kapitaliturgudel

Kapitaliturgudel is a term used in political economy and economic anthropology to describe the process by which capital accumulation is reinforced through culturally sanctioned rituals and practices in modern economies. The concept emphasizes that financial markets, corporate governance, advertising, and consumer routines operate not only through rational calculations but also through repeated symbolic acts that confer legitimacy on capital formation.

Etymology and usage: The compound blends Kapital (capital) with liturgy-related imagery. The term has appeared in German- and English-language scholarship since the early 2010s, particularly in discussions of financialization, globalization, and consumer culture. It is used to analyze how events such as initial public offerings, earnings calls, stock buybacks, and investor conferences are staged as ceremonial acts that sanctify capital flows. Consumer rituals like Black Friday, sponsored experiential branding, and media narratives around success are viewed as supporting the social narrative around capital.

Concept and mechanisms: Kapitaliturgudel highlights three intertwined dimensions: ritual authority (the perceived sanctity of markets and investors), procedural regularity (scheduled events and reporting calendars), and symbolic meaning (the narratives around risk and reward). It argues that these rituals help manage uncertainty, coordinate dispersed actors, and normalize capital-centered decision-making.

Criticism: Some scholars criticize the concept as overly ornamental or essentialist, arguing that material constraints and power relations matter more than symbolic acts. Others see value in revealing hidden norms that sustain capital accumulation.

See also: capitalism, financialization, economic anthropology, ritual theory.

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