Prosperity Without Progress - by Norman Owen

Book Synopsis

Prosperity without Progress: Manila Hemp and Material Life in the Colonial Philippines offers a compelling examination of Kabikolan's transformation from a subsistence agrarian economy to a commercialized export sector based on abaca (Manila hemp) production. The study situates the region's economic history within the broader expansion of the European-dominated world-system, contributing to global historiographical debates on capitalism, colonialism, and economic dependency. While many narratives of colonial economies focus on coercion and large-scale plantations, this book highlights an alternative path--one in which indigenous landowners adapted to market forces without direct European intervention. However, the paradox at the heart of Kabikolan's experience--temporary material gains without sustained economic progress--challenges simplistic models of capitalist development.

This case study offers critical insights into why peripheral economies often fail to achieve long-term prosperity despite integration into global markets. The book details the rise and decline of the abaca industry, examining the constraints imposed by colonial rule, the persistence of a strong subsistence economy, and the limited diversification of economic activities. While Kabikolan avoided the extreme exploitation seen in other colonies, its development remained incomplete, illustrating the broader dilemma of "prosperity without progress." Through meticulous archival research and engagement with economic theory, Prosperity without Progress provides a nuanced perspective on the history of capitalism in the Philippines and beyond, making it an essential read for scholars of economic history, colonial studies, and global development.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1984.