This collection focuses on the way the legacies of empire, race and colonialism persist in the present: from the early days of settler colonialism to contemporary extractive industries, from direct colonial rule to racist border regimes.

The racialised dimensions of Covid-19 and uprisings against anti-Black police violence of 2020 remind us that the afterlives of colonialism, empire and racism profoundly shape the global economy. Addressing themes as diverse as children's play equipment, the origins of money, and oil, this urgently needed volume will be of interest to students, activists, journalists and anyone who intends to learn about how empire, race and colonialism continue to influence the global economy. This highly readable book offers twenty-four global snapshots contributed by established and emerging scholars, artist and curators, alongside an incisive editorial introduction that makes the links from past to present with clarity and conviction.