#106 | Caliban And The Witch: The Body In The Transition To Capitalism w/ Silvia Federici
In this episode, Silvia Federici goes over many of the details and themes in her groundbreaking book "Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation," an extensive history of the body in the transition to capitalism. Silvia discusses the conditions that lead to the witch-hunts in medieval Europe, and the lasting impact these events have had on the trajectory of capitalist development into the modern era. Silvia provides a description of the social and economic system, feudalism, that governed societies in medieval Europe and how the events and struggles that occurred during that time period led to the economic and social system, capitalism, we currently exist in today. "Caliban and the Witch" is an incredibly important and relevant work, and provides a much needed context of how capitalism did not merely emerge naturally out of feudalism, but was enacted piece by piece through systemic acts of state violence over hundreds of years against the landless, the poor, and in particular women. Silvia goes over the details of her work in this episode.
Silvia Federici is is a scholar, teacher, activist, and the author of numerous books, including "Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation" and "Revolution at Point Zero: Housework, Reproduction, and Feminist Struggle." She is a professor emerita and Teaching Fellow at Hofstra University.
Episode Notes:
- Check out Silvia's book "Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation" here: https://www.akpress.org/calibanandthewitch.html
- Also, check out Silvia's book "Revolution at Point Zero: Housework, Reproduction, and Feminist Struggle" here: https://www.akpress.org/revolutionatpointzero.html
- Learn more about Silvia's most recent book "Wages for Housework: The New York Committee 1972–1977" here: https://www.akpress.org/wages-for-housework.html
- The songs featured in this episode are "Jstowee" and "Nvrending" by Knxwledge from the album Hud Dreems.
