Econocide: British Slavery in the Era of Abolition

In this classic analysis and refutation of Eric Williamss 1944 thesis, Seymour Drescher argues that Britains abolition of the slave trade in 1807 resulted not from the diminishing value of slavery for Great Britain but instead from the British publics mobilization against the slave trade, which forced London to commit what Drescher terms "econocide." This action, he argues, was detrimental to Britains economic interests at a time when British slavery was actually at the height of its potential.

Originally published in 1977, Dreschers work was instrumental in undermining the economic determinist interpretation of abolitionism that had dominated historical discourse for decades following World War II. For this second edition, which includes a foreword by David Brion Davis, Drescher has written a new preface, reflecting on the historiography of the British slave trade since this books original publication.