Accumulation

Abstract

AbstractAccumulation—as both a process and a concept—has been of central importance to International Political Economy (IPE), especially for those approaches informed by Marxism and critical political economy. Whilst the concept has its roots in some of the key contributions to classical political economy, and especially that of Marx, it remains central to a rich stream of research within the field of IPE. This chapter sets out the importance and meaning of accumulation as a concept within IPE, both tracing its roots within the critical “wing” of the field, before proceeding to consider ways in which it informs ongoing research and scholarship. Accumulation, the chapter argues, is necessarily central to any attempt to delineate the scope of IPE, rightly drawing our attention towards a (the?) fundamental mechanism driving the uneven, changing, and contested expansion of global capitalism, as it develops over time.