HST 103 The West and the World – Debate on the Origins of Capitalism
Important Dates:
Thu 9/8 Groups Formed
Tue 9/27 Group Turns in Name of Speaker (You must, thus, meet your group before this)
Thu 10/20 Research Report 1 Due
Thu 10/27 Research Discussion Day in Class
Tue 11/22 Research Report 2 Due
Tue 11/29 Research Discussion Day in Class
Date and Time of Debate TBA
Debate Topic:
Weber posits (most clearly) on p. 49 that religion was only one component of the explanation of
modern capitalism's rise. He states, “We shall not defend here two foolish and doctrinaire theses
in any form (1) that the capitalist spirit...could have originated only as an expression of certain
influences of the Reformation, and (2) that capitalism as an economic system was a creation of
the Reformation...[R]eligious influences co-participated in the qualitative formation and
quantitative expansion of this spirit across the globe.”
Your debate will focus on the origins of capitalism. One side will argue that ideas and cultural
factors (including but not exclusive to Protestant connections with capitalism) outweighed
material causes of capitalism. The other team will argue in favor of material origins.
Group Research Areas:
Group 1: What forms did capitalism take and in what geographic locales? Was capitalism
synonymous with free trade or did state regulation and intervention foster its development?
There have been numerous sorts of markets, forms of regulation and relations between markets
and states/nations. Your group will compare and contrast forms of the market to examine more
precisely what is meant by the term capitalism. You will examine these questions by looking at
four regions (including the England, Germany, the Atlantic trade, and one non-western nation of
your choice). You must examine material relating to the time period from 1650 until
Group 2: What was the relationship between capitalism and industrialization? Industrialization,
of course, involves technology, buildings, infrastructure, the systematic organization of labor and
science. Much of this relates to material relations (note, that is not the same thing as a cause) but
there are numerous cultural factors to be considered in the development of industrialization.
Since industrialization is such an important development your group will consider it alone and
Group 3: What were the material factors that led to capitalism? Each team will weigh both
material and intellectual/cultural factors. Your group will focus on material origins.
Industrialization will be secondary to your considerations but you will, of course, have to think
about it among factors like technological invention and innovation, the development of business
practices, the origins of capital (such as the process known as primitive accumulation), the
formation of trade networks and markets. If your team is arguing for this position, you will, of
course be playing a central role in formulating the main argument of your team. If you are
arguing the other side, you will be providing your team with the best arguments you think the
other team will come up with. Either way you will be playing an important role.
Group 4: What were the cultural and intellectual origins of capitalism? Your group will consider
Weber’s argument, responses to that argument and alternative arguments that focus on cultural
and intellectual shifts relating to the development of capitalism. These might include intellectual
shifts with regard to the practice of usury, ideas regarding the importance of trade or business,
ideas regarding the formation of companies and colonies (remember, many colonies were trade
oriented), If your team is arguing for this position, you will, of course be playing a central role in
formulating the main argument of your team. If you are arguing the other side, you will be
providing your team with the best arguments you think the other team will come up with. Either
way you will be playing an important role.
Group 5: What were the repercussions of capitalism? Because Weber is mainly concerned with
finding the origins of “spirit of capitalism” rather than capitalism’s day-to-day workings, he
leaves us with very little understanding regarding how people lived and survived in this system.
Your group will assess the social and economic consequences of capitalism by looking at the
haves and have-nots in capitalist societies.
Exchange emails and phone numbers with members in your group. You should plan to meet as a
team over the course of the semester so that you can prepare for the two debate discussion days
during week 10 and 15 of the semester.
Teams and Groups:
You will be divided into groups to pursue the questions listed above. Your group will do
research together and prepare materials together. One or two of you will be designated group
spokespersons for purposes of the final debate. Grading will be based on whether you are a
speaker or a researcher. In addition, two speakers will be designated debate captains whose extra
responsibility (which will mean less research work) will include the coordination of the overall
arguments and a more active role on debate day.
Researchers will play two roles. First, you will be responsible for much of the legwork – going
to the library, setting up interviews with faculty on campus and conducting those interviews. You
will not be solely responsible for research but you will be most involved in that process. You will
have to provide materials for the other members of your group to read (they will do searches as
well). Each group will generate 2 Research Reports (summaries) of the material for other groups.
In addition, you will keep track of your work on research forms provided on the web (Dr.
Merithew’s website and Dr. Hume’s quickplace). Before and on debate day you will be
responsible for making sure that your speakers have all the information they need and any last
minute information you may gather during the debate. Each researcher will also turn in a final
Reflection Paper which analyzes the outcome of the debate.
Speakers will also play two roles in addition to assisting researchers. First, you will be
responsible for getting together with the other speakers on your team prior to debate discussion
days. You will compare reports prepared by the groups and prepare suggestions for how the team
as a whole should present your main arguments. On debate day that will be the job of the debate
captains. The exact strategies and order of arguments will be decided by the team as a whole
during the second debate discussion day. In addition, on debate day, each speaker will turn in a
summary of argumentative material to be addressed in the debate.
Debate Materials to be Turned In:
The Debate Project is worth 30% of your semester grade.
At the end of the semester each group will turn in a folder with the following materials:
Research Forms – These will indicate who performed what work for how long. (2.5%)
Bibliography – Each group will prepare an annotated bibliography describing the books,
articles and web materials used to prepare for the debate. Each group should expect to
read at least two books and three to five articles which will be supplemented by materials
from the web. Our library tour will introduce you to numerous research resources. The
internet should not be your main source for materials. (2.5%)
Each group will also turn in during the semester:
Research Reports – There will be two debate discussion days during the course of the
semester. The first will take place on October 27 and the second on November 29. On
those days, with the class, you will discuss your overall arguments, strategize about the
order of speakers and prepare for the debate itself. The reports must be given to speakers
one week prior to each of the debate discussion days in order for them to discuss the
materials. These reports should be roughly 4-5 pages in length so that the speakers have
approximately 20-25 pages of material to sift through as they prepare for their debate
presentations. (7.5% each, total 15%)
For Speakers – Each Speaker will turn in a prepared debate statements with arguments and
points of debate. (5%) Speakers will also be graded based on debate performance (5%)
For Researchers – Each Researcher will turn in a Reflection Paper on the Monday of finals week
(Dec 12). This paper will analyze the outcomes of the debate and your research and will be
approximately 5 pages in length (10%)
Debate Day:
On the day of the debate both sections will meet and conduct the big showdown in the following
way. Drs. Merithew and Hume will host the debate and volunteer judges will be recruited from
faculty and staff. The debate will last two hours. Both sides will have 5 minutes for opening
arguments. Then we will commence round one. Each team will have ten minutes to make their
main points and five minutes for rebuttal. Then there will be a ten minute break so that teams can
consider any changes they wish to make for round two. Round two will proceed identically to
round one. Debate captains should not participate as much in round two so that they can put the
finishing touches on their closing statements which will also be 5 minutes in length. The debate
judges will then deliberate on the winners and announce their conclusion.
Opening statements – 10 minutes (total).
Round One – 30 minutes.
Break – 10 Minutes
Round Two – 30 Minutes
Closing Statements – 10 minutes.
Note: During the trial you will not be allowed to bring in computers and your cell phones
must be turned off at the door.