The Brenner Debate

• Preface; Introduction R. H. Hilton; 1. Agrarian class structure and economic development in pre-industrial Europe Robert Brenner; 2. Population and class relations in feudal society M. M. Postan and John Hatcher; 3. Agrarian class structure and the development of capitalism: France and England compared Patricia Croot and David Parker; 4. Peasant organization and class conflict in Eastern and Western Germany Heide Wunder; 5. A reply to Robert Brenner Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie; 6. Against the neo-malthusian orthodoxy Guy Bois; 7. A crisis of feudalism R. H. Hilton; 8. In search of agrarian capitalism J. P. Cooper; 9. Agrarian class structure and economic development in pre-industrial bohemia Arnost Klima; 10. The Agrarian roots of European capitalism Robert Brenner; Index.

'In their brief editorial introduction to this volume, Aston and Philpin remark: 'The Brenner Debate … may justifiably lay claim to being one of the most important historical debates of topical years, and goes back, in one form or another, to at least the time of Marx'. The republication of the debate, as it appeared in the journal Past and Present from 1976 to 1982, together with a fresh, short introduction by Rodney Hilton, is therefore to be welcomed. For a debate as important and wide-ranging as this is, publication in one volume is vital.' Journal of Historical Geography