Origins of Our Time

Origins of Our Time examines 20th-century historical events and the impacts of 21st-century political economy, focusing on the intersections of historical accuracy, political ideologies, and economic theories. It critically assesses neoliberalism, class theory, economic policies, and their consequences, while also exploring historical narratives and their modern implications.

20th-century history 21st-century political economy Neoliberalism Class theory Economic policies Historical narratives Political ideologies

The hottest Substack posts of Origins of Our Time

And their main takeaways

The Marxism of Black Reconstruction

275 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture History Politics Philosophy Literature Race
  1. Riley argues that the Marxism of Black Reconstruction challenges the claims that W.E.B. Du Bois was not an intersectional theorist and not a Marxist, but a Jeffersonian supporter.
  2. Du Bois did not see small family farmers as the main protagonists in his work, but rather focused on the broader social relations and class struggles.
  3. Du Bois was aligned with the Marxist tradition and held socialist views, advocating for workers' rights, socialism, and the redistribution of wealth.

Two Cheers for Conspiracy Theories

314 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conspiracy Theories
  1. Questioning official narratives is important when evidence suggests a cover-up.
  2. The CIA has a history of lying and covering up information related to the JFK assassination.
  3. Connections between Oswald, the CIA, and Cuban exiles raise doubts about the lone gunman theory.

Lessons That Can't Be Learned

373 implied HN points • 03 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture History Literature Politics Society Ideology
  1. Historiography can be more than just a hazing ritual for graduate students, it's about the overall relationship between evidence and argument in historical research.
  2. Neoliberalism and conservatism have overlapping values and affiliations, challenging the idea of a rigid separation between the two ideologies.
  3. The book overlooks significant cultural and social issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights while focusing on economic and political aspects, revealing a limited perspective.
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The Mighty Wurlitzer Plays On

314 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
  1. The discussion revolves around Jennifer Burns' research on Milton Friedman in relation to Chile and Pinochet.
  2. There is a focus on how individuals like Paul Rosenstein-Rodan were involved in covert US operations against Allende in Chile.
  3. There is criticism towards Burns for defending Friedman's record by attacking Allende and psychologizing Friedman's critics.

Two papers about Wassily Leontief

314 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🚌 Education Economics History
  1. Wassily Leontief invented input-output economics, using double-entry matrices to analyze economic sectors.
  2. Leontief's work could be used in various economic systems and his techniques faced opposition from business interests.
  3. Leontief's papers from 2016 gained more interest due to relevance in industrial policy and investment planning.

The Longer History of "Derisking"

176 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
  1. The concept of derisking in government policies for ensuring returns to private investors has a longer history than the 1990s Washington Consensus.
  2. Historical proposals, like David Friday's from the 1920s, suggest the idea of government insuring private losses to stimulate production.
  3. The interplay between derisking and military mobilization through history sheds light on the evolving landscape of political economic conflicts.

Big in Germany

255 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
💾 History Cold War Economic Theory Industrial Policy
  1. Keynesianism focuses on managing demand in the economy.
  2. Military Keynesianism emerged as a response to global crisis and the Cold War.
  3. Implementing Keynesian ideas, especially in relation to military spending, involves navigating class issues.