The coercive seizure of property has been an important phenomenon in the last two centuries of global history. From the age of colonial expansion and absolutism through the emancipations of unfree populations and the world wars and revolutions of the twentieth century, the large-scale taking and redistribution of property has driven profound political, economic and social change. Yet since the late writings of Max Weber, the role of expropriation in state formation and economic development has fallen by the wayside in political science, economics, and historical research. In this talk, historian Nicholas Mulder will explore what we can learn from taking the confiscatory dimension of state power seriously, as something more than just a dangerous force to be restrained, but also as a creative force whose power has reappeared over and over.
Organized as part of the annual theme 2026/27 ›Red Lines‹.
