The three engines of history

In this short video Neil Faulkner introduces his book a 'A Radical History of the World'. Neil often told me that if I was stuck for a subject to post on the website this book would speak to me. It does.

 

What drives history?

In this five minute interview, Neil Faulkner, author of A Radical History of the World, argues that for thousands of years there have been three main engines of history driving human development: technological change, the emergence of class societies, and struggle from below.

He also explains why an understanding of the past is vital to the success of radical movements around the world today.

A Radical History of the World is available to buy now for £14.99. Click here for more info.

This article was originally posted on the Pluto press website and can be located here.

History is a weapon. The powerful have their version of events, the people have another. And if we understand how the past was forged, we arm ourselves to change the future…

Produced as a companion resource to Neil Faulkner’s new book, A Radical History of the World, this illustrated timeline highlights some of the key events that have shaped our history: from the ancient empires of Persia and Rome, to the Russian Revolution, 2008 Financial Crisis and beyond.

Click here to view the full-sized version.


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Neil Faulkner is the author of Alienation, Spectacle, and Revolution: a critical Marxist essay (out now on Resistance Books). He is the joint author of Creeping Fascism: what it is and how to fight it and System Crash: an activist guide to making revolution. Neil sadly passed away in 2022.

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