Kenneth Pomeranz and Steven Topik state that, historically, "bloody hands and the invisible hand often worked in concert." What do they mean? What examples do they provide to illustrate this point? What other historical examples can you cite as supporting this point?

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The Answer is Kenneth Pomeranz and Steven Topik are referring to the historical relationship between violence and economic forces. The "bloody hands" represent the use of force, coercion, and violence to achieve economic goals, while the "invisible hand" refers to the concept of market forces and capitalism. They argue that throughout history, these two forces have often worked together to shape economic outcomes.

One example they provide to illustrate this point is the role of colonialism in the expansion of global capitalism. European powers used military force to conquer and exploit colonies, while also benefiting from the economic opportunities that these colonies provided. This demonstrates how violence and economic forces were intertwined in the process of colonial expansion.

Another example they provide is the use of forced labor, such as slavery or indentured servitude, to drive economic growth. In these cases, violence was used to coerce people into working for the benefit of the economy, showing the connection between bloody hands and the invisible hand.

Other historical examples that support this point include the role of violence in the establishment of monopolies and the use of military force to secure access to resources. For instance, the East India Company used military force to establish a monopoly on trade in India, demonstrating how violence and economic interests were closely linked in the pursuit of profit.

Overall, Pomeranz and Topik's argument suggests that throughout history, the use of force and violence has often been intertwined with economic interests, and that these two forces have worked in concert to shape the course of economic development.

Kenneth Pomeranz and Steven Topik State That, Historically, "Bloody Hands