The transition debate has been a subject of discussion among scholars for a long time. The transition debate was originally known as the Dobb-Sweezy debate. Dobb’s-Sweezy transition debate initially began between the Marxists scholars and later on was debated by Marxists and non-marxists scholars too.
The transition debate began when Maurice Dobb published his work “studies in the development of capitalism” in 1946. However, Paul Sweezy strongly opposed the work of Dobb. This debate between the two expanded as a wide range of historians started supporting either Dobb or Sweezy.
The main controversy revolved around as to what were the causes that led to the transition were the causes internal or external, which classes were responsible for this change, and another issue was how many stages were involved in the transition.
According to Dobb, there were two stages, while according to Sweezy there were three stages. Before the transition debate began, Henri Pirenne gave it a background according to him the decline of feudalism and the consequent rise of capitalism was in terms of a so-called “commercialization model."
According to this model, the declining power of the Islamic world opened trade for Europe. This had a widespread effect on Europe as now they would be able to develop trade relations with other countries.
Studies in the Development of Capitalism:
Maurice Dobb published his work “studies in the development of capitalism” in 1946. His work challenged the commercialization model. In his works, he tried to explain how feudal society declined and a capitalist society emerged. He provided the first major explanation for the decline of feudal society.
According to Dobb the decline of the feudal system was internal. As technology was absent, low productivity, the lavish needs of the lords, more need for tax for compensating the countries wars need, these combined acted as a decline for feudalism.
He also explains that the process of transition was slow all over Europe due to various reasons. According to Dobb, the transition process had two stages.
Sweezy Argument:
Paul Sweezy strongly disagrees with Dobb’s identification and his explanations for the transition. According to him, Dobb’s theory does not have any historical work that can support his theory.
He also disagrees with Dobb’s explanation that there were internal factors that led to the decline of the feudal society. While according to Sweezy the factors were external which led to the decline of the feudal society such as long-distance trade and market, urban trading centers.
Sweezy explains that the feudal society lacked trade and market as the objective feudal society was production for self-consumption.
He said that the transition process had three stages, 1) from 9th to 14th-century feudalism was dominant in Europe, 2) from 14th to 17th century there was a distinct phase which was neither feudal nor capitalist, 3) from the 18th-century capitalism started in Europe.
Conclusion:
The debate between the two economists was on every aspect of the transition. As for Dobb, the definition of feudalism has 2 key aspects, whereas for Sweezy it had been the target of production that was of importance.
Dobb called feudalism a dynamic mode of production, while Sweezy disagrees with this and calls it a static mode of production. This debate is still unresolved and is going on. Different historians are supporting either side and are also giving explanations for them.
Written by: Priyanshu Bhardwaj
Edited by: Gourav Chowdhury
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