Imperial Germany and the Industrial Revolution

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Although published shortly after the outbreak of war, much of Veblen's work was completed before August 1914. "Imperial Germany and the Industrial Revolution" serves as a prescient anticipation of Germany's role in the Great War and the ensuing horrors. However, the primary focus is on the cultural and historical divergences between English-speaking and German-speaking peoples, and their economic and social consequences. Initially suppressed by war censors, the work gained recognition post-war as a significant contribution to economics and sociology. Veblen's extensive knowledge makes this a fascinating read. He begins with Baltic archaeology and explores the roots of Germanic culture and its English offshoot. A vivid portrayal of contemporary small-town America, influenced by his own immigrant background, adds depth. This includes a notable early depiction of the American Babbitt, found in Supplementary Note IV. Many of Veblen's famous ideas from "The Theory of the Leisure Class" are also summarized here. Critics have noted the timeless relevance of his insights. Charles A. Beard remarked that Veblen wrote for the ages, while Wesley C. Mitchell observed that the forces making Imperial Germany efficient continue under the Nazi regime. Lewis Mumford described the work as the best depiction of the residual barbarisms in German civilization. This edition includes an introduction by Joseph Dorfman from February 1939.