Country Capitalism

How Corporations from the American South Remade Our Economy and the Planet

By Bart Elmore | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

The rural roads that led to our planet-changing global economy ran through the American South. That region’s impact on the interconnected histories of business and ecological change is narrated here by acclaimed scholar Bart Elmore, who uses the histories of five southern firms—Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, Walmart, FedEx, and Bank of America—to investigate the environmental impact of our have-it-now, fly-by-night, buy-on-credit economy. Drawing on exclusive interviews with company executives, corporate archives, and other records, Elmore explores the historical, economic, and ecological conditions that gave rise to these five trailblazing corporations. He then considers what each has become: an essential presence in the daily workings of the global economy and an unmistakable contributor to the reshaping of the world’s ecosystems. Even as businesses invest in sustainability initiatives and respond to new calls for corporate responsibility, Elmore shows the limits of their efforts to “green” their operations and offers insights on how governments and activists can push corporations to do better.

At the root, Elmore reveals a fundamental challenge: Our lives are built around businesses that connect far-flung rural places to urban centers and global destinations. This “country capitalism” that proved successful in the US South has made it possible to satisfy our demands at the click of a button, but each click comes with hidden environmental costs. This book is a must-read for anyone who hopes to create an ecologically sustainable future economy.

Editions of Country Capitalism

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469673332
Paperback
ISBN 9798893135787
EBook
ISBN 9781469673356
EBook
ISBN 9781469673349
EBook
ISBN 9798890840639
PDF
ISBN 9798890840622

Read an Excerpt

The rural roads that led to our planet-changing global economy ran through the American South. That region’s impact on the interconnected histories of business and ecological change is narrated here by acclaimed scholar Bart Elmore, who uses the histories of five southern firms—Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, Walmart, FedEx, and Bank of America—to investigate the environmental impact of our have-it-now, fly-by-night, buy-on-credit economy. Drawing on exclusive interviews with company executives, corporate archives, and other records, Elmore explores the historical, economic, and ecological conditions that gave rise to these five trailblazing corporations. He then considers what each has become: an essential presence in the daily workings of the global economy and an unmistakable contributor to the reshaping of the world’s ecosystems. Even as businesses invest in sustainability initiatives and respond to new calls for corporate responsibility, Elmore shows the limits of their efforts to “green” their operations and offers insights on how governments and activists can push corporations to do better.

At the root, Elmore reveals a fundamental challenge: Our lives are built around businesses that connect far-flung rural places to urban centers and global destinations. This “country capitalism” that proved successful in the US South has made it possible to satisfy our demands at the click of a button, but each click comes with hidden environmental costs. This book is a must-read for anyone who hopes to create an ecologically sustainable future economy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Country Capitalism about?

The rural roads that led to our planet-changing global economy ran through the American South. That region’s impact on the interconnected histories of business and ecological change is narrated here by acclaimed scholar Bart Elmore, who uses the histories of five southern firms—Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, Walmart, FedEx, and Bank of America—to investigate the environmental impact of our have-it-now, fly-by-night, buy-on-credit economy. Drawing on exclusive interviews with company executives, corporate archives, and other records, Elmore explores the historical, economic, and ecological conditions that gave rise to these five trailblazing corporations. He then considers what each has become: an essential presence in the daily workings of the global economy and an unmistakable contributor to the reshaping of the world’s ecosystems. Even as businesses invest in sustainability initiatives and respond to new calls for corporate responsibility, Elmore shows the limits of their efforts to “green” their operations and offers insights on how governments and activists can push corporations to do better.

At the root, Elmore reveals a fundamental challenge: Our lives are built around businesses that connect far-flung rural places to urban centers and global destinations. This “country capitalism” that proved successful in the US South has made it possible to satisfy our demands at the click of a button, but each click comes with hidden environmental costs. This book is a must-read for anyone who hopes to create an ecologically sustainable future economy.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Country Capitalism?

History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas

Where can I read a sample of Country Capitalism?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469673332

How long is Country Capitalism and how many pages does it have?

Country Capitalism has 248 page(s)

Is Country Capitalism part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series A Ferris and Ferris Book

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Country Capitalism?

Bart Elmore

Who is the Publisher of the book Country Capitalism?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Country Capitalism is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469673332) and paperback(ISBN 9798893135787) and ebook(ISBN 9781469673356) and ebook(ISBN 9781469673349) and ebook(ISBN 9798890840639) and pdf(ISBN 9798890840622)

Where can I buy Country Capitalism online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Country Capitalism from below

Where can I buy Country Capitalism?