Verlagstext:
Liberal, democratic capitalism as the end of history? Not necessarily. This work argues that there are forces developing in the world that might constitute a "counterproject" to the project of globalizing capitalism. At present, however, this movement lacks a coherent vision of a viable, desirable alternative. This text attempts to fill this lacuna by articulating, as a successor-system to capitalism, a model of "economic democracy", an economic system that preserves the efficiency strengths of a market economy, while extending democracy to the workplace and to the structures of investment finance. This model, which derives from both theoretical and empirical research, is shown to be efficient, dynamic and superior to capitalism among a range of values. The model allows us to see how the interconnected problems of global poverty and environmental degradation might be fruitfully addressed. It seeks to make sense of the vast number of large-scale economic "experiments" that have taken place in the past century, and is suggestive of a reform agenda that can and must be purchased in order to make a successful transition from capitalism to something much better.
Since first published in 2002, After Capitalism has offered students and political activists alike a coherent vision of a viable and desirable alternative to capitalism. David Schweickart calls this system Economic Democracy, a successor-system to capitalism which preserves the efficiency strengths of a market economy while extending democracy to the workplace and to the structures of investment finance. In the second edition, Schweickart recognizes that increased globalization of companies has created greater than ever interdependent economies and the debate about the desirability of entrepreneurship is escalating. The new edition includes a new preface, completely updated data, reorganized chapters, and new sections on the economic instability of capitalism, the current economic crisis, and China. Drawing on both theoretical and empirical research, Schweickart shows how and why this model is efficient, dynamic, and applicable in the world today.
Stimmen zum Buch:
"For anybody who thinks that capitalism leads to economic and moral catastrophe David Schweickart’s book is a formidable critique of capitalism and an excellent exposition of economic democracy as a new mode of production which may supersede the system in which we live. After Capitalism is a book full of hope for the critics of capitalism and a book which must be read by all socialists. It shows that there is a valuable alternative to capitalism and argues that the labour managed firm is better that the capitalistic one for a number of reasons, all of great importance. A system of democratic firms is the realization of socialism according to a marxist vision and, after the breakdown of central planning in Eastern Europe, may contribute to the revival of marxism in a new democratic form. After capitalism is an accessible book for students and anybody who is interested in politics and explains also the way we may follow to realize the new system."
(Bruno Jossa, University of Naples, Quelle: amazon.ca)
Aus dem Inhalt:
Counterproject, successor-system, revolution
Justifying capitalism
Economic democracy: what it is
Capitalism or socialism? Inequality, unemployment, overwork, poverty
Capitalism or socialism? economic instability, environmental degradation, democracy
Getting from here to there.
/ AUS DEM INHALT: / / /
Preface to the Revised Edition
Preface to the First Edition
pxix
Counterproject, Successor-System, Revolution
p1
The Counterproject
p3
Successor-System Theory
p8
Historical Materialism
p10
Criteria
p13
Revolution
p14
A Note on Gender
p16
An Outline of the Argument
p19
Justifying Capitalism
p23
What Is "Capitalism"? What Is a "Capitalist"?
p24
Neoclassical Shenanigans: Marginal Product as Contribution
p27
Capitalism's White Knight: The Entrepreneur
p34
Risk and Reward: Playing Reverse-Lotto
p36
The Utility (and Disutility) of Deferred Consumption
p42
TINA
p46
Economic Democracy: What It Is
p47
Economic Democracy: The Basic Model
p47
Worker Self-Management
p49
The Market
p51
Social Control of Investment
p51
The Viability of Economic Democracy
p58
The Mondragon Experiment
p66
A Note on the Public Sector
p73
Economic Democracy: The Expanded Model
p75
The Government as Employer-of-Last-Resort
p75
Socialist Savings and Loan Associations
p76
Capitalists under Socialism
p77
Fair Trade, Not Free Trade
p80
Capitalism or socialism? Inequality, Unemployment, Overwork, Poverty
p85
Workplace Democracy: Some Behavioral Consequences of Structural Change
p87
Inequality
p90
Unemployment
p97
A Note on Inflation
p104
Overwork
p106
Poverty
p111
Poverty in Rich Countries
p112
Poverty in Poor Countries
p113
A Note on Racism
p119
A Note on Immigration
p121
Capitalism or Socialism? Economic Instability, Environmental Degradation, Democracy
p125
Economic Instability
p125
A Note on the Current Crisis
p134
Environmental Degradation
p139
Overpopulation
p139
Food Scarcity
p141
Pollution/Climate Change
p142
Democracy (Lack Thereof)
p151
A Note on Anticommunism
p159
A Note on Liberty
p162
A Note on Political Parties
p163
Getting from Here to There
p165
Economic Democracy as an Orienting Device
p165
How the World Looked Then (2001)
p166
How the World Looks Now (2011)
p171
Note on China
p174
An Economic Democracy Reform Agenda
p179
Democratizing Labor
p180
Democratizing Capital
p181
Toward Full Employment
p183
Toward Fair Trade
p183
Democratizing Democracy
p184
From Reform to Revolution
p187
Radical Quick
p188
Radical Slower (with Concern for Stockholders)
p190
Slower Still (without a Financial Meltdown)
p192
A New Communism?
p193
A New World
p196
Compelling Visions
p196
What Should I Do?
p202
Notes
p207
Bibliography
p227
Index
p237