Bungacast

On writing the history of capitalism.

Political theorist Corey Robin talks to Alex H and Alex G about what is wrong with Sven Beckert's monumental new Capitalism: A Global History.

Have historians returned to writing about big themes and grand narratives?

Why does Beckert date capitalism's emergence to 12th century Arabia?

Is capitalism essentially about free markets and free trade – or about the state, coercion, violence?

If capitalism has no beginning and no end, then does that mean we're still at the end of History?

Links:

The Long Revolution, Corey Robin (review of Sven Beckert), The Nation

/481/ Everything is Plausible: Oligarchy – or Worse ft. Corey Robin

On global shortages and their political consequences.

Benjamin Bradlow, assistant professor of sociology and international affairs at Princeton, talks to Alex and Lee about the world-historic impact of the Hormuz Strait closure.

How will shortages – beyond oil and gas – reverberate through global supply chains?

Why are markets so sanguine about all this? Are financial economic elites too insulated from consequences?

Will China be the big beneficiary as more countries turn to importing its tech for renewables?

Do countries want to trade dependency on the Middle East or US for dependency on China?

Would a world of energy autarky be more or less peaceful?

Are "electrostates" a thing?

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Links:

The Winners and Losers of the Iran Energy Shock, Benjamin Bradlow, Foreign Affairs

The energy crisis may just be starting, Martin Wolf, FT

Audio from the live event held at Verdurin, London, on 28 May 2026.

The OG Bunga Boys - Alex, George, and Phil - present their takes, followed by responses from contributing editor Lee Jones and friend-of-the-pod Nina Power - and audience questions.

On Roland Barthes' Mythologies.

Alex, George, and contributing editor Catherine Liu delve into Barthes' 1957 classic to understand the form of ideology critique it proposes – and particularly as it relates to left and right.

If the bourgeoisie generates myth, is revolution a cathartic act that gets us beyond myth?

Is the direct producer also unable to speak myth, or is this a romanticisation?

What are predominant left-wing myths today? Is "left vs right" a myth of sorts?

Is the critic of myths condemned to live a "theoretical sociality"? Should people just be allowed to enjoy things?

For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast

On world money and war.

Costas Lapavitsas, professor of economics at SOAS, London, talks to George and Alex about financialisation, arrested development, and the Strait of Hormuz.

What is the state-led stabilisation of finance capital?

How does today's imperialism differ from prior versions – even if they also inhibited development outside the core?

What is the "liquidity tribute" that developing countries must pay?

How is the war on Iran a perfect case of dollar imperialism: "the dollar and the F35"?

Why is the talk of "colonialism" today a distraction?

London event: History's Back, Baby!

Links:

A Topography of the New Dollar Imperialism, Costas Lapavitsas, NLR

Trump’s Chaotic Imperialism: Economic Warfare, Geopolitical Truculence and Domestic Authoritarianism, Costas Lapavitsas, Socialist Register

For forthcoming Monthly Review article, see here

/139/ Dollar Empire ft. Yakov Feygin & Dominik Leusder

/142/ Dollar Empire (2) ft. Daniel Bessner