Un capitalisme de la finitude. Entretien avec Arnaud Orain

What kind of capitalism is possible in a world of limited resources? To answer this question, economist and historian Arnaud Orain discusses an increasingly predatory and authoritarian form of capitalism, drawing on his recent book, "The Confiscated World: An Essay on the Capitalism of Finitude (16th-21st Centuries)" (Flammarion, 2025). Adapted to a world of limited resources, this "capitalism of finitude" seeks to privatize and militarize the seas and territories, impose high prices, consolidate resource "silos," and reserve exclusive markets. Drastically reducing our energy consumption is one alternative to this authoritarian capitalism, but the means to protect it remain unclear. Politika, Politics Tested by the Social Sciences LabEx Tepsis, supported by the EHESS https://www.politika.io/ 00:00 A Capitalism of Finitude 00:15 How can we define the current “capitalism of finitude”? 07:20 Compared to previous cycles, has the word “finitude” changed its meaning today? 10:06 “The distinction between war and peace is losing its relevance because we are always in both at the same time.” 13:24 Can the strategy of state-owned corporations, non-public actors in this capitalism, diverge from that of states, or even oppose it? 15:46 Is there an alternative to this authoritarian capitalism?