Slavery is one of humanity’s most ancient and persistent inequities.  It predates the rise of civilization, played a key role in the growth of Western and Islamic cultures and was an integral part of the emergence and global spread of capitalism.  Given its historical significance, it is not surprising that the problem of slavery is still passionately debated today and that modern-day trafficking and forced servitude remain key issues of public concern.

In Enslavement: Past and Present, historical sociologist Orlando Patterson casts a wide net to examine the social, political, and economic complexities of slavery across different eras and societies.  Patterson examines slavery at several levels of abstraction, from micro-level relations of domination to the macro-structures of entire societies. Building on the 'bundle of rights' perspective, he reevaluates the definition of slavery, exposing its variegated fabric of iniquities across tribal and advanced pre-modern societies as well as our modern globalized age. Patterson also examines the critical role of women in the history of slavery, the significance of manumission in the formation of Christian doctrine, and the devastating toll of genocide and undaunted revolt of slaves in Jamaican slave society. Concluding with an investigation of contemporary slavery and other forms of servitude, this book urges readers to reckon with the brutal legacies of the past and its alarming modern-day persistence.

Enslavement: Past and Present deepens our understanding of the broad spectrum of evil and human bondage throughout history, an understanding that is essential for contemporary struggles to build a more inclusive society for all.


Also available as an audiobook

“Orlando Patterson is one of the most important intellectuals of the last half century, and in his newest work, Enslavement, he gives us new ways of understanding the reach and depth of human bondage across time and space and from a breathtaking range of perspectives. It is a tour de force in a single volume and another outstanding contribution from a truly original mind.”
Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Harvard University

“Ranging in scope from modern-day servitude and human trafficking to the very origins and definition of slavery in antiquity, these collected essays are a vital accompaniment to Orlando Patterson’s unrivalled body of work on a topic of sadly enduring relevance.”
David Wengrow, University College London

"a reminder of humanity’s capacity for both cruelty and resilience and serves as a catalyst for ongoing efforts to combat inequality and build a more inclusive society for all."a reminder of humanity’s capacity for both cruelty and resilience andserves as a catalyst for ongoing efforts to combat inequality and build a moreinclusive society for al
Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History

Orlando Patterson is John Cowles Professor of Sociology at Harvard University. He is the author of numerous books including Slavery and Social Death (1982) and Freedom in the Making of Western Culture (1991), which won the 1991 National Book Award for Non-Fiction.  His most recent publications include The Cultural Matrix: Understanding Black Youth and The Paradox of Freedom: A Biographical Dialogue (co-authored with David Scott).