The great divergence in the left historical discourse: second phase of debates and R. Brenner's viewpoint

Introduction. The article deals with the historiography of the discussion on the key issues of economic development of Europe in the pre-industrial period and the emergence of modern economic growth. Materials and methods. The study of the Great divergence in the left historical discourse is carried out on the basis of a wide range of research literature using historical-genetic and historical-typological methods of historiographical analysis. Results. R. Brenner’s critical argument is that long-term demographic trends and commercialization played a significant role in feudal dynamics and transition to capitalism only in combination with a specific historical balance of class forces. Moreover, the class, by his definition, is expressed in the aspect of the relations of ownership of the means of production (land) and the relations of extraction of surplus (coercion). Discussion and Conclusions. Class structures were considered by him as resistant to the influence of economic forces, and class conflict as defining long-term economic structures. Brenner’s opponents were M. Postan, J. Hatcher, E. Le Roy Ladurie, G. Bois. The criticism of neo-Malthusian theories that unfolded during the discussion made a significant contribution to the development of a comparative approach to the study of the great divergence process.