Forced Labour and the Destruction of the Marketplace: Economic Violence in Fourteenth-Century English and Eastern Mediterranean Discourses

Abstract

ABSTRACT The article is a contribution to transcultural comparative political theory. It explores fourteenth century Ibn Khaldun and William of Pagula by utilising the concept of economic violence. Both authors, although they have different cultural-religious backgrounds, argue against the ruler's abuse of power, particularly the violation of market rules, depriving the subjects of the fruits of their labour and the appropriate market price for their goods. Even though the abuse of the subjects' moral economic rights in more sophisticated in Ibn Khaldun's analysis, it is argued that both authors speak against the violation of similar principles of economic justice.