..
an org<lni7<llion of s urplus a)';a i"'t the accumulation o f rhc Sta lin
plans. This docs not nec essarily impl y armed struggle, whu-h can-
not le'lll to a rCOII decision. 'fthe opposed toroes OI re .Iiffc rcn t in
natu re e conomicall y, the)' TIlllM enter Into co tTI l'...titi on o n the
plane o f economic o rg<l ni7<l t ion , This is w hOlt rhc Marshall Pl an
ar r-omnlishcs, it would seem , as the West 's onl y rcacuon to the
move ment o f the Soviets in th e world.
Th e l'H un lw ll PIon
O ne of the most o riginal f-re nch ...conomisrs, Fran c oi s P..n oux,
sees the Marsball Plan as a histori, 'al e ve n t o f e xce ptional im por-
rance.t! In his j udg m e n t , the Mar,ha ll Plan "begins rhc g rea tcst
economic c.\peri me nt on an intemalio nal scale that h..., ever been
attemptoo" [p. 82), Ami its . unscquc nces, " u n tl'e g loba l scale,"
are "bound to g" tilt bc}'o nd th e boldest ami mo ' t pl'Omising srruc-
tu ral reforms a,!.o t'a IC,J by t he vari ous wor"e ~' parties o n t he
nationa l le\~I" ( p. 84 ), Moreover, it wou ld const itu te a ve rita ble
n;vo lut ion, imlc.,d, "(h e revo lution Ihat l1lall e ~ in thi s season o f
History' (p..l 8). In tact. "the revol u tionary rransjormation" it ini-
tiatee ("hanges " th e cus to m ary ~..lations betwee n nartons" (p. '84 ).
r or "there is more nwo h, t ionary spili l in averring rl,.. s t ~les
of nat io ns t han in p reparing tor th orn in th e name o f class st rug-
'71
J!.lc" (p. 34). Th us, hom tI,c dOl) t1.,. r General t-brshi ll\ under-
wking " wou ld be (TQWneo.l "id, it beginning o fsuccess, it would
eclipse, in its b. ncfi,"", th e most t hol'Ol.lJ!~i ng ..ndlcasr " nsue ·
Ct:S~fu.l o fthe ~u l revolut ions" [p, ] 8 ).
T hts opi nion i~ based OIl ~poc ifK" con.Yde roui ~ Fbe t-4nlW1
Plan I~ in t .. ,. lal lo rt'rncd) the ~1aJJl."e of p;t) mcn b ,k:fi. II ",f the
European nal,t.Hl!l y is·~ ·, i~ the Uni tal Stares. A~ .. maller o f (.let ,
It., deficit is o ld. "The Clt p0I\.'lIion surplus chuact cli,~ tiM: imet-
crone beha>ior o f th e befance 0 1 payments of t he Llnited Sla tes,
From 1919 to 19 ] 5 il rn.e 10 .I to ta! o f Ihirt ) billion fou r hun..-
d red and firt) m illion J"l1 al'S " . h (po 215 ). BUI for Ihe mCJ\1 part
it was o ffset b,' gold p;t)ln cnt.., • •m ..l the- remainder Wil~ cove red b).
a ptU"" n credtr, ~ 10 ~hc: cajculablc im"re~t. Thc.o;c resources
are no 1000ge r available. Luro pe's povnty has given a ' I'r) urj:tCnt
c h arac ter to l h(~ nl'I'(I lor Am e rica n prod ucts. and lilt' lanl'r\
importation nccc-, ....il ~ leads 10 an increased delich. hut there
is 110 m..ans of COmpenVlUng fo r it. Not un l)' j.(nM a nd credh, lout
l:urop<:i1n hold ing' in the l lnil e.l States hace J i,,-, i l~'It:fl. Tnuetsm
is just beginni ng to ,'c,-i,'I:, anil th.. p', rtial des'rlI(.-ti<.!u o f !ll(: r uro-
pe.an merchant fleer has ' <..'ll It ~I in incn:ast.-d spcncli'{\ in ..Iollar~,
Furthe r, the disappe arance of an intense trade " irh ~oc h areas as
Sou theast A~ia, \\hc l';C. shi pm (:nl~ tu the United Sta h's wt>f'C size-
abl e, deprives Europe Clf ooc o f the meil"" It IlaO "I miligating
its excess of i\ mc;riull impons . A,. a rt::'iult , the logiC o f n jlnmcr-
c iai <l<-"ti"il)', " hic h subonl i ~lC!> dd i,cl) to the prnllt 01 the kJP-
plier. "oultlll3\~ mack ir impossible lor a millCtl r lImpc to rerum
to a "iable 110lit ICai en lflOnl).
Rut w ha t wOIIlc.l lkl' C be"11 tI..' ~n<oc o f 50 lire,lt .. o.l i~qlliti b
rium ill tM ) 's "orM? -nl(' Unitc,l Slal t'S was con frOOIC..l " ith
this problem . It w ..., ncr~..,· ei tl,cr 10 adbcre blin.n, 10 11ll! prin-
ciple o r profit , bur bc"r ti ,t" . o nscq uences o f 311 inIOh:r.. hlt" siru-
anon (il Is eas) to imag"lc ti lt" fare of Ame ricil awml on i•.g li...
'74
rest of th e v.orld to barred ] o r 10 gi\<e up the iulc on ,,1,i. I, d ,c
cap ilalist "orlJ is besed. II " ' " ntteo;sal) 10 .klinT g<JOO.h. "idl'
OU f pill mcnl: It was nc<e~~ (0 8"'" O" tl, till.." pro<lun r,f labor.
>rJ,e Molrshall Plan is t1,(; solUlion 10 the problt:m. It ;s rI,(,
on l~' way to transl;'r t o Europe t he products whhout whic h the
world's jevcr would rise.
F~ols l'nrou... tm)" hi: riglll to SII"t:S'o ii' im porla nc c _ In ll ~
full scrse o f the word. It is pert~ not .. rnnhmcr ,. But 10 ""') rhar
the rt:\"O IUlio nar") sillnifkanc'e 01 the f\'Olr..I,alt Plan IS .Ioubt rul
would in all}' case be an imprec ise remark . OnC can more , impl)
ask whctJ'lCr it has Ihe rcclmtcal m<·~n irJg. anJ tI ,e fur-reachhlB.
polit i...1sign ifiGlnce_ lhat f M author ~!>igns tv it. III Jevelopi~
th i!> w"Ud. he Joo not tal.e ace OUIlI of the plan's mtegr.tioo into
the politica l Ro" Ille: thn o pJlO"t's ..a mcnca and tI,e USSR Ih ~I I'
out the wo rM. l ie ('onfl nes himself 10 cOllsidering t he q uite l 'ICW
economic prind ples t hai il bri llg~ into t he relat ions be tween
nations.. I k does not consi.x-r tllCe.'ohmon of these relations due
(0 the real, poli ti cal impfernc nt.a tion o t the pla n, '101' 1110< cfkcts
o f fhi~ ~'()IU l ioo on . he: inlerTl.l tiorud struanoo.
I will rerum t o a q ucsuon rha e the au thor I,,,, dc ltbcrarelj-
k it o pen . But il h first necessa ry 10 show th.. inte rest 01 h i"~
te:d mk aI 3ualp ii:s.
The Oppo~-;fion &1I~f!E'n "G enera l " O~ra r;on5 ond

"Cl fl J.{icul" economy
h <lrw;ois PcrTVU >" s["rrs Irum Ihc Bretton \ Voods dgreemellu, - and
Irom t heit failure . lie has 110 trouble sho" .ng t har u Breno n
\ \ Oods notl ling ofi ml'0n.lncc WOJ.\, [·onsid....red th<Jt W;&l, not eun-
5isll:nt with the rules o f MdMsi ca1 cc OOOI1l~ ... By Ihi!>. he means
.. t1 ,~ . gCl1er.ll doc·tr il1c·· which "i~ not loo nJ ill irs " I;Ot In 311)' 0 1
t he rlassical fnglisll Cconornis ts of II,c eighlce nth cent ury... bu t
which " springs from rh.... m .. oo follo,,"s H~ lool~,;n unbroken
" " ~CC'-'''S~ O s" ... ".
m ea nd ers, from Ad am Sm ith to A, C. Pigou."12 h ,r tho; das'kal

eco nomists the rat ional and normal use o f re source s " pn" 'e nh
fro m iwlatru calculat ions ." Ll These calculati ons "arc the wo rk of
finns" and " ,1S a rule exc-lude 1I 1l" LrdnMKtiom tklt prt.><..", .. J h u m ,
o r re su lt In, <' gTOu lJing .'·ln o t her " OI'd~ , th e km ln ;mJ th e bor-
rower vie" t he tr,lIlsaetion, "eac h in terms of hi s own inte re st
and w itllOUI " omi'!c ring t h O" repe rc ussi o ns on h is n eig h bo rs "
(p" 97 ). U", kr t he se ccnd irto ra, rhe tra nsactions rema in uncon'
nccrcd " il h ilny gel/Cluj interest whatever: rhus, poiirtonl ends and
gTlll'p m te re srs are not taken in to accou n t. rhe on l} tl ,ifl!s "ort h
conside ring are t he CO'b. the yid d an,\ the Ii,b. T here is in fact
no o t he r law than th e profit o f the i,;olate. , e ntit i!"'. o f the fir m s
im 'oh'ed in the transactions. C rC(H I is g ran ",d in,;o (;" a., the cal-
c ulab le in te rest o fthe cre ditor can be delTl 'JIl~trat <:d to h i",. N"" .
th," Int ,..rnMio na l Ban k for Rec o nstruction a na Ec on o m ic Devol-
op mo;" t resrricn-d it 'itlf 10 princi p les defined in this way. " Instead
o f su pe rimpm ing on rh.. anarchy " f mdrv ulual Ioa ns a coherenr
and coord inated incesrme r u based o n gcner.d calculariuns it aiflls
to pcrp.-IUate th e ol d wa}s of di stributing int e rn a tio nal credit.
as a lu nc ti on 01 individ ual Imt tartves" lp. 155)" Doubdcss, " b}
it s w I) existence, the lute rna t junnl Bank " on.~ti tl.ltt', a first artcrnp r
at bri nging abo ut , if nnt a grou p iflg o f " ....d " <It leas t a grO ll l' in~
o r pa rr fev ao;stin ~ (' to nego tiat e loan "!!l'eelllC llls ilmong thc m-
selves" ( p. 1.~ 6 ). Hut a statu tory d ame "ob liges it to _~tu<l} each
demand ~'lJ<" ~r o,,~, eOIl, iuc ri"g the demand's partic ular ad van-
t age alone , without cund.J.t iu" to the ensemb le formed by lilt'
aggrega lt' ,, / n eeds or even by the aggrexate of demands actually
formulated" [p. 155 ).
It c o u ld be said in short t hat th e Rrf'tt o ll Woods ag reeme nts
gave a Precoe d e fini t ion t o t he Im pa sse o f t l,t' int e rn at io n al
cco nomy'. Estabhs hc d w ith in t he limi ts o f the capitalist world,
aa:md in{\ to the rule " f '_'illJared p,olit - w it]'out "hich no trans-
action is cOllcei\'able l4 - it had to renounce i15 fo u nding p rinci -
pl es, o r, in order t o m a intai n t he m , re nounce the c o mli t ions
without ",bid l it could not ' "onti nu<: to " "in, T hc inadequacy
o f the Int e rnati onal Bank an" tilt> Monetary FunJ present,'r! an'1@--
tin: vc -ston of t he M at~l lall Plan's posi t ivc initiatic e.
It is the para,]o" of ti le ca pitalis t e cono my that it i, o bliv ious
to gen eral e nds, wbu-b g i,'c it its meani ng am I \ aluc, and tha t it
is neve r able t o ~o be yond rho lim its o f the i~IMc, 1 enJ. Furt her
o n, I will show tha t a basic er ror o ll'cf'iI't',ti ve r.. sults Im m thi s:
Our view orb~ner,d e nds is a re flec tion o f holate<.l e nd s. But with-
OUI mak ill£ too hasty a judgment oft he practical conse q uences ,
it is '~r) interest ing to cbs..rve thh sudd e n pasSilgc from o ne world
t o anothe r, from the l'ri m;" ,y 01 the ,wlarw int erest to rbar o f tI ,c
f/CrJcra l in terest.
Francois l't'rrot' x ha~ ,·" ry riglltly d raw n a defi nition o f the MM-
shall Plan from tlli ~ hmdamc ma l o pposition: It is, he '''po "an
invest ment in the w orld's ime res t" ( p. 160 ).
In thi ' operation , " t he na tu re ami s,"le o f the risks ru n, the
~i~ e anJ fate o f th e sta kes Involved wOlll,] make ca lc ula tio ns 0 1
net Inrerest ill uso ry." T he o pcra rion "Wd~ pre pa re" , d ecided, ar nl
wi ll be conduc ted o n the basts 01 politi,al o p tions and macro-
scopic calculations w hich da~_si,al ana lysis docs no t rea lly hell'
us ro und erstand" ( pp. 1 72 -7 .~). ] jc nceforth , ··th e de mands fu r ~nJ
di st rib ution of cr..<l it depend o n collective calcotaooos t hat b ,'c
no rel ation to d ot' isolated calcu lat ions on whi l t. lib..rdli\m liked
t o dwell" (Pl'. 99-1(0). T he re is a "collecrtv.. ~ll P pl }. meeting a
'-'ol1ect i"c demand," Of cou rse, " ,h i, g ro" p i n~ o f su p plies and
" ema", ls ,s in o bvious contrast with the da,,-~ i,al doctrine anel prac-
ri,e o f investme n t" (I'. 16 7 ).
T he economic ensr m bl .." the ~tilLCS. t ha r arc in teg rated in to
th e g lobal o perati o n 3re leI' to d 'ange o ver from the prim~,') 01
their "ol"ted int .., ..st to t he inte re st of regional unclnst an <1ing~ .
'77
THE "''''' URSE D S ... ... P~
T hc pl'Olt rt ionism of imlu, tries, m ain tained OUI of ign orance, or

in negat io n of ti ll.: ""Jghbo rs' inte re sts, is replaced 11)' the need
for ,ptematie Jgn:ements wi t h a vi!;'\\ to the ~' i , trihut ion "f ldbvl'.
Bu t th e regio nal ull<ll' r\mndi ng IS its cl! o nl\ a , I age' in wo rld inte-
g rdriv " . T he re is no isolated ('no t, awa re on ly 01 itse lf ami t he-
" ·o rld - o r thc Sla te in a world ~lomi n.1tet1 by the ....." K) m } - bUI
a ge ne t<lli 1e.l r" nlesting 01 iso lation, TIl{" w ry movement t har
" ma lt', it .k p.,,,,1 o n us neiphbors" integ rat es each eomol1ly int o
the worl d lp. 11 0 ).
Unde r these r-ondirio nv. " tl iC distri bution of v c.lil l'28 ceased
to b e a prQJcnwfl and has become a jUI1HJon" (p. IS7 ). O ne m igh t
say m o re precisely rhat m,mkin.\ ~;"o ,i, left>.l ill g<'''' 'ral woulu usc
credit lo r c nds ir would decid e on ' \i lh u ut a ny lo nge r having 10
,to rY<" the inte rest 01 that c redit, withou t havi np. to Slay w ithin
th e limits de fined b} th e c re .li ro r's intt'l"t',t . Man lin d (' ll1b<J<licd
10 a manager. an ad rniniw rat o r 1,1 rile c,C A. [Economtc Co op-
"r"tio " Ad m in istration ) wou ld .,],iI'-" th e imestm e nt th rouRh con-
stam neg otiations accor(li n~ to " lJa,ic law .l ,ar i, t ile nega t ion
of th c ru le 01 profit , T he o ld ex pn '"ioll of this ne w la" is fam il-
iar. An ope rat io n in rhc in terest ,,/"t he world is necessarily based
o n this unquc vrio nab lc p ri nc ip le : "From t'.'lrll arcon:Hng 10 his
abil ities, to eac h acemJ ing to ], i ~ nt t .Is."
rrom the " General " Interest An:ordinll to Frun fois

Perrou» to the Perspective of "General Economy"
HOI"CI'cr bizarre and o u t 01 place (in every sense) (;om m" oi"n\
basic form ul a rna)" be in •],i.< r-onn cc tion , lur li lt' Marshall P lilll -
a lo gi (;al " in \ esrnlt' n t in till' ,,,, rlfl's imc rcst," o r eve n a failed
aHempt at s uc h an " le al operation - no othe r form ula wi ll 110,
NC1..lles-, t u SOl}". iI 1l0<11 " imcd ftlT is no t a bJOaI roochcJ, bUI. con-
.\(' i{)u ~ ly
o r no t , 11](" phm cannot aim for any o t he r goa l.
<.) lwio llsly thjs can not' " el p but bri ng in nllnlf'l'OU< ,l iffi e ul!i ,,,.
T '" ."",, .... , '
r r¥W>oi" I-'en-oo ), is no doebe ~ ....arc of thc'it, bu t he does not f on'

~ ider them. ;o t lC3.1.t nfol wi thin rhe limits of his !<hOlt book.
He inlent ionall) ~rlook-~ l he alralol") d urKu;,- of the pla n
,)00 ou r unccnainr) as to i lS ""I*n u""i",,,, 00 ~ncl"2.1 pollcj,
He also o....:~ rlooh th.. fan that die plan implies a corurihu-
l ion 10 it . In ~1 1Ol"1, il It..s to he llnano.."'l.1. l.k"elldin~ on the: na ture
of thi ~ cOfil riUtJl ion anJ the extent of th.. mobih/ ,)lio m, the effect
of the plan rna be hmnc d , its Olca ninM Old) be altered.
Here it may he useful . in o rder to , t udy the qualiry nf d Ial
c ontri b u t ion. 10 ir urod ur e, in a rhrecrion that evt .. ntl~ tl,;,t 01
I r,)nt;:ois P.. mltJ),·s "ork. a whule ""1 o f Iheo n ·t ir;al 'on,iJcnl ions.
Fi,S!" of all. the plan implies a mobili7al ioll Clf ~I iaI anti its c>;cmp'
t ion fro m the common I,)w o f profh. 1 his tapi u l "ill come.
Kcoroing to F","" oi~ ~TTOU)"S c" pt'Cssion. from the reserves 01
~Vl i nl~mali onal l ) domi mlll ecorootn):' Indt-t-tl. Ihi> """<Juirt$ an
econorn)' so Jc,dopnl that the ncem of ~'I'()\, til an- I..., ifl(l a Iw.rd
ti me oIDsorbing its excess resoen es, It .711'>0 demands 01 rwtiMW
income ou t of I,rOpOnion wlth d ,al o f the other nanor», "0 t hat
a relatively \ m,,11 ded uct io n fro m it " ill mean a .....Mi"'l) lal};t'
amoun t o f aid fn.. the defic ient ecceomtcs. T ile cont ribu tio n of
five billion dollars is vitally " "pt'Tt;\n l ',)r Eu rope . but the sum
is le ss than the C(> 5T of alcohol cons um prirm in the U"i tCI\ $1";l1t'S
in 1~ 4 7. Tilt: am o uru in qucsricu ru ugh l) COrTe.~polltls 10 three
wet"ks 0 1 ""-ar expenditures. h is ap prox ima te ly 2 pt'rn :nl III the
Ilr'OSS na ti o nal p, OO uCI.
\ \'ilho ut t he "" la~llall Plan. this 2 po'rec nl could b.a., e gone in
pan: to if"lCT'ea..... non protlUlt i>'C corY;t.lmprion. bot Since it is ( fli..t!>
a mailer of tlur" bl.. b'OOlls. in thenl") it would have be..n ll...-cl lor
the !?JU" th of the Amt: ricM> forces of proJuction, rhar 's, lOr
illC~ing the.. W ..:a1t11 of tho: I lnilt'tl SuIC\. This is not neceuanl)
sltocltin~. and ('\'Co il on(' is shut ked. h ,jl p~n; t hat one must be
so merely from a rno~1 "ilflJpoinl. l.'1 u~ tn 10 {onsiJer " Ilat
'79
1\ mea ns in 0 ~~,ol J't'1/K. TI,i) i1"l< , .. ase of wealth "ould IWH."
an~"~ the combocd dcImnd.~ of IfWl}' fStlInrtd interests.. I{CI U.......
ing 10 t he viewpoine oI"gcnerd.1 cconom)-o" bc)'OI1J lhe (!rrwral
opentions COfl5idcrt'l lJ) I ' ''"too Pe rroccc, isvIornJ il1 l(:fOC mc:;ul!>
precisel) this: that exh IWIoIM enl;!) on earth. in all of Ii-'iog
nature, rends t o gR)\,' Am! t1l1:oretic:all) can Jo so, In f.Kt every
isolated li" lll@;partici e com usc a scrpius of ' t":'>OUR "C!> - "Ilkh il
has a t its J io;pos.l1 und er .... er~ conJitions - either lOr an illt 11:'_
throu~h rcprooucl iul1 or lilt ib in,lh irlual gtm\ th. Bu t thi~ necJ
10 1,'1'0"", to Co1lT}"gf'()\' til to t he lim ib of flOMibilil). is dl.1l fac tcr
b t i\..- o f isolaud hc:i ~; it defines iwIofcd inlert:!it . It is c~tomal1
to consider [Fnl"Ml inh',,,sl in terms o f iV>WIM in tCl'c:.•• h ut til..
world is not so simpl.. Ihat one can alwa) s do this "it!JOfJI int",..
<ludng an en ol' of pc "'pt't·l i~e.
It b cas)" to m ake thi s error pcrceptibje. Conddercd in t h e
aggregate, Ihc growth on i- i llg particles , 'alln OI be infin it e. Th ere
exists a puint o f S"lurMlon of" rhe space o pen to h fc. Douhtlcs~
rI,C 0 p<;: nness o f ~ p.tcc 10 . he PJo,, ' b of active forc es I. liable
to Vd' ) w it h the Ilo1lUrc Of l hc: H' il'l; form s. T h e w mgs o r bir. l,
ope neJ OJ more ex rens tv... space to grow th. T he sarne is nve o f
human techn iq ues lhal rnatk possible ~~ k4>Jll'i in t ilt' dC\t l-
oprneJlt of li lt: ~)'Slc m~. o f s)lolems that consu mc and protl\!( e
en..'ID"- [ach nC't' rccluuque itg:lf enables .. new ~~Hh u ftllc
proJut:"t.i\'C lOn:es. But th is tTlO'loemem of grow lh run, up ~ainsl
li mi ts at e.el) M~C o f Iile. II is continually stoppe,l dlK! fon ed
10 wait b- a dwtge in t1~ Cont:lilions of lii: bcfOrt: I'C$lllltl l\;. 'n..
(cs.,.u ion o f d e.oelol'n'lt.:llt d,,(,.'"S 1101 tlo "\\<11)' wi th Ilk- I~SOt)r(:t."l;
t.hat coulJ ha..~ i~~d the volume uflil"r fiJlf..es. lJul the cnctI!'
that. migllt hit\1: pro<lUl""t'tI.", incn:asc is then opendetl to no pur_
pose, As ~ r ;n llUman ... ri,·iti.... itre concerned, the resource, thai
cou ld have been itCCUmula1ed (t,;tp;t;lli/ etl) as ne w lorc C'> o f pr,,-
duction arc (l i~ ipi! lc,1 ill one \\01)' o r another. As a ~nt'u l rule.
,80
il hu to be gTamec:l t!lat l i f~or wealt h (.<IIlnot be in<lf'f mitd ) proJific
ande hat the momellt ..lwa vs a"il~ " In~n rhq m uSt SlOp RTO\\,-
ing ,,00 begin to speed. The «neuse pToIil~ ....tiorJ of imrnoetalhv-
in{l lx:i "WI- L1,c simpleSI IK:i tl!,'S - succeejs tI,C luxurj o f death
atltl sexu al r(:pro<l ut ·t io n. which maintains an imme nse endem ic
"'Iuant lcr. The e.u i~ o f ani n", ls b)' o ne anot llel' is ibl::lf a brake
on 0'I,t:raI1RJO\\llJ. And similarl). OIl\. C domi nation ef rhe a,,,,H-
abl e spac e is ensured at tI,C expense o f ani nws. men han: thc ir
\\ atS and the il rholl"-lnJ fOnns of usel ess (;otlw mption. f< lank illJ
is it t the sam e t ime - t11ro ugh itlt lubtry, which ll SC.~ c n erg ) fo r
ti,e Jcvd opn lt' m o f tile forces o f product ion - d manifol d open-
ing o f th e possib ilit ies o f E;rowth and an infinite capaci') 10.-
wasteful cOIlbu m ption.
But g ro " th GIn be ,·iC1\·cJ in theo!) <IS the concern o f rhe tso-
lared inJ ivklua l, who docs no t measure its lim its, who bt ruAAIt:S
Il;litlfu lly ro ensu re it , and who .Ioes not \ \"0( 1)' abc.,ut ir s conse-
qucoces. l11C lO m lula for ".r", th is that o f the iso lated k odel:
" e.teh in llis own meeresr and without consiJcriTl{! t he repercus-
sions on OI )C 'S neiRhbors ," ' et alo "" the gtntraJ n:percms iOflS. On
ti le ocher ha nd, rbc r.. e x ists (be)o nrl the ecerall human in terest
wh ich, conceived juS! as I lJa\e baid , is on l~ an a berra n t m u lri-
pUcatio tl o f th e ssolared illle teSt ) a gronal !)Oint of \ iew. fro m
whit.1I li ft .s seen itl a ne" light. Of coarse, th is point of ..Ic...
~ nol imply a ncg-a tio n o f t he a(h,m uges o f growlh. but it
oppose s to individ ual blinJ n.,ss - and d ~pa i r - a n range, ClI. U-
l)Crant . sirnultancous lv bcndk Cllt ana d isastrous sense o f wealth .
This int'l"O:"t is d rawn from an experjenoe ('()Ill"', ,') to thoU in " Ilich
selfishnO$ tIom i mt ~. It is not t he eepeocncc of rhc in<:Ih idual
an x iom 10 olI~n hllllSClf b) de>'tloping his p.;rsonal forces. It is
t he contnl r) awareness of Ille fUli li l )' o f 3n1'liet). The th emc ~ of
cr o nom bs e nab le o ne to ~peci f)' rhe nature 01" t his int e rest . If
one condde rs rhe holden of capital as a botl ~ , one q uickl) per-
,',
, .. ~ "SH) S"A"~
c c ivcs th e co nt radictory characte r 01" the se lutcrcsrs. Each ho ld e r

d e m an ds an in re re sr from h is cap ita l, 'loll this im pl ies an un li m-
il .,(1 development 01 t he lorce 0 1 pmd uct ion . What is b l i ndl ~
d enied in the con ception 01 these esse nt ially product ive opel-a-
Hon, i ~ t he ~ lI m -not u n limit.. ,1 but sl,b , t;lO ti.,1 - o f p rod ",..., " 0 11-
sumed ~'~lelu lly_ wh,n is sau ly lo rg olle n in these calc ulartons
is, above a ll, that fab ulo us nchcs had to be dissipated in wan . This
can be e x pressed mon ' clea rly by ;.aying - paradoxically - rhar
e conomic p ro bl e m ' in which, as in "class ical" economics. the
q ue stion is limi te d t o the pu rsu it o f pro fit are Lwl"uJ o r IimiWJ
prohl..ms: t hM in th O" E1~ 1I<"m l l'ro "l .. m th..", al way~ rt'al'p"'ar~ th O"
essence of rhc biomass , which m ust consta ntly dcs rroy [consume]
a sUllJ lus of en e rg y.
Rcrurning to rhc Ma rsh all Plan , ir is new easy t o be pre cise.
lr con tras ts with ,w klft'd operauons 01" t1 1<~ "classical" Iype , bu t
not th rougl , in g rouping o f co llec tive s up p lies and d e m an ds; il
is a ge ne ra l opt'fati o n in that in 0"" rrspeet it h a remmci atiol1 of
th e grow lh o f prod uct ive forces. It ten d s t o solve a gener.11 p ro b-
le m ill th a t it is an unse c ur ed inve stmen t . At the same li m e , it
ne ..ertll.. l es~ an t idp.ne s an ulti milte urilivarion for g rowt h (nl'l'd-
lc,~ t o lay', t he g<:neral point 0 1 view Im pliev t he w two ilspeetl
at the same li m e ), bu t it ca rries this I'0ssi b ili t~ over to an a rea
w herl' d e ~tru ctlon - a mi tl'd m n loglc ill ha('k w~ rd n<' " - hal le ft
th e field o pe n. In o the r wo rds, it, con t ri b ut ion i~ 11 '~ l o f ~ con-
demne d "ealth _
B)" a nd larg e, l hl' rl' cx i.~ ts in t h l' wotld a n exces~ share of
n-scurce-s ellal carmot contrtbnte 10 ~ gmwlh for ~' hil'h thc '\p.x;c"
[ better, the possibility] is la l'ki ng. Neithe r the share that it is nee -
e ss;o. ry to sacr tflce, n or t h e mome n t o f vac erfice are ever gh-e o
n ••n:t1y. BUl a [JC'lcrol point of vic\\ re quires th at ;,1 a n ill-d e fined
lime and place groo., th be abando ned, wcahh negated , and its pos-
si b le l"ec lJn<la1lon o r it ~ p rOli lab lf' in ves rruent ruled out.
,"
. .".....
_~Ol·;1'l P""ur~ and t he MonhlJlI Pion
I n om) C~. a fo nd.lmemal rli llicu h) t anl104: be ~emo'\ ed . HO'l' I~
the coll t~i but ion rc be ser fn-c? l-lo" e.tn Ilve bill ........ rlofl<lo br
"ithd n " n from . h" ru l" n f i!>Olate:t.l pro li.? I low Collfl it be s.ac~i
Ficro ? This i~ " l lt' ~" the pl<ln\ m h l\",lllln i nto d w real pcllncal
game becomes the' question - " hich, "!I r have 53id, was not' tn:att"l l
in Perro ux's work. En'TYThi ng wo uld <lprMr<: llt l~ ha, e 10 be: res-on-
sidered st;lrling [rem there. I r.lJ,\ oi\ P"nollx has defined th,' plan
~s if th,' cflJ1 l1i btlt iu n's libe ra tion from t he c o m mon n Ile we n:
gin'n , as if it " ell' t hl' effect of tt u- com m on inten " t . I h ~", nOI
been able 10 ag n 'C.' " ilh h im "Iltircl)' on th is point . I he plall ln<o>
be a n " inW$' mt' lll in rh... "orld's inn-reo' ," bur i l also rna) b.; an
iIlH:,>.menl " in Alll.~riU·S imcrcsr," I do no l !loa' 11),)( Ih,s is 10e
U~ , but the q uc-:.rio ll arises, Mort'C)\'t'~, II i ~ possible Ih,It, oclllg
Min rh e wor-ld') intc rl:"\l - al tM (M11St:'1, It "i ll be ""rpt:d in the
d irection of rhr Amcncan inten·t;t .
Tbeorct u-allj, II "a pnllourw! nt:g.ll ion of capi talism: in Ihi~
reseoc tcd sense, I'lOrh ing is 10 be laLcn . ".1) loom th e llNJ'Ol'ltlOn
bm ught out ill I r.l.~ o i s Perroux's .lIlal}S i'" But in ~"ali l } ?
There is not ft't.l rca[ i t~ . Le t us nlt;rcl} pose th" <1,10'\(10 11: It
ma~ be t hat in wa nt ing 10 J ell)' itself ca pi t~ l i , m w ill " '\eal at
the sam e l in ,.. that i, c ou ld not avoid dnillg \ 0 and t ha t il [ac!' cd
the nen'_~s.\rJ ~ 1 1't:.Ilgth for such sdf·rkn i~ ]. And y"l. for lht' Ameri-
can world , it h II qlJe~ t ion o(\ife ~ m l death.
rh is aspe-'Ct o f the mo< l" m \\tlriot is overlooked by J1lO!;( o f the _
who t ~ 10 undcesrand I~: III a pa~o" ical " a~. the situa l ion i~
gO\"enlcd ." rhe li\llCt that Wilhout t h~ l>Oilu taf)" fe a~ nl rhO' 51...tees
[or some "'~>OI.J'i rh~t ), t im:: "'Qu I.! be no Marsha ll Pb n, r he
l~uth is tha.t Ih l' d i p l(' mac~ of t he .... n. m li n hofd~ rtw I..C) 10 rbe
America n coll.'n. Portadoxical l~ , tlK" ten~i()n it 1TlOIi nnil15 in the
\'\'o~"1 i" " hal . k"'ermi~ the larecr's 0l0\t'11ll- 1llS. Such ~n ions
• o ul<l .. a~il)' slip in lo abs urdil}. btl! (Inc n il sa~ t hat " ittoo" t l he
"1
USSR, w it ho u t the politi cs o frc nsion it adbe rc s t o , th ", capita l
lst wo rl d cou ld not be certain o f a\"lJ id ing pa r~ lysis. T h is t rut h
do m in ate s c urren t den~lopment'O.
lt i ~ n ot ce rt ain tha t the Soviet regi n~ , at pre~e nl, Is a nswe r-
ing lhe economic demands o f t he world in ge nu a!. On", ar lcas t
imag in es that <I plethcrh- economy docs IIu t J1t:ce~saril) req uire
th e dic tatorial urg"" lllit iun o f imlu sl rr BUl lhe po !Ulml "Clio" of
lhe Uni on and rhc Cominform is ne ccssa l) tn the world economy.
He re the ac t tc n h The consequence n ot onl) o f a di fference ill
su perstruc tu res ( in t he ju n ,lic,,1 systems o f p roduction}, OuT ~ Iso
<I , 1iI1., re llc e in eco no mic le n k In othe r won l" (h,- poluu - al
rL-gime in One p la, e , rhe R us, i'lIl worl, I, ex p re\SCS rhe inel]ualil)'
o f reso urr-e s [ ot the movement 01 ., ner~») by' an "ggrcss i\e agita-
no n, an e- xt reme It'n, io n o f the class struggle. lt goes" lt hc ut
5a) ing that this te nsio n is favorable ro a less uneq ual d ist ribu t ion
o f reso urce s , rc a c ircu lat io n o f wea lt h that th e im;rea~ ing une-
vcnncss o f lcccls paralyze d . [he Marshall Plan is the collscquence
o f a ,",'Orkillg -d as.; agita t ion th at it n-ics to rcm c J y w ith a rise ; n
t he Wes tern st" ml" r<l o f! i\"ing.
'rne Gl m m lln ist opposit ion t o tbe I\litrsha lJ Plan itsd f prolong'
th., initial se tt ing in mt lti on o f tl... pbn. It, t.,n, Is 10 im pe de th "
pla n's impl er lle lllatiu n, bU I , 'o nlrdl)' lO OIppeilr'IIlI'C\, h arc-e mu-
ates the ver~ moverucm it c o m ba ts. It acce ntuates an d contro ls
il ; in theory, " iel to Europe imroduccs the po ~~i bil it)" tnd ccdrhc
ne c essity , o f an American in terve nti on, but the Sov iet o p posi tio n
makes any irregulari ty o r excess d ifficult, reducing the risk th at
th.. lIlten 'en tllln m ig ht tllm into a con'lue~t. Trlle, 'so..;t't So1 ho-
\;lge co u ld <l imini,h the effect, o f t he pl..n. But on the o th e r hand
i( inen-J'...·" the f..clillg o f n... ·"",i£)·. if IIOt o f d istrt'O<.s, IhM ..nSllr.,,;
a l e~s lu:!.ildll t i mplc rrlt' ll ld l ioll.
One cannot ovcrcr nphasize th e importance u f the se mov e ments
o f repercu ssion. T hey go in the direction o f a profounJ nansfor-
'"
manon of ttw t'n"k , m~-. It is not IXna in thal the ir resultv " ill
sutbce, but tf-.t.:w p.i.ToIdoAin l e"char,;« pro,.-e d'lolt the \\orld'~
l:Ofil ooic ttons "1 11 not nccee..... ri l) I,.. resolved b~ WOI r. In a 1....-n-
cr..1 "'a). \\ hethC:Tsociali" or nmlITltlll i",-. th (' worl i n~< lass ~i
uti on is aU \lalll rOllelun\'C wa peaceful ~ol ut ion - wit ho u t
re volution - o f I~ economic im li turlo m . 'I. pri maT) .... or is in
t h lll l i ll~ that a moderate, reformist agil.1, ioll wou ld e-ns ure th is
evolution by itself. If th e <lw tat ion Ihat IS due to the comm unist ,
revol u tiona ry in i, i" t h t' <Ii,I no t t ake "- t h,c,.ltcn ing t u rn , t here
would be no r nore- ,·, ,, Iul io n. Bu t o lle wo uld be " ron~ 10 i mag o
inc that t h e (111) success ful effec t <)1' communism would be the
seizure o f fXJ"cr. Lven ill pmocm. rbc r ommunists would connnoe
to "d13nge tN- world." B~ itsrlf. ;11\ dl,oct such as the Mar.Ju1l
rbo is considlTablc:. but it shoukl not be SCUl ~ a hmit." 11w eco-
no m ic celm pt"t ' tlC>Il ~u l ting from subversive action roeld t'a!>,I~
e mail. OC)o nd changes in the disltibuti oll 0 1 we..lrh . .. dc.-pcr
dlolnge in SUllC'U~.
Where Dilly the Threot 01 Wor Ca n S t ill

"Cho llBe the \Vorld "
From t he o utse t . th e Marsha ll Plan tt'm!~ le)',\ ;... 1 J ra isillg ofth<-
sta nda rd of li"illg wo rld-w ide. / II nla) ,ow n have th e cffeer of r~is
ing rh e- So\·iN sl.mdaru of living, 3t th e h.pe ns... of t J,e grcl" t h of
p roclu.-r i, .. lo r(·t's. ) Hut under (<l pi t ~1 iSI co ne! i n o n' rh e- rai ~ " lg (.1
th e standard o l lh illg i~ not a sutticicr u rdi e I fro m th e continua l
grow th o f t h<.· prodlK"t in " f orces . I he "'Ianrnl l PI..n is also, from
th e sr..rt . .. rneans ntemtJl I i> (opttollSffl o f ... j ~i ng the Slam!,," ! (,f
Ih ing. (In th j~ ~)t-o;;t _ It does not mail er whether tN- to lfec1 (,lcctln
nol'iide of Amcric...) Tbus a shift ~im row~rd a SU lJU U !C' I~ dif-
kRIIt from thaI o f the U ~ R , t(Jl,tOlld a rt"J..u , .. I ~ n atc-cOlllrolla.t
economy, the onl) ' YIX' posst ble \\ hCR . rhe grOlonh of proc!lI("-
ti n ' torr."" bt-il'f( ~"rbed . capitalist acetJmuliltion. Jnc! rcoscqccmll
" I
profit, would no longe r have a suffi cient margin. I\lo....owr, th e
form o r aid ro e uro pe is nor t he o nly indicato r or a dndopment
th at is generally favo red by wo rking-e lao;s agitation . The Unit..d
SLa tes i~ slruggling " it h insolu ble conrradicrtonv. It defends free
enterprise, but it th"'rc by inn ",ases the impo rtance 01 t he sta te.
It i ~ o n ly adnnc ing, as ~Iow l)' as it ca n, W"<Ir<J a point where th e
U SSR rushed headlo ng,
T he sfllv iJlg of social problems flO lo nge r depends on street
uprisi ngs, am I "e are f.ar fro m t he t jr ne W l "~ ll expamli ng pop" I;,. -
nons, short o r eco nomic resources , we re constrained to i' l\'ad..
Lhe " ....althiesr ''''gio n.s. [ Besides, m ilit'lry co nd itions work in favor
of rhc rich nowadays, t he opposi te being true in th e- pas t.] Hence
the co nsequences of po lit res apart fro m wars '11-" of utmost inter-
est. \Ve cannot be sure rh at th ey w ill save us lro m disaster: bu t
t he y are o ur only c hance. \Vc cannot de n} t hat war a li-en prec ip i-
t ared t he developme nt otsocict tc» Avide Imrn th e Sevier Union
itself , our Ieasr rigllt socialrelations, an,] our nationahzed ind ue-
rrjes and services, OIl'''' the re_ulr of two wars t hat s hoo k Euro pe.
II is eve n true that we come out of the [a,t wal"" it h an inc reased
pop ulati o n; ltv ing standards th.. mseh-es arc sti ll im pro.-ing ove r-
all. Nevertheless, it is hard to see w hat a th ird war wo uld bring
us, o ther than the irremedia ble rcduct ion 01 til" globe to the con-
,Iition ofGennany in 19 45. Hencefo rt h we need 10 think in terms
01 a pt' iICeful evolution withou t w hich t he dest ru c tson o f cap i-
ta lism wo u ld b.. at the same time t he dest ru c tion o f t hc lIvrks
of capitalism, the ct<'\\a t ion o f eco no m ic development. and the
diss ipat ion f) f Lite soclalts t .Iream . \Ve m ust no" expect from
th ", Ihroo l of war that w hi.:h yesterday it wo uld havc be e n callous
but correct to cxpect from Wdr. rh i ~ is no t reassuring, but th e
c hoice is not givcn.
.~ "' . .
"Dynamic Peace"
We o n ly need to b,; ng a clear principle into pol itical judgments.
II t h.. th reat o f ...ar caLl~~ rh.. Un it e d State to comm it th e
fTIajo r p"rt "f lhc .. x"..ss III military manufac tures, it \~ill be use-
le ss to st ill speak of a peaceful evolution. In actua l fact, war h
bou nd to occ u r. JIaJlkjnd ,,-in nJO>-C pm«Julh lo...." d a [J('neral resolu-
tion of its problems on~v 'f this threat ("(fuses the U.S. to moan a larne
share of the <'.\'«55 - <k1;bcrare~I' and lIithour return - to misilllllhc 8/obal
lWII<JarJ vf 1i.;n1/. ,XOIII.JnUC veti,,11 thus 8"il18 lhe surplus energy pro-
dvced vn ollilel other l}wlI \\01. It i~ no longer a matter of say'ing rhar
th e lack 01 dlsarma rne-nr m ..a ns war; but America n policy' hevi-
t<lt.. , bt'tw..., ,, h,~ , 1"'lh" fi l her r.. arm Furopc Wilh LIlt' h.. lp o f.l
ne w lend-lease, o r u'c, at Ieact partially, th e \lars ha ll PIMl lo r

equipping it mi litaril y. Disarmament unde r t he present cond itions
is a pro paganda the m e : by no means is it a wa~ o ut. Hut if th e
Ame ricans abandon the specific character o f t he Marshall Plan,
the idea u f using <I larg e share of the su r plus for no n m il ilar) c mls,
th is surpl us will explode e xac t ly where the~ " ill have decided
it wou ld. At th e moment o f explosion it "i ll be po ss ibl e to sa}
rhar the polic y o f rhe Sm'ie ts m~,l., rhe tl i...a., t .,r iI\Pvilabl" . T h"
, -onso bri"n will b" nllt only ab~"rd but fil lse ..., we ll. It " ..cds 10
be srau-d . he re a nd now, that, o n rho eomrar~-, LO leave war as lh e
on l} o u tlet lor the excess 01 forc es prod uced is to acce p t rcspon-
sibiliry for that resu lt. It is (rue t hat t h., USSR is pu tti ng l\ m t'ri<:a
through a d ifficult trial. Bu t what would lhis world be like if rhc
USSR were not there to wake il up. tes t it and force it to "chanI;('''?
I han: presente d the inesca pab le conseq uences of a precipi-
tous arm amen t, but this in no ""y ,1t"RUf'~ for a ,1[""tmament, t lw
\'cr~ i,'...
~ Ilf whi"h i, lJllr"al. A ,Ii~ann ..n":ll t is So far fmm b.,i ng
a po:;.,ib il it) l hal Oflt' "<l nn"t even imag in e the cftccts it would
have. To suggest thar this world be g iven a rest is fatuous in the
extreme. Rest and slee p could o n ly b e , .1t best, a prt' limim, r) to
"7
wa r. Onl} a ~l'll<Tmi' proce tS al1~we rs a c ry ing need lo r c hange. It
is rhe on ly form llb th~t Gill ~ opposed to tfw revo lut ionary ,leter-
ruination o f the S<>vit,t<;. Am! .:!l'lI<lmi( pe<lu'as~umcs t hat their I'C \ -
o luce d e tenn inati on \\ ill ma intain the th re at of war; it means the
ann ing o f o pprn.itc camp.'.
Manki nd ';J A ccompt lsh m er u Linked to t h a t o'[

th e American I'c olllJlny
T hat ~a ic1, it s L.a", I~ to re"" on lIl.lt " nl} ;J. success o f the American
methods im plies a peac efu l evolutio n. [ti s ro Albert Camus's g rat
c red it that he so d <,;J. rly demons trated th e impO\~i lJ; Jit y 0 1;J. re v-
o lut io n without war, at lca vr a classic revol uti o n. Bur it is not nee-
cssar) t o see an inhuman \\ ill embod ied in t he USSR or t he wor ],
o f evil in the po li ti es of rhe Kre mlin. II is c ruelro d esire th e co n-
unuauon o f a r" glln.. rel Y'ing on a ~..(;ret polic e , the muu ling o f
thought and n umerous co nce ntra tion cam ps. Bu t there wo uld be
no Soviet Glln p \ in this wo rld if an Imme nse moveme nt 01 h uma n
m asses had no t responde d t o a pressing ne ed. lt wo uld be usc-
k~~ in any c ase tu pretend to ><:l/-<.OI\5doUYlo> wi thout percei ving
the mca nin~. tht> troth a nd the crucial value ofthe te nsio n main -
tai ned in rho wo rld by the USSR. ([ f thi s tensio n wc r.. to Jail, a
fecling of calm would be com pletely unwarrantcd r there would
be more reason th an e ver to be <lfra id. ) AnyOn<' \\ ho lerv him self
be bli nd ed by passion, so rha r hc sees o nly excess in the USSIl ,
com m i t~ ],im sclf to all e<j u h'ale n t excess ill t], e scn"t' of b lind-
ness : He g i\'e'i ull his claim to th e c omplete luctdlrj- t], rou g], which
man hils the c ha nce to be, finally, a wl/-w/lSooultl€>5. To be sure.
sd j -eOru;;kJuSMll i, al so rule d o u t w ith in th e limits o f the ~'ie t
sphe re. MOl"Covt' r, it carmoe bind iT'ie1 f t n any rhing t],ar is ;J. [read)
g iven . It impl ies, under t he threat 01 war, iI rapid change and the
S llCC~S.~ t l l rhe wo rld 's domlnan r pm , e r. '" O n t], .. o rhe r hand . it
i~ "I,"t'acl)' illvolve<\ in ;I subsequent choice o t t],e American democ-
racy, and it ca nnot he lp bUI callfor th e la rrer's ,ucn:~~ w ith o u t
war. T h e natio nal pu inl uf,i .,w i~ ir rclc vam. J?
Consciousness of til e Ultim ate En d of Wooflh

and " S elj-COJlSciOWiJleSJ"
Doub tless it is parad oxic al to ti e a tnJt h so inrimat.. as thai o f
sdJ....oflMllWSneM (rho re rum of be ing TO full ani! irreducible seve r-
e-ign t) IR) to th ese c om plerelv ex te rnal d e te rrnina rion s. Yel it is
easy to pcrcci.·e th e de e p m e an ing: uf the se de termt nat tons - and
o frhts e n tire book - if o ne returns t o Ih (' c,,-wn dal " ithout fur-
th er de tay
In th e fi"'l p lac e, lh.. paradox is carried TO an extreme owing
to rhe fact that pol itic s co nside red in te rms o f~the dominan t inter-
national e(;o r\()m)'" o nly aims at an improveme nt uf th e gl"b.11 stan-
d ard o l li d ng . J9 lt is ill a sense dh a ppoi nt ing M\(l d epn :ss ing. RtJI
it is ti ll' sl<lning poi nt <lm l the basis, not th e co mple ti on, of.~II
COJlSCioo<nl'i' . This ne ed s to be presented in a rather precise way.
If sdj-COru£iG UStll'll is ..esen riilll) th e fill[ possession o f i nlimaC)'.

we m ust return to th .. fact t hat all possessio n o f inrimac v leads
to 01 tl ec ep t io n. 20 A sac rifice can only posit a sac re d IhinB' The
sarred thillfl ex ternalize s in timac y: It m aL.,~ visible o n t he ou ts ide
t hat wh ich is re all ) w ith in . T h is is \\ h) ~r/J-crJnsnou5OCss tl l'ma n(l~
fin a lly th at , ill connecti on w ith intimac y n oth i n~ f" rt h..r ca n
occur. Th is does no t in any wily in \'o l,.. an in te n tion lO eliminat..
wha t rt' m ains: \ Vho "nu lll th ink o f g<:tl i n~ rid o f the " OIk 01art
or o f pot'U}! But a point m u~ l be 1JlWUH:I'..d where d rj lucidi ty
coi nc i<lcs \\'i t h a "..n".. of t h.. sae red . T hi s imp lie s the re d uc tion
o f th e saCK " world to the com pom:Jll most purely opposed to
t hin(/S, its reduct ion to pure in n mac j . T h is comes down in fac t .
as in the experience o f l hl' mysncs, 10 in tellectual co ntem ple -
li o n. " w itho u t shilpe o r fo rm ," as aga in H t h.. ~ ..tl)J cth ·" ap l'..a r-
enccs of "visions," d ivini ties am i myth, . Thi ' m.."llls prec i~.d>, fr om
"9
the \-i....., point imrodu..re d ill thi.. book. t hat o ne m Ul>t d e e I J C II I
a ' u nd.l.rncn tal deb.t iC ,

T he bt-ings t h;, t Wt' MC an: 001 g i.-C ll emu dIlel ".,. all; t he)
apJ>CM ,1i"' ignC(1 tor an inc reese o f thei r ellCrg~ r!:'Wu rr O'S . The,
boeocr.\ll) male t hi~ inul'iN:, br)oorl mere wbstsecncc, t oclr goal
and their reason lOr bcil~. But \\ ith mis w bordinaliorJ 10 incre~.
tht' tx-i~ in q ucsl:lon loses its autonom}; it suhonlil1illl"o itSt'lI
to " ha l it " ill be in the fUlure. o \\ ing t o t he inn c: ,I.'>C (' f il;,
rcsoeecc"'1- In rea lil). the- i ...... reese shou ld be s ituo\tl·d in re lation

10 thC' moment in ... hich it " ill rc..ok., into a pu re ex pcod lrure.
But Ihis is preci.H'l} thO' di Uk u l1 lransition. In fan . it Jl.e~ ;If.!ainsl
conliCiOlL'\lless in thf. Sf>n"l' Ih,)t the latter trr cs 10 gr~p ~1tTlC' o lJj I'(:1
o f acquisition, JrIf1!rrhi"fj, nnt the noI hmfj of p u re c" p'·llll ilu n ·. It
h a ques tio n o f arrr\ ing .11 I hr' rnonu-nr "hell c o nsciousness w ill
a'o\.. ... to be a eonsciou...w~ of JOIncthi1lfl; in other words, 0'
beccro-
ing: ron"dou s o f rhe d ecisive meaning of an inst anl in \\ hk h
lncrcas..· (Ih.. i!e:qllisi ti ol1 0 1 w methi'W) " ill resolve in to c" pcneli-
rures and thi~ " ill be: pre Li~·I ) r..Jf.... on\UOl~". rbat is, a conscious
nC'>5 that henccfnrt h has ' >ot/Ul'fl lU IfS 0I}('(t. 11
·1his e omple ti on.linl..cd - the re " Iwn; I' K·icll t} h,)~ it s odd~
to t he eil:>i~ as...od~ t cr l " ith an upward ad.jusunr.Tlt of Jj \ I ~ SI.an-
dards, im plies tho' l .tl11.. o f 01 ~t1 ing in place o f cocie l exisecuce,
In a sense, th is K1f'tlfI In pkxl! wo uld be com parable to . he tl;l n$i·
li o n from an imal to man (0 1 w hic h il wo u ld be. m ort> pel':< i....l).
IN- l ~ "";1 ). It i~ ", if, ill this \\.1) of lool ing a t lhi ng~ . rh.. final
go.a.l \l cn;: !liven. In the' ('nd, l"\"1'l) th i~ fall , into place .1t'1l ll.. te,
u p its ornigncd ro le . l or.b ) Truman \\"Ou ltl appeilr to be bl i nd l~
pl"epari ng lo r the flnal - and secre-t - apol ht·m i~. r
But thai is ob- iOlld} ai' ilJl)5iOll. !'Ilorc "pt;n. 111,.. m inJ eli", tTll'<,
instead of a n ilm icIUilIt"(II..I.. nl~). the truth Ih.u ' ilcnc:t, alone
does nol betTar.
,~,
Notes
I'REBCf
I. Thi, fI,...ul.mlC "'ill h.,,, a ~ontinuatiun . Funhu, it i. be ing pu l>li"'~d in

.. UJII ~nion l h" I rTi ,e<t, d,id' ;"te",h tu p ul>li, h. """"'1' uth" r<, "...".1-... in
"/lene",1 ~onoml'" rTI~ ,~co"d • •><l l hirc1 ,-,.,I utllc' 01 II" 1" " " ,<15/",,, ...e
fort hcoming ]inm Zon e floob . 1
2. I ler" I Tlm.t th>.nk ml f'i end (;«>~e. Am bro<.in,." r~"" OT "h d i'r<;tQ. n t lh.
X_ I<..- b bora tor;', "ithoul "J.orn I cou ld not h" e co""runed ,hi . boot.. Sd-
enee is ......''''" th e " ork of OIle man; it t'e<J" ire, an e~cb"l:'" 01 "ew., a Imn.
,·ffon . TH, l>"ok i, . Iw in I..~e PO" ttoe wo<l ol !\m bt05ino. I re ...,nalll rel'J"t
, h. , , h,-arumic ","'",eh tn ",tich he panidp..,," I,.., remO'..,d hi m. for a time.
)",,,, "'''-'drU' ill ~gcl,,·,..1'"u>'lOtm-.n I ' lK '''' ... p.-c» ,h " hupe th., h,· will ":>ll......
in pa"kular th \Iud) he h.., b...gu" wi,], " " . ur tho JIlun-mn,h o f " ' K" gj' un
'he , u,tan' ohhe J!lobe .
P.,,,, O...-L
t. OJ the materialit y of the ' mi , C""', ",Heh doubtks•• in it< proximale ;u><l
rem<.J 'c a. pe ct ' . i, ......" , "" ytHng bm " beyund or th o ught. h<lfJJ1mfflt dcsi~, "'tc,
,h., "hkh julfJI,-'tld f. llOt ,b, " hieh" (lJlji/lM. InJin". i> in Of'l'c"iti un both
'" ,Icc li",it...d ,let... rrni,..,;u" d,.1 ,,, ,hc ;w;;b"""\ <nd.
2. 11 i' .,,,, med tl w if in<lu'''J """'lO' b n ',," ;,,,I<1' ni,... ,I,,,,-I" I'''''' n' , lilt"
",me i. not trt>C o fcbe "'e" lee,' cotlSlit uti"!1- ,,1"'1 i' e, lIed the "-rti") "",u,,-
'"
TH E ACCU"SClJ SH""L
" f ,h <."Cu llumy (tI ... pr; m.ry l>cing .grK:ult ure and Ih", sc<:ond>ry', ;nd u-~trJ)'
WhK·h indu,'.., 'P"r.;,,] ''''.! 'Il>UW~ ,. v.-ga.,.,...,.",,, "" "el' "" ,ho wo rk "f an i",,""
3. See f"t""s 35-6.
1 , U"luftu,,,,d,. il i, nvt 1"",iLk ' u ,Ii-.( ,-,,,.II th.."., p'c1>I" ", wilhin II",
I,.mew",,'" ofa lir<l - tho'etica.l and hi" orical - e....)'.
5. SeE- v.: \"er.-..d. ~)", L" B>e<phf", Par i'. 1929. wh"re 1OI11e of the c()f]sidu>--
,inll~ ,h. t fnl lc",' .'" o ", li,...·,1(f'un , a ,I,R.""", " ie" ruim).
M
6. n e .....--.:;"t;o,- i:I 'ppal"'" I) implic.-I in Ih ""prL"'inn, uUIC ,in of tile jlt,Il.
"'''RT fw()
L f!t-rr",roino de Sohap'R. //&/oric 8"''''''01 de J", rose. de ]\'U"tl ['1"'00. MeLico
G '," p'-,rrii a. 1956. 1\0<,1 \ '11 , ell. 2
). II""''''' ,'" 1m .11<>1.-0"'" I"" nI.' I""'",a" ell. 6 .
I . SaI,,,!:,in. 1100111 . CI,. S.
4. Ibid. , . fP"",li x " I Flovl ll.
5. Ib"l,Hnnl II.(Jl.24.
6. Ibid" llool-. II. 0. S
7. IlmJ.. BvoL II, o; 24 .
s. 1I>1d., IIl" ,k II, o; 21.
9. Ibid.. FI<,,>I< II. Ch. H .
10 .1001, Bov l.. II, o; 36.
1 l. IbiJ., FI<",k II. C1>. U .
12. 11wJ.. lk>ol.. "I, Ch. .11.
13.Il>iJ., Ilook \1,0,.:1.
11 I am I.. ,i,-~ "'pdf nO' ,h.· ,'i..",~ "f M.'Lel CT.Il." . ,,,1CeOl'g'" I)"''''-,j l.
IS. I ", ish t e. cmpha'i 'C a b"" i, fan, T he >ef",a!ion ufbeinl(' i' lim'le d lu lhe
re.1 unlet. It j, ",,1)' if I r"''''';" attached w the o"le r of ,h;fig. Ih.r rh"".,p-
.'d';" " i' m .r!. It u'" fac' rwl, I" ll ",ha' i, 1t",1 i>e,umal. ''I n' imd' d )••11 men
are one ."
If>. I" ,h e ';" 'I'I~ ,':",e u f d Ino,d"dg" o f the d"',,,,,. It j,., been ""'d tbll th. ,
'''''l> tha. I 'ek, '" <h,,,,' a l1"j,'i.,- i"fI"""",·. T h;, h)I""h",i. "Trn, pCli m·
16' to me . r he su bstance ot C hri <lian be lief, ;, ;, ,,,11 d, own t,om ,h" I"'''''io''.
'"
NOTCS
~liRiou, exper'~llCe dlLd 11..· wurl.1 oI "pic,e" b} ~ hogilll', inform.nt< h.. a

euberenc".l1 il. own. 1/ nttd be . the ...,lrlll' "I) p""'''~' 0 1 r".,,"u all in c Ollld
b,' ilLl e'p,eK-d.,.. CI"i"i onil ali on. But Ihi' OP'lLiOlL " pp"..... tIL nl<' 10 1...- hd' ed
on a co"tr'mp! fa.- ,h,· i\zUT'. whrc h. 1I must ~ ""'d, ~h'r.un see m. lIol te>
h..., shared .
n . Sahagun. Enol VIJ, o, 20 .
Ill. ",.n_. 11" " l IX. Ch. 4.
19. IW. , Iloo l iX. (.1,. 5.
20, ib id.. IJool, IX,i.;h. b.
2 I. Ib.n., Book IX. Ch. 10 .
n . l bkJ., Bouk IX, 0>. 7.
23. Ibid., Bouk IX. o, •. I] "".I 14.
24 . Th"", 'act> . ,e dr.,"'n from ,I,,: dUlhori. atj,., "lld~ In M."d ,\ \au" . Cn",
ill. k del,,, f.."lIlC el ,a("m ok l-ah""y.: <10", It> waifix arc}.,iquc,. in Ihe Annie
\Ocl'OOaiq"e, 1923·24, PI" 30-186. tr.", I"I~ d .. 11" GiJi : fuw. and ( ,,"'''om <f
f MhnnlJ'.' In Am"'", ~~ ".!< , """', 10.-1<: Nor lon . 1% 7
25. I ,et rn<' indica'e he,e 11..1 Iht· ,IUlI'e. ", I",...., r~l t5 I am pu bl" hlnr, he,..,
C:ome Ollt o t'111)' u.d'ng o( ,he f,m, ru, k tIon . 1(, h 'gi rr "'ith , reflection OIl pot_
bteh l.,.j me '0 to mn~ .t~ t he I"" , of(/<1"",1<XfVIt)ffl.' . IIIL' ,t ",.y b<, of ime,e.t
10 mton"on . 'p"dal dillie ultt, th., I ",. 1 h..n:1 pu' 10 ''''01, ... r he ge["",,1 prin-
c iple. ,I.., I int ro<luced . "'hic h e""blt one to 'nte rpr el . I.rgr numbe r 0 11,,[ I,.
lef, rHe~ [)cil) l " d ,' men '.' in Ihe polla ld" " hiel, in m} min<! remained Ih e ori-
gin of Ihooe f~t<. Pod ,m -b u nnOl he uo,lal e rdllJ illlerpll·, ed • •• ev"....,mpt'on
v I' 'kh.... II i. onl} r",-"n d , th.t I ha,'~ been . ble to , e[!lJt:e tI,t· [liITiLlll.~• • "'!
l' ;'''' ,Ilt: pri'oc;plt"" uf "gene ral eUlnom~'" • r. ther :ombiguotJ' lou",t..,;on. \ \1..,
it comes d',"'n 'u ;. 'ha, • ""Iuan<!..<'ng ot ene l"gl i ' "lu-a" , he 0r!"»i... d a
th ing, bu t i' enters im n u'n,i'!"r",,,,, "nl ~ one" II ha, "mered imo the <l. de<
of th ing., on~ il has bttn eh.n~,.J in. o • ' hinfJ.
P\ln rrtRrr
I. [ mil e Dermcnr,br,,,,, Tim"'lI""'Y" tit- rbi,,,,,, N,~.. '''T k. ,,,kUT.I p"m;"~m,,
er «welk< dr /0 r"'''''''II,m musu/ma",,_ £'P ' 17 1· H7.
'91
2. 'hd.. p. J11.
J. Of COU'""". Emi lf' I ~""",,\-""m D " .. II ~"~~ o f >hi" f....ht, or. ..... .....-i ~
->On«-,.\ookm ..,.,...,.. pr«Ml~ ''';nrd, ,.,........" •. . .Ml p. 1ll'1). Onmawt....,,\
u~ in l.L.nio """'<T' i'I ~ I.. No< .. nit..., .-In,;r.tbl, Ct>r"o«m-
'If' ,,-.....km m~... i<."" ·' ..-! 001, m"'l!- '" qtot.. ........ u hi. d;flic.. lt, III ~""Il
' o d.-fln<" f., o~ >"lIun ol .
-to lbod.. pp. 1l (,.11.
5. i\\.ourio.e G.•uddoo,. l J< _b)'~. l.a I~ m"""""''''~, I~ ... 194 6
(}nl u l. ). P. 120.
fo. ""d,., P. 121.

1. 1Nd., pp. 121-22
8. I I. IkJlu \3.'''''''''''''. "",pIot,.o.. Am bo. 194 6. p. n _
9. So:~ 1,..1" " . p. I{I(,II .
10 . Henri N..,. c1c...>oc. a ,e""",,"b l,' .,'ide in .1.. vie" L 'MtlnJ ~' /'Oo-o,'m'
(" I a f'O">i.. dr.>l", <!'An<!alo usi,' 0'1 " ' , rda'i<J'" poosibl Cli .",,,,1.> p",,\,e d"'Il""'-
b.to lnm.., ~ ppo 10 1 ~ )'0 Ih.. q,",,, Inl1 n f tho.· Aooalu,ian inUucrw;:e. A<" ""li'\l. In
the .u.hnr, L1, t' quul 'OI' , ..,,,,,,, h•.' ,lcCided cond""i,,,l, bul lh.. n>n l......""'•
• ' e qui l.. prur M."..-N!. r I", ) ...OflCcm not 001)' . he u",tn11, ..... bui<; . ht:mes.
bu. ~I.., II..· lu.m .,/ the ptl<:' 1}- n ", co i"""kno::" <:A ,I... &""'1 n:a "d An" pncll')'
of And.III'" (cl"''''''th c~'\lI')' I and b inh of !,,,,,'to"';.! c.,...., ll por:ot.,'Io.-nd
o f ,he M '.,n.h cenro., I .. .. n l i'!K' l-ur , <I.... ",lnion< bet"..,n ,I... !ipoo'NI
Mml.,,.,, ....,..Id ....1' .... Owi>!'''' " ..... Id of , North or~ n o' h ......,.' ".on bo
euabh>hrd pr...-j,..l)-
II . '>if Chon"" Jlo II,l'o"' ~1l el''''' Dalal Inmo. London, 1946-
12. 11000,.0' " lot a ~ to....... . he- M• .Icm c:<lUflOies thtt .......~ ....... e<jllilib-
ri\r.\. ..,.J c..;o,~ ...ban ..i,i l.u.""'. "ne ..... pre:) nI od_,,~ ho ..
....'YO' "'il """""lie. t.l":r <n, urb.n~ ,fter M -it'll: """""twown . bu ,mpn::
of. .... f,ou <0 "'1. ""-
11. S<:o R. Grou.."'., 15./0" "'" , ./ "',,",, r-u;", N an, 1946, ~" .... """'... " d<'s
"""""""', ~ I'p. 171-99
'94
" >T E S
Pun f o uR
I. Hi' famoo.". 'nodi.... on "the Prot"".mt ",hi<. .nd . Il,· 'piri' "r Ur"al i, m ,"
IJI< p'"mwnno.dt< Ethik und dN G.i," <1<, Kapitul" ",m. fi"t l'ub1i,hnJ in "",<I,,,.
fiT SotiaJ"'i,,,,,r""'h,,j' "Tr<! Sotia II"J",~. 'uk XX .r ~I XXI, 1904 ""d 19(15 . j;-.,m
, h" Ii ," ,01" ",,, 01 , he lMlfl""" <C7101oa", lub, ,,~," , 1911. J ' 01••
2. R. H. T''' "cy. Rd 'p'M uaJ 1M R"" .,r Caprla/ism (2nd ••d.) . """. - Yor" . 1'l47.
J. IbM..p.xn' i. n. ll.
4. IbM.• r- 9').
S. Quat.d Iry Taw""}, Ibod.. p. lOS.
c. Ibid.. p. 111.
7. Jhk/., 1'. 109.
8. h n y,h ing ,h.. I.., nC) "''' abl,," rh.. rq """ i" " or bI'l;l!i "10: alld '''II. ..''''''}
is 'lui,,· " ''''a,kabl" {"'... p. }6.~). On,· rard) "" U""L"'" • de...cr pc,c"I"i"" "f
,h,' action " I'<'< " nic i"w , ' '><' h"-dog,. I" ,h I. ,hc hru •.Ji'y "I -
"t,' hem "n ~ tt i"l; rid " I oorrprodua ll' pOV"," found .~ ,,, ..s.ion in ,it< ha"h·
." lOr,.". of 'Il< authoritarian "'hie. h"'" Il.i'[,0fl ~rlt Olll} 0 "". Iha' i'. bl' "'hich 00<' c." go to 'he limit' 0/ 'b" I"""hl.·.
1/. H" "" ,I", me<I,,,,,,1 '''pm,,,n'.. ',,n " ""I )' , ho' d"s,,>! f<'rm lrom " Il k h w,'
Ar" "·,,,u,..,I I>TCf' ,,, ,I,· I'l , I... Rd'"m. " ,,,, arKI ,t> lU""'''''' ''''''''''l"nu-'. fl,,'
tI", ""d.. " , repn ..""",. , ;"n<. ,he "de",.1 ,c p, e",,,,,,,;,,,,,. or ,he pd mithe re p
re,entAl ;"'" ha,,· afn''''' th e ,;une m...ni rll(, or" purer mc<m',,~. in om "j't'<.
12. It .hot~d be add"d: or " I' a ra'" mawr'al. indd ,ni teh .>o ibblc fi.>r ,I,,' u.e
of ,it< prod""", or merchant.
13. Wha. I mean 'pnifkaU} "Mnn.'K a<:tio". mo ' i'·.,cd b,' f,,,,l i r~ .Ild ",,-k-
I"" •• entin,cnt.l ""i,f.uiotl, " "'nt i"g 10 d o. ill . " oro. Ih.ol ",hi, h nnn,,'
b<' dolle, ho ' " ,,1)' c~p"""n<HI , ,e ......"...l "" gr.on· i. "T"""~ in ,I,.. , oh-i",,,
CO " ...· , ,, , " ".
11. All ,,~,.-li r't: pc"plc lurn,.hcd ii' ,he """'" furn'shed. " il l. 't:. 0" tl pn,,-;,
;"'''. d .. ,,,, 01 d ,e ",,,, f..c,, "ho "e, e ernpl,,)'e,! at sump'w" ...k,.
I.., E ACClJRS EO SHA "~
I'"",·~" I
1. JOITi' . I 'I f.R5.s. 10 krru' It, HOfHmt.' . Pari •. 194 'i, p. 133.
2. Ibi<!.
J. ··ChoW J k1lclod" in RIl.>ian.
4. Alnin>~l, Lo RIlSSJ<' T"",lut_ nalr' , Pari., 19 47. PI'. 168-69 .
5. Ibid" , p- 254.
6 . V_A. Kr.lvdK'tl ku . 1 (ht:M f " " k;w, 194(,. "If... "'~ tho l I h",,, m..l~ .-.I
th,. illlpo<.arli .JouJ.Jl\~ lI1, wh i~h i, <"" i" " ,I ) I>i"",d 1\11' a" , hc n' k, <;on,i". in
.J,a", in~ ou' ........'" of ,1..-- "",hf<:1 ",fo",u. lOJ\ " ~on'alJl." III k q ">lllJ: wnh <t1 1C'
t.tilk.al n ,I,,,, . h o m i'. fJ agJ-..n' ddidl:od."" i', conn--.dic'ion" its "'-'Jl<',lici.aUtie"
and , in gennal. hum the dmhor\ lac k of imeJlect llai so lidify, n,,{hinl( can bo'
n ",du,It,t! ~a,n" , he, boo~'. am ocn ticil}. 11 i, a docum~ "t ti k.. " fl}. nloc~, , ,,
h" "",d wi' h <olll ior., lit.: an} ot he r doclIm~llt.
7. lr. cI., p. 403.

8. 1/",1., p. 400.
9. \'Ii".ll. Clt ar ll h ~rl in , I Jw Ruman hfllrrKJ , Ne....· ~u .-t:, 1944, p. J 7 R.
10. K",.d",,,ku , PI" 4 71· J6 .
I I h ",",<;" i. P'-IT",",_, 1< Pk", .If.nT<h.,11 Of.' J·f ""'1'" J.k<uaH< a u mort<k, Pa ri., 1948.
I]. 1/,,,1., P 12·/ . TI.... . ",h"r ' I'.«;ifi.>._• I..w Ii"'" b ,c" ··T hu, dl1<s1cD1 h elt
h•• • bo< l' , I... ,.,m< ",.,an ' 'l; , ha' K~""". g i,-c< i' in the li",1 ~ "f the G<>n-
CToJJ Th<~"_~
13. 11-,.1. , p. 130 (i tal ic. in the o<igin al)_

14_ Ti,e <c" .llt o f tb~ ' .-.n",<;,iol1 ~'~n IJ<c ~n . b>~ ILt:e vf ",v fo l. v r ,..." , • lu " _. '
an "fk..t 'ba' wd< no' pru>-j .J"d for in it , w ,"'1',....,. Tbe I'dnd p lp i, unah ",
~bl'· I><JOL<d,dn'.
15. To V'I: t h,· pl.,. ", roined I')' /".n J.r'l U~' ~ .... c.-Schr~ib<-r. ~" I 'fk~i<kTlt
j Dl".t: '; 1c pa", . .... ,~, of ' emorbhl,- .,-tid.,. puhli4 cd ill i ' .t1e"a, of Janual"l
15, Iii, l1.nd IR, 1949 .
16. As s.,,~-an-s.:,hrdkr indicat es, and as p.-ogt""""i", Amer ic:>n intel k """,I, ."nd
to lhint , on<: ca n "x pe~'. ~"mid<: l"ab1c, '""I~ ,l mlJl,ronll~liolL u f 11K' in kl"<",1
,i'Ufi<ln " f the Uni , ~< 1 SI.le. 11"0'" lh~ . .....H' roc v i . . ...·w pu lil;cal I",u:. ,1"'1
of rbe , •..:J ~ un ;",,, .
,,6
NorCS
11. W ily de,l)' th~ Ian that the re ~;>n no 1 0l~ b" a '''''' ini, iat " .. ,Q....~"l i",I ,~
p" ooence "'" m., ~rr <>I count"", <>11><:. Ih"n til<: UW{ , .. ,hl" ,.d
n" l""'E"r h... any ITIc,;"'in~ nccp< ill do) ' 0 d,,) pol e mici ,
J 8. W hir h i. f",."1,,,n in ,h~ moment , md ependent "f a t>, k n~~d,~ 10 [,.,
c..<ri"d OlU .
19 . I do "",an fIIoba/' In Ihi....n...., ,ll.. 1.'~"'I.,.i,',"al iUf' "r " 'IIl"UII puliC),
;ndk.t"J in ' h" ~Tru,mll PI""." i, mOf<' ' n....ningl,,1 ,h.m the Marll1alf Plan i ~fI.
Il w in «-...·n' f"" li,h, of com ..., , ,, , ..... 'nfu' ion "I .h" probl~m of w.' in con-
,,,,c'ion " ilh ,he", ecotlOl1"C mea'''''''. In ac"",f fac., '''~n ir 11,..)' w.. ... ' mple-
m" ",e d in" ""io..", wOJ, ,oc")' 'm"fd on f)" di mi " . ' .. t1,,, """. "i'" no ' ,h.
I"",,,ibili,y. of war; but, wilb ,fl<: b.-lp uf II... 'C' ,ibl.. , h. ... , of , he- n" ",,,' ""'.p-
on" ,hat migh' " ,fii, e ill p.;nLi p1c. In ....~. co,.,. n"thin~ nlOre cou ld "".• Io n...
) 0. l><:,' .h",.., Pa., I \~ d ,. 2, "The Bourge<>i. World," p. 129.
) I. 1\01h;nl; b", 1""'>interi onl)'. " hic h i. nut .. 'hu,&.
n . The mo"",nt wou ld arriw when f""" ion "'",,Id "" long", h ' all agUI1 of
"""",,,,,;,,,,,,,-. It " 'ill b" said Ih"t " nil " m",ll11.n ro,,1<1 pt ', n';" ,· ,,>(,1. thill:'
ill ,h" I\.la",I",11 ~<><l -r i-u m~n pf."•• J .m that rn,,~man. Ill' he ..0') pr ""i,e ~"""
tl!;" ,he,'c i' ,h~ choic~ ol lwo ' hinw: Hth~.lhe 0p"':lfiOll ",m fail. u r tl,.. ",..1 -
man ", iJI aor;'.., a, the ",If-cnll'.c~ I ' p". 1< <Jf. bee"",,· rca,,,,, , !>e i'>g con-
!OciOll!it"'' . is r" ll) COn>ciotlS on l) if it ha, f~ an olJjct:{ tha' ,,!oid. i. no< ,educible
' 0 il. f apoIugi,~ (,,< in' Totl"" " 'g """",k,r."",,, I"'r~ ,ha' ' '' /<'' 10 0 preci"" bet:
that in ", he r U·_'ptTh ,Ix> .", ho. " I . h i, hoo k On economl i•• im ated (by . part
of hi. wo tt 1 in th~ fint; of mystic:> o f all ti mes (but he h """,.m.:J...,. br rrrno, ul
lTom alJ d ie p"'iupp<><it iot" of tI,.. "a rlu." rn~,tici"m, to ",hid, 1,,' " PI""'"
onl,. d ", luddi ' j' .,j ""!{-""",«)<,,,.,...).
(
'97
Illi. ~<l itl()" d"" ign.·,ll')· IlnK"." Mau
T, p~ compo>~,l h} I\,<"\'i.>at Ca' la,ljan C"m p", lt io n
Prlnt..d an.! bound Sm}·the~, n '" \,e.>'" {,""phin H"lI,<l",'
using s,, ~oadd-frtt P"P'"

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Format Tersedia

The Accurs ed Share

Gco q~cs Bar aill c

--~ t-lL;;,( ~ D ~I.>-o

li" Hm", l"'a) ~ite ~1lI

r....u p"'t of .hi, bouk n"' l h,-c'pnxh..."d. st<:.-c~1 in'

O rig,,,,,II} pIl>]ish<-rl in h a, o:" a, I a /btl lIa L,)" "

Pr inte<! in ,,,,. 11ni,. , 1 ~ .l,-"" <IfA",eri<;;o

/) i'lIioo,,,,1h) '1he 1\1 11 P"'''''

B"" ill•• G.-C'r-g<--';, 1l!W-1'Job,l.

Tran,Ia,;"" 01: La po'" ~ ,,,,,utll,,,.

-/ he .llr n fliTl8 of Geflem/l:coTlom} 19

t.o..~ of General f conv my 27

rwo I H I- H IS 1 0 IUCA L n ,\l ,\ I

SOcrIJU::I!: I and H'o r:\, oj the A l tcO' 4~

The Gifr oj &'-(l !ry: "Por/me-h" 63

The COIlC/ lJeriflfj Soc;erl': Mam 8 1

The Unarmed .'lacier I': Lamaism 93

The Onflim oj Cvpi/<llisUl <Jnd Ilj /! RefomJ< J/rOIl 1 I t,

So>';ff l"dllS!r;al17lJl;OTl 1., I

po sed IJ~' '$Cr; discipline concerned \\ ith th.. movement o ff'l1er~

i re'ul r is th J( such a boo k, b d ng o f interest to cvc eyo ne, could

olmtnd, the search for a soluuon i ~ an exul,.'r;m, .. , a su pc rfl u ity;

T heo reti cal Introduction

The Dependen ce oj' tlre Economy 0 11 th e Circula tion of

see m J itlicult to stu d}' the m as one might st lltl} an d emenlar}'

Th,. N,.,,..uity Df Lo~jllB t he f ..'C('ss [",.rBY ' hilt

t he pia} o f li""W matur in fJ"fWroJ. imohcd in the mO\l;~ m('nt o f

War Considered os 0 Cetostrophic E"pl'lldirurl'

us "f tl w c hoke 01 an e ~ lIll11t ion that m il/:ht suit us. Abo...., al l. it

Th e Supcratnmdoncc O( lIi ochc micClI f.ncroy

co ntribut io ns o f OI n ima.1o r h u ma n ..n.. rgy that enable i l~ 100J 10

t otal volume of li \·ing nature is not changed; in short, ir is the

The Fir~t Effec.l of Pressure: Ext ension

possession o f the air. '10 s ta rr w it h, it ,,-as impo n ant to en la~

The Second qferr of Pressure: Sq uander or Luxur}

Th.. tm '" re markablc is death. As we krx m , dl' ;)rh i' n nt nee-

ism rcprotl uc <-od rhroug h schsil'a ril) i,lo\l in th.. ru in s of rim e.

de tcnnmed lirmrs o f a pond. But the stilgn;lt io l\ 01 ti ,e .tll cb,,~...:1

is not c onceivable o n th e scale of the entire globe. " her~ in an y

The Three Luxuries of Nature:

onl) lic to oUr!;t'h "", In tho be ginning tM better to e"periencc

the n - in <I sudd..n reversa l - a, rhc pm!c)lJn.llruth ofihar m ono-

Ex te nsion Th rolJoh Labor Dlld TeclIIlDIOflY.

Tile A ccursed Shore

Under p.-csenl co ndit.ions, n ,; ryl hing r-onspires 10 obsc ure the

Opposithm of the "General" Viewpnillt to

me-nr of d ilapidat io n. w hic h impe ls us and even dcfints us, is not

~rrt'tl with the ab<n'('

Th e Solut ions of Ce ne rat t.wnomy an d

The Historical Data J

Society nj' Consumption and Society 0/ Enterprise

in~. The serious humanity o f growth becomes c ivili ll'·,1, mOT(' ge n-

Consumption in th e Al'tec \Vo,.,d y;e w

This my th is pa-atleled by th e belief th at no t onl} m,' n b ut

Th e Hu m an Sac ritices of lHl'xico

Intimacy oJ Executioners a nd Victims"

The Reliniou$ CJlClra cler o/ t he Wa,.$

I cut yourna vel ln t he middl e o f yuur body. Know ,mel unde r-

Your h ue land is clsodu:r..; yOll "r... prom ist,,1 lor ot he r places ,

TI ,e irulivi<lll,,1 w hu hrtJuJl;h l bac k a caprfvc had just as m uch

From the Primacy of Relig ion to the Prim {l C)'

Sau'i/ice 0,. Com;umptioll

th e po im ufholocaust. It is " !lough rhar the co nsu m pti o n of tlu-

inHnwc} fro", t he Iirst.