French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Jappe, Concrete: Capitalism's Weapon of Mass Construction
History, Politics and Society

Anselme Jappe

Concrete: Capitalism's Weapon of Mass Construction

L'Échappée

ISBN : 9782373090772

200 p.

14,00 €

OVERVIEW

Concrete embodies capitalist logic. It is the concrete side of commodity abstraction. Like commodity abstraction, it erases all differences and remains virtually identical everywhere. Industrially produced in astronomical quantities, with disastrous ecological and health consequences, it has expanded its grip worldwide, killing off traditional architecture and homogenizing all spaces with its presence. Monotony of the material, monotony of the mass-produced structures built according to a few basic templates with highly limited lifespans, in line with the reign of planned obsolescence. By permanently turning buildings into commodities, this material helps create a world in which we no longer recognize ourselves.

This is why it was necessary to trace its history; to recall the designs of its many zealots—across all ideological spectrums—and the reservations of its few detractors; to denounce the disasters it causes on multiple levels; to reveal the role it has played in the loss of craftsmanship and the decline of artisanal skills; and finally, to demonstrate how this material fits into the logic of value and abstract labor. This relentless critique of concrete, illustrated by numerous examples, is also—and perhaps above all—a critique of modern architecture and contemporary urban planning.

Rooted in the tradition of critical theory and the critique of value-form associated with the Frankfurt School and contemporary radical philosophy, the book examines how industrial building materials reflect broader socioeconomic structures. By analyzing the homogenization of architecture and the triumph of planned obsolescence, Anselme Jappe connects the physical transformation of our environment to the psychological and ecological alienation of contemporary life. The study offers a rigorous interdisciplinary approach that bridges cultural critique, philosophy, and urban history.

This work will appeal to readers interested in critical theory, modern architecture, urban studies, and ecological philosophy. It provides valuable conceptual tools for students and researchers seeking to understand the material consequences of commodity abstraction and the history of modern urban planning. Furthermore, it invites architects, sociologists, and anyone concerned with the fate of craftsmanship and the built environment to rethink the ideological underpinnings of the spaces we inhabit daily.