The Sociology of Imperialisms

Joseph Schumpeter is the well-known Austrian economist and sociologist who popularized the phrase “creative destruction.” In this book, he argues that imperialism is not at all a product of capitalism. People who want to trade do not like war. On the contrary, it is the pre-capitalist mentality that fuels nationalism and imperialism — although capitalist businesses do adapt to imperialism and war. Read this short book by one of the intellectual giants of the 20th century.