Intro to PE / capt & its alternatives Flashcards
What are the major tendencies of capitalism?
Capitalism exhibits tendencies such as the commodification process, expansionary dynamics driven by growth, consolidation of power in fewer hands, and the role of finance in keeping value in motion through credit.
How can we think about alternatives to capitalism?
When considering alternatives to capitalism, it’s essential to assess their desirability, viability, and achievability. This involves imagining what we would like, what is credible, and how we can transition from the current system to alternative models through various reforms.
Why is the discussion of alternatives to capitalism important?
implications for social, economic, and environmental well-being. This includes assessing the successes and critiques of capitalism and considering alternative models that address issues of inequality, exploitation, and ecological sustainability.
What are some “successes” of capitalism?
Capitalism has transformed the world by raising standards of prosperity, promoting basic employment, security, and health, reducing the prospect of war and conflict through globalization, and promoting individual freedom through wage earning, urbanization, and technological advancement.
What are some critiques of capitalism?
Capitalism is implicated in social suffering through inequalities, promotes mediocrity and commodification, and contributes to ecological destruction. It perpetuates suffering and uneven outcomes based on gender, class, and race, and its reliance on wage labor and constant capital circulation leads to social and environmental crises.
What is the role of wage labor in capitalism?
In capitalism, the majority of work is performed by individuals who do not own the means of production or the outputs they produce, but rather sell their labor for wages.
What is the significance of keeping capital in motion in capitalism?
Capital must remain in motion to maintain its value; otherwise, it will erode, leading to questioning of the capitalist system itself.
What are the different ways proposed by Wright for transitioning from capitalism?
Wright suggests rupture transformation, interstitial transformation, and symbiotic transformation as potential pathways toward alternative systems.
What is rupture transformation?
Rupture transformation involves a significant, revolutionary break from capitalism, leading to the establishment of new emancipatory institutions and the capture of state power.
What is interstitial transformation?
Interstitial transformation focuses on creating new forms of social empowerment within the niches and margins of capitalism, often appearing unthreatening to capitalist elites.
What is symbiotic transformation?
Symbiotic transformation seeks to deepen social empowerment strategies in ways that also solve problems for dominant classes, potentially leading to a more humane form of capitalism.
What challenges does more radical ambition face in terms of transformation?
The more radical the ambition for transformation, the more resistance it faces from capitalist interests, which may hinder its realization.
What role does institutional pluralism play in alternative models?
Institutional pluralism advocates for a variety of institutional forms and structures, creating space for reflection, political organization, and experimentation with alternative economic arrangements.
How can the state contribute to transitioning from capitalism?
The state can play a role in transitioning from capitalism by supporting worker cooperatives, establishing state-run banks and enterprises, implementing solidarity finance initiatives, and advocating for changes to the working week.
What is the significance of the artistic critique in envisioning alternatives?
The artistic critique aims to nourish new meanings in people’s lives through literature, art, film, and music, providing imaginative visions of alternative societal arrangements.
