Finitude Capitalism - Neoliberalism’s Predatory Turn

They are speaking on the occasion of the Dutch translation of Orain's new book, The Finitude of the World: Boundless Capitalism from the Seventeenth Century to Today. In this work—with a foreword by De Gruyter—Orain argues that while the neoliberal dream of uninterrupted growth has faded, capitalism itself is alive and well. The current phase is not new but part of a recurring historical dynamic: when the world is perceived as finite and resources are limited, capitalism shifts into an aggressive mode of rapid appropriation and exploitation. We see this "Finitude Capitalism" today in the privatization and militarization of the seas, in the rise of monopolistic trade, and in the rise of large private corporations claiming quasi-sovereign control over physical and digital space.

How did this shift from liberal to predatory capitalism come about? Who benefits—and who loses—in this race to the bottom? What does this mean for Europe's economic and geopolitical future? And can we still turn the tide?

Arnaud Orain

Arnaud Orain is an economist and historian, specialized in the evolution of capitalism, economic thinking and historical economic systems. Since 2023, he has been director of studies at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris (EHESS). He wrote several books, including 'The Life of Ideas: The Politics of Utopia', 'Les savoirs perdus de l'économie: Contribution à l'équilibre du vivant' and 'Le monde confisqué: Essai sur le capitalisme de la finitude (XVIᵉ – XXIᵉ siècle)'.

Caroline de Gruyter

Caroline de Gruyter is an author and journalist based in Brussels. She is the European Affairs correspondent for NRC Handelsblad, a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and a columnist for Foreign Policy and De Standaard. She has spent more than twenty years covering Europe from various corners of the continent. In her forthcoming book, "Sunday's Children: Europeans, War and Peace" (February 2026), De Gruyter explores what Europe learns—or forgets—when peace is no longer a given.