The Invention of Power: Popes, Kings, and the Birth of the West

Western exceptionalism is the idea that European civilizations are freer, wealthier, and less violent than others. Bruce Bueno de Mesquita's book, The Invention of Power, argues that a single event in the twelfth century, the 1122 Concordat of Worms, changed the course of European and world history by creating a compromise between churches and nation-states that incentivized economic growth, facilitated secularization, and improved the lot of the citizenry. Countries with a similar dynamic of competition between church and state have been consistently better off than those that have not.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 10 March 2022
Publisher: PublicAffairs,U.S.

Western exceptionalism, the notion that European civilizations are freer, wealthier, and less violent, is a pervasive and influential political idea. It has brought about peace and prosperity in some societies while causing ethnic cleansing and chaos in others. However, in his book "The Invention of Power," Bruce Bueno de Mesquita presents a groundbreaking theory of Western exceptionalism. According to de Mesquita, a single, seldom discussed event in the twelfth century altered the course of European and world history. The 1122 Concordat of Worms, by establishing a compromise between churches and nation-states, effectively traded money for power and power for money. This agreement incentivized economic growth, facilitated secularization, and improved the well-being of the citizenry, setting European countries on a path to prosperity.

In the centuries since, countries that have experienced a similar dynamic of competition between church and state have consistently outperformed those that have not. The Invention of Power challenges conventional notions about European culture, religion, and race and presents a compelling new perspective on world history. By examining the historical roots of Western exceptionalism, de Mesquita offers a fresh understanding of the forces that have shaped the modern world.

Weight: 556g
Dimension: 164 x 243 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781541768758