The Domestication of Competition: Social Evolution and Liberal Society

Competition has been deeply ingrained in modern life, improving policies, products, and services but also dividing people. This book argues that competition was domesticated, harnessed, and institutionalized in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries to legitimate power distributions in emerging liberal societies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 330 pages
Publication date: 16 February 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Competition is an integral part of modern life, with the potential to drive positive change by improving policies, products, and services. However, it is also often viewed as a source of division and conflict, pitting individuals against each other. In this book, author Jonathan Hearn challenges these caricatures by presenting a fresh thesis on the origins and evolution of competition in society.

Hearn argues that competition was not just a natural phenomenon but was deliberately cultivated, harnessed, and institutionalized across various spheres of life in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. This formalization of competition emerged in response to crises in traditional forms of authority, such as hereditary and religious rule. By introducing competition into the economy, politics, and new forms of knowledge creation, societies sought to legitimize power distributions in the emerging liberal order.

This insightful study aims to enhance our critical understanding of competition by exploring its multifaceted role in shaping liberal societies. Hearn delves into the historical, economic, and social factors that contributed to the domestication, harnessing, and institutionalization of competition. He also examines the ways in which competition has influenced power distributions, economic growth, social mobility, and cultural change.

Through his comprehensive analysis, Hearn provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of competition and its impact on modern life. He challenges readers to think critically about the benefits and drawbacks of competition, and encourages them to consider alternative approaches to promoting social welfare and equity.

In conclusion, this book offers a fresh perspective on the origins and evolution of competition in society. By challenging traditional narratives and providing a comprehensive analysis, Hearn helps us better understand the complex dynamics of competition and its role in shaping liberal forms of society. This insightful study will be of interest to scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of power and inequality in modern society.

Weight: 628g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009199155