# Weatherhead Research Cluster on Global History ## *Capitalism: A Global History* on Tour ### By Erin Goodman ![Two-image collage of book cover and a photo of a man in a suit signing a book at a table while another man holding a wine glass stands nearby and people converse in the background at an indoor event.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/2026-05/SVEN%20BOOK%20TALKS.png?itok=eFiLS_gx) Faculty Associate Sven Beckert signs books in London. Credit: Sarah BanseThe Weatherhead Center has supported the research of Faculty Associate Sven Beckert and his global history projects for twelve years. This partnership has catalyzed several conferences, dozens of visiting postdoctoral fellows and scholars, and now, a seminal new volume weighing in at over 1,200 pages—the book *Capitalism: A Global History* (Penguin Random House). The book spans nearly one thousand years, arguing that capitalism is a human-made system that is inherently global, tracing its origins in Asian, African, and European merchant communities to the modern era. The institution of slavery, imperialism, and global networks all were fundamental to capitalism’s success, rather than defining it as a Western concept or being solely driven by free markets. Fellow Harvard historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr. said of the new book: “Drawing on astonishing research across multiple continents, Beckert’s new book is a landmark achievement that reorients our understanding of capitalism as an evolving, evercontested human creation.” In March, Beckert addressed a group of London-based Harvard alums at the invitation of the Harvard Club of the United Kingdom. At the event dinner, Beckert gave an overview of his book and answered questions from over thirty alums. In April, we held a larger event in New York City, with 163 registrants, for a book talk and signing at the Harvard Club of New York. Attendees engaged with Beckert’s book and the author in a lively and thoughtful Q&A which was hosted by the Harvard Club’s Programs Committee. --- ## More from this issue [### Spring 2026, Volume 40 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026) ![Half of graphic is a photo of the sphinx at Giza and the other half is a large duotone blue W with the words "Centerpiece" overlaid in white.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/Cover-Social-16x9.png?itok=yIQDs2tG) [### Message from the Executive Director ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/executive-director) ![Headshot of Erin Goodman alongside her name and title, set against a gray background.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/ED%20MESSAGE_0.png?itok=zl7q3V2t) [### Of Note ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/of_note) ![Outside view of Knafel yard and buildings.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/OF%20NOTE.png?itok=eUHHelYe) [### New Books ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/newbooks) ![Collage of a dozen or so book covers, all in different sizes, against a gray background.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/NEW%20BOOKS.png?itok=zgJxB3-A) [### In Conversation with Erez Manela and Kendall Carll ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/feature_interview) ![Student Kendall Carll and Professor Erez Manela sit, in conversation, on a green sofa with a plant in the background.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/INTERVIEW%20W%20EREZ.png?itok=Epj4qu_6) [### The Mechanics of Public Man-Made Death: USAID’s Destruction At One Year ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/feature_jodidi) ![Atul Gawande, gesturing with his hands, speaks in conversation with Erez Manela in a wood paneled room.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/JODIDI%20EXCERPTS.png?itok=zX9l5uDS) [### Student Programs ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/prog_student) ![A group of 19 people pose and smile for a photo in an office setting, standing in front of sofas and framed artwork on the wall.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/AtTheCenter-Students-GSA%20Group.jpg?itok=gU3G9jzC) [### Weatherhead Scholars Program ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/prog_wsp) ![Four people stand side by side, smiling, in front of a wall with the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics logo.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/WSP%20AND%20GAP.png?itok=R71eSEiH) [### New Faculty Associates ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/new_faculty) ![Collage of twelve professional headshots in circular frames alongside a list of their names.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/FACULTY%20ASSOCIATES_0.png?itok=MQ93qC92) [### Harvard Alumni Summit: Middle East and Africa ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/has-mea-conference) ![A woman holding a microphone speaks on stage at the Harvard Alumni Summit Middle East & Africa, with the event logo in the background.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/HARV%20ALUMNI%20SUMMIT.png?itok=W13J1oLe) [### Spring 2026 Photo Gallery ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/photo_gallery) ![Five professionals stand next to each other, each holding their own book and smiling.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/EVENTS.png?itok=rOADf5IT) [### In Memoriam ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2026/in_memoriam) ![Graphic shows the names Michael McElroy (1939-2026) and Pierre Keller (1927-2026) against a duotone blue background.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/IN%20MEMORIAM.png?itok=A9bpn5dU) See also:- [ Centerpiece: Spring 2026 ](/newsletter-issues/centerpiece-spring-2026)