Capitalism, Democracy, Socialism: Critical Debates

This book critically analyzes the current historical conjuncture of neoliberal capitalism and explores potential alternatives, including democracy, socialism, and emancipatory action. It discusses nine critical debates and provides a comprehensive overview of the tensions, contradictions, and emancipatory potential of contemporary global capitalism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 263 pages
Publication date: 08 September 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book delves into a critical analysis of the current historicaluncture of neoliberal capitalism, exploring its emerging alternatives and the potential for harmonious coexistence between democracy and capitalism. It raises important questions about the viability and desirability of socialism as an alternative, as well as the forms of emancipatory action and critical thought that can guide us toward a more progressive future.

The book is organized into nine "critical debates," each addressing a different aspect of the tensions, contradictions, and latent emancipatory potential within contemporary global capitalism. These debates include:

• Capitalisms relationship with democracy.
• Privatization and governance of the commons.
• The financialization of capitalism.
• Technology and the future of work.
• Varieties of neoliberal capitalism.
• Cosmopolitanism, international development, and human rights.
• Feminist theory and social solidarity.
• Sustainability and climate change.
• Theories of capitalist crisis.

Through a comprehensive exploration of these debates, the book offers a unique and comprehensive overview of the complexities and challenges facing contemporary global capitalism. It sheds light on the ways in which capitalism is intertwined with democratic institutions, the privatization of public resources, the financialization of economic activity, and the impact of technology on the workforce. It also examines the diverse forms of neoliberal capitalism that have emerged in different regions of the world, including the rise of authoritarianism and the erosion of social welfare programs.

Furthermore, the book explores the relationship between cosmopolitanism, international development, and human rights, highlighting the ways in which globalization has created new opportunities for social and economic mobility, but also exacerbated existing inequalities and conflicts. It examines feminist theory and social solidarity, exploring the ways in which gender, race, and class intersect to shape social and political outcomes.

Finally, the book addresses sustainability and climate change, recognizing the urgent need for transformative action to address the environmental and social challenges posed by the capitalist system. It examines the theories of capitalist crisis, exploring the ways in which economic downturns and crises can be used as opportunities for social and political change.

In conclusion, this book provides a valuable resource for scholars, activists, and policymakers seeking to understand the complexities and challenges of contemporary global capitalism. It offers a critical analysis of the current historical conjuncture, exploring the potential for harmonious coexistence between democracy and capitalism, as well as the forms of emancipatory action and critical thought that can guide us toward a more progressive future.

Weight: 576g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031084065
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022