HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

Capitalism Kritic
Table of Contents Topic
Negative Case Overview Link Options Impact Options Alternative Options

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1-15 1 2 5 13 1( 1( 15 16-22

A!" #erm$tation A!" %o &olvenc'/Alternatives A!" Capitalism Inevita)le

A!" Innovation Affirmative Answers

#erm Capitalism ke' to environmental protection Capitalism is t,e most et,ical s'stem Capitalism is not t,e root ca$se Capitalism is Inevita)le . &$staina)le /ree !ra0e &olves 1ar

1* 1+ 11 1 21

Overview: /e0eral in2rastr$ct$re pro3ects ten0 to )e $se0 as a tool to inte4rate )ot, t,e nation an0 t,e worl0 into t,e 4lo)al capitalist or0er o2 t,e U&5 !,is creates an imperial i0eolo4' t,at 3$sti2ies t,e r$t,less e6pansion o2 capital into 2orei4n markets5 !,ese capitalistic pro3ects an0 )e,avior ten0 to )e s,ort7si4,te0 an0 lea0 to war8 s$)3$4ation an0 environmental iss$es5

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic Lin Options:

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:ac,ar' Callen8 #ro2 o2 #olitical &cience at Alle4,an' Colle4e8 200 ;!H< &<A=& O/ !H< &!A!<" I%/>A&!>UC!U>< A%D I%!<>?O@<>%=<%!AL ><LA!IO%& I% A=<>ICA% &!A!< AUILDI%?8B Dissertation at t,e Universit' o2 C,ica4o8 200 ,ttp"//4ra0works5$mi5com/33* (( 5p02 Caccesse0 +/5/12D However8 )e'on0 3$st s,apin4 political s$)3ects8 space is itsel2 also open to ,$man ma7 nip$lation an0 c,an4e5 !,e val$es an0 i0eals t,at p,'sical str$ct$res impose on a4ents are not acci0ental or some,ow in,erentl' containe0 wit,in t,e o)3ect5 Instea08 t,ere are ,$man a4ents activel' s,apin4 an0 alterin4 space8 as part o2 2$rt,erin4 o2 t,eir pre2erre0 val$e s'stem5 &patial 2orm s,o$l0 not )e consi0ere0 nat$ral or pre74ivenE space is )$ilt8 maintaine08 an0 p$rpose2$ll' altere0 )' ,$man 0ecisions5 In act$al practice8 spatial or4ani7 Fation itsel2 arises t,ro$4, a con$ence o2 nat$ral con0itions an0 political c,oices5 On t,e one ,an08 space is an e6ternal 2actor8 wit, local terrain8 altit$0e8 an0 climate not s$)3ect to ,$man control5 A$t8 at t,e same time8 ,ow space is 0evelope0 an0 t,e r$les o2 $sa4e 2or partic$lar spaces are ,$man constr$cts t,at 0irectl' s,ape spatial 2orm5 1,ile not alwa's easil' altere08 spatial 2orms are neit,er eternal nor en0lessl' repeatin45 Instea08 or4aniFe0 an0 motivate0 actors can trans2orm space8 an0 t,ro$4, 0oin4 so also c,an4e t,e r$les o2 t,e )roa0er political 2iel05 1,ile man' o2 t,e spatial 2iel0s t,at ,$man )ein4s in,a)it ,ave some )asis in t,e Gnat$ral environment8H t,e ma3orit' o2 t,ese spaces still inevita)l' primaril' reect ,$man actions an0 val$es more t,an an' nat$ral 4eo4rap,ic 2eat$res C?ott0iener8 1 +E Harve'8 2000E Iackson8 1 (E Le2e)vre8 1 -(E &o3a8 2003D5 Hence8 space is intrinsicall' 0ialectical8 )ein4 )ot, s,ape0 )' ,$man c,oice w,ile at t,e same time also mol0in4 ,$man s$)3ectivit'5 !,e capacit' o2 political instit$tions to trans2orm space an08 in t$rn8 t,e power o2 t,ose trans2ormation over in0ivi0$als8 is an en0$rin4 an0 wi0esprea0 2eat$re o2 social c,an4e5 !,ere)'8 spatial trans2ormation is a ke' element o2 ,ow states e6press t,eir power C=ann8 1 -*D5 &patial or4aniFation ,as )een $tiliFe0 )' political a4ents in n$mero$s conte6ts8 across time8 to p$rs$e ver' speci9c 4oals5 /or instance8 )$siness interests $tiliFe $r)an 0esi4n to enco$ra4e cons$mption in mo0ern cities5 In a more political vein8 <$ropean 4overnments are c$rrentl' re2orm$latin4 $r)an environments to re0irect economic 0evelopment 2rom t,e nation7state scale to t,e cit'7re4ional level8 an0 ancient political lea0ers controlle0 local 4eo47 rap,' as a means to consoli0ate t,eir power5 1it, $r)an plannin48 national transportation in2rastr$ct$re s'stems8 an0 lan0 $sa4e 4$i0elines8 states can e6press t,eir own val$es to t,e worl08 an0 more importantl'8 0irect t,e )e,avior o2 t,eir citiFens5 =ore practicall'8 wit,o$t s$22icient or appropriate spatial or4aniFation )etween its constit$ent parts8 a state is v$lner7 a)le to attack8 0isinte4ration8 or economic sta4nation CArenner8 200(E Le2e)vre8 2003E &mit,8 - 2003D5 However8 spaceJs centralit' to state power makes it an in,erentl' conteste0 political arena8 as m$ltiple actors wit,in t,e state attempt to control an0 re2orm$late space in a manner t,at )est s$its t,eir interests5 !,is intensit' o2 conict res$lts 2rom t,e 2ar7reac,in4 implications t,at come wit, ,avin4 t,e power to or0er space5

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1illiam < Connoll'8 Krie4er7<isen,ower #ro2essor at Io,ns Hopkins Universit' w,ere ,e teac,es political t,eor'8 H&teps towar0 an <colo4' o2 Late Capitalism8H !,eor' an0 <vent @ol5 15 Iss$e 18 20128 =$se !o0a'8 per,aps t,e initial tar4et s,o$l0 )e on reconstit$tin4 esta)lis,e0 patterns o2 cons$mption )' a com)ination o2 0irect citiFen actions in cons$mption c,oices8 p$)licit' o2 s$c, actions8 an0 social movements to reconstit$te t,e state/market s$pporte0 in2rastr$ct$re o2 cons$mption5 A' t,e in2rastr$ct$re o2 cons$mption I mean state s$pport 2or market s$)s'stems s$c, as a national ,i4,wa' s'stem8 a s'stem o2 airports8 me0ical care t,ro$4, private ins$rance8 etc58 etc58 t,at ena)le some mo0es o2 cons$mption in t,e Fones o2 travel8 e0$cation8 0iet8 retirement8 me0ical care8 ener4' $se8 ,ealt,8 an0 e0$cation an0 ren0er ot,ers more 0i22ic$lt or e6pensive to proc$re521 !o s,i2t several o2 t,ese in t,e correct 0irection wo$l0 alrea0' re0$ce e6tant ineK$alities5 !o c,an4e t,e in2rastr$ct$re is also to a22ect t,e t'pes o2 work an0 investment availa)le5 &ocial movements t,at work $pon t,e in2rastr$ct$re an0 et,os in tan0em can make a real 0i22erence 0irectl'8 enco$ra4e more people to e6ten0 t,eir critical perspectives8 an0 t,ere)' open more people to a militant politics i2 an0 as a new 0isr$ptive event emer4es5 #er,aps a cross7state citiFen 4oal s,o$l0 )e to constr$ct a pl$ralist assem)la4e )' movin4 )ack an0 2ort, )etween s,i2ts in role per2ormance8 revisions in political i0eolo4'8 an0 a03$stments in political sensi)ilit'8 0oin4 so to 4enerate eno$4, collective ener4' to la$nc, a 4eneral strike sim$ltaneo$sl' in several co$ntries in t,e near 2$t$re5 Its aim wo$l0 )e to re0$ce ineK$alit' an0 to reverse t,e 0ea0l' 2$t$re create0 )' esta)lis,e0 patterns o2 climate c,an4e )' 2omentin4 si4ni2icant s,i2ts in patterns o2 cons$mption8 corporate policies8 state law an0 t,e priorities o2 interstate or4aniFations5 A4ain8 t,e 0ilemma o2 to0a' is t,at t,e 2ra4ilit' o2 t,in4s 0eman0s s,i2tin4 an0 slowin4 0own intr$sions into several aspects o2 nat$re as we spee0 $p s,i2ts in i0entit'8 role per2ormance8 c$lt$ral et,os8 market re4$lation8 an0 citiFen activism5

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Iason &cott &mit, 8 assistant pro2essor o2 ,istor' at t,e Universit' o2 %ew =e6ico8 200- H!,e %ew Deal Or0er8H <nterprise an0 &ociet' @ol5 %$m 3 200-8 =$se A' $sin4 t,e lens o2 political econom' to 2oc$s on t,e %ew DealJs p$)lic works spen0in48 we can )e4in to see t,e o$tlines o2 a 0i22erent interpretation5 !,e ,$4e amo$nt o2 2$n0s 0evote0 to p$)lic constr$ction8 t,e 2ar7reac,in4 2e0eral e22orts investe0 in 0irectin4 t,is mone'8 an0 t,e lon47r$n impact o2 t,e in2rastr$ct$re itsel2 2orm t,e components o2 t,e stor' o2 a p$)lic works revol$tion5 !,is revol$tion ,elpe0 3$sti2' t,e new role o2 t,e 2e0eral 4overnment in American li2e8 le4itimiFin4Lintellect$all' an0 p,'sicall'Lw,at ,as come to )e known as Ke'nesian mana4ement o2 t,e econom'5 A' sponsorin4 t,is in2rastr$ct$re8 %ew Dealers rema0e t,e )$ilt environment t,at mana4e0 t,e movement o2 people8 4oo0s8 electricit'8 water8 an0 M<n0 #a4e 52(N waste5 Amon4 t,e %ew DealJs pro3ects were some o2 t,e lar4est an0 most si4ni2icant str$ct$res ever )$ilt in ,$man ,istor'510 !,ese pro4rams not onl' anticipate0 t,e national ,i4,wa's an0 t,e militar'7in0$strial comple6E in t,e postwar perio0 4overnment7sponsore0 economic 0evelopment also looke0 a)roa05 /or e6ample8 Harr' !r$manJs #oint I@ pro4ram was conceive0 o2 as an international #1A8 )$il0in4 roa0s an0 airports in co$ntries like A24,anistan an0 @ietnam5 &imilarl'8 L'n0on Io,nsonJs vision o2 e6portin4 Ke'nesian st'le economic 0evelopment to &o$t,east Asia )' replicatin4 t,e !ennessee @alle' A$t,orit' on t,e =ekon4 Delta re2lecte0 t,e power2$l e6ample set )' t,e %ew Deal5 A2ter 1orl0 1ar II8 constr$ction 2irms like Aec,tel an0 Arown . >oot Cto0a' a s$)si0iar' o2 Halli)$rtonD took t,eir e6pertise overseas as well5 !,e %ew DealJs p$)lic works pro4rams emplo'e0 millions o2 $nemplo'e0 workers8 )ot, $r)an an0 r$ral8 w,ile )$il0in4 t,e in2rastr$ct$re t,at ,elpe0 inte4rate t,e 0isparate re4ions o2 t,e co$ntr' into a national market5 /rom t,e )e4innin48 t,en8 %ew Dealers )$ilt a state t,at was )ot, 2ar more power2$l an0 s$)stantiall' less li)eral t,an ,istorians ,ave realiFe0" more power2$l8 in t,e scale an0 scope o2 t,e 2e0eral 4overnmentJs commitment to economic 0evelopment8 an0 less li)eral8 in t,e sense t,at t,e %ew Deal state was 2oc$se0 on state7sponsore0 economic 0evelopment8 an0 not8 in contrast8 centrall' occ$pie0 wit, tasks like implementin4 its social sec$rit' pro4ram Cw,ic, )e4an makin4 pa'ments onl' in 1 (2D8 or wit, more ra0ical 4oals8 s$c, as t,e 0irect re0istri)$tion o2 wealt, t,ro$4, ta6 polic'5 A' reinterpretin4 t,e %ew Deal in t,is wa' t,ro$4, a political economic lens8 we 4ain a new ,istor' o2 3$st ,ow t,e %ew DealJs p$)lic works pro4rams contri)$te0 to American economic 0evelopment5 #$)lic works also ,a0 important rami2ications 2or state )$il0in4 an0 political part' )$il0in4 at t,e 2e0eral8 state8 an0 local levels5 Harr' Hopkins8 t,e ,ea0 o2 t,e 1#A8 once claime0 t,at t,e %ew Deal was a political pro3ect t,at co$l0 Hta6 an0 ta68 spen0 an0 spen08 an0 elect an0 elect5H 1e now know t,is p,raseJs 0escen0ant8 t,e 0erisive e6pression Hta6 an0 spen0 li)eralism8H )$t at t,e time Hopkins ma0e ,is statement it was p$re 4eni$sL,e s$ccinctl' i0enti2ie0 t,e K$alities t,at ma0e %ew Deal li)eralism so power2$l an0 controversial" !,e ta6in4 an0 spen0in4 2$nctions o2 4overnment co$l0Lan0 M<n0 #a4e 525N 0i0Lremake t,e p,'sical lan0scape o2 t,e nation5 <ven more strikin48 t,o$4,8 was t,at t,ro$4, $sin4 t,e ta6in4 an0 spen0in4 powers o2 t,e state8 %ew Dealers were a)le to remake a societ'Js politics511 !,ese accomplis,ments raise a central K$estion" ,ow 0o we eval$ate %ew Deal li)eralism w,en we atten0 to its political econom' an0 place its p$)lic works pro4rams at its coreO !,e %ew DealJs p$)lic works pro4rams re2lect a n$m)er o2 ac,ievements an0 s,ortcomin4s5 !,ese pro4rams )$ilt t,e in2rastr$ct$re t,at ma0e a national market more e22icient8 sp$rre0 0ramatic a0vances in economic pro0$ctivit'8 create0 a network o2 roa0s an0 airports8 planne0 2or national ,i4,wa's8 improve0 militar' )ases8 2ores,a0owe0 t,e rise o2 t,e &$n)elt8 an0 4ave t,e %ew Dealers a polic' tool t,at co$l0 )e $se0 to s,ape overseas 0evelopment8 2rom t,e Col01ar t,ro$4, t,e @ietnam 1ar5 /ace0 wit, t,e ?reat Depression8 t,e %ew Deal an0 its p$)lic works pro3ects ,elpe0 save capitalism8 an ac,ievement s$)seK$entl' consoli0ate0 )' enormo$s p$)lic spen0in4 0$rin4 1orl0 1ar II an0 t,e ens$in4 postwar economic )oom512 Ao$n0 $p wit, t,ese tri$mp,s8 ,owever8 were man' limitations5 =ost nota)le8 o2 co$rse8 was t,e 2ail$re o2 t,e p$)lic works pro4rams to )rin4 an en0 to mass $nemplo'ment 0$rin4 t,e ?reat Depression5 !,ose t,at t,e %ew Deal 0i0 mana4e to emplo' were w,ite men8 2or t,e most part5 !,is was ,ar0l' s$rprisin48 4iven t,eir 0isproportionate presence in t,e )$il0in4 tra0es an0 constr$ction in0$str'8 4enerall'5 &$rel'8 t,e %ew Deal ,a0 a remarka)le c,ance to a00ress t,e crisis o2 $nemplo'ment amon4 A2rican7Americans an0 women5 Pet8 in )asin4 so m$c, o2 t,eir p$)lic polic' on t,e )$il0in4 o2 p$)lic works pro3ects8 %ew Dealers lar4el' rein2orce0 t,e 4en0er an0 racial )o$n0aries alrea0' evi0ent in t,e la)or market8 )'passin4 t,e maternalist le4acies o2 #ro4ressive <ra social polic'513 1,en we t$rn to t,e environment8 t,e %ew DealJs s,ortcomin4s are likewise apparent5 1,ile arc,itect$ral ,istorians ,ave 4enerall' M<n0 #a4e 52*N praise0 t,e %ew Deal 2or creatin4 a more 0emocratic lan0scape8 environmental ,istorians ,ave stron4l' 0isa4ree05 /rom t,eir perspective8 t,e %ew Deal spent 2ar too m$c, mone' on roa0s an0 not eno$4, on 0evelopin4 alternative mass transportation tec,nolo4ies5 !,e' c,ar4e t,at t,e %ew DealJs lar4e ,'0roelectric pro3ects promote0 an imperialist view o2 reso$rces8 leavin4 nat$re to )e e6ploite0 )' a coercive8 $n0emocratic power elite compose0 o2 tec,nicall' min0e0 en4ineers an0 narrow7min0e0 )$rea$crats5 Developments s$c, as t,e !@A 0isplace0 t,o$san0s o2 people8 w,ile t,e a22or0a)le electrical power 4enerate0 )' 0ams le0 onl' to increase0 poll$tion5 !,e main ac,ievement o2 t,e %ew Deal8 in t,is view8 is its role in creatin4 an Hasp,alt nation5H !o )e s$re8 t,e environmental 0ama4e ca$se0 )' t,e %ew DealJs p$)lic works pro3ects was real8 i2 0i22ic$lt to meas$re5

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Kim)erl' De2aFio8 #ro2essor o2 H$manities at Clarkson Universit'8 2003 ;H$manities an0 t,e Cit' o2 La)or8B >e0CritiK$e8 /all71inter 2003 C,ttp"//www5re0critiK$e5or4//all1inter2003/printversions/,$manitiesan0t,ecit'o2la)orprint5,tm Caccesse0 +/5/12D !,e K$estion o2 t,e re)$il0in4 o2 H4ro$n0 FeroH is an $r4ent one5 %ot onl' will t,e la)or o2 workers 2rom aro$n0 t,e worl0 make t,e re0evelopment o2 lower =an,attan possi)le8 )$t millions o2 peopleJs lives will )e 0irectl' a22ecte0 )' w,at is )$ilt in its place8 ,ow t,e re)$il0in4 takes place8 an0 t,e interests it serves5 1,at is re)$ilt will ,ave an impact 2or instance on workersJ transportation8 on t,e accessi)ilit' an0 a22or0a)ilit' o2 t,eir ,o$sin48 on t,eir 3o)s8 wa4es an0 workin4 con0itions8 an0 on t,eir ,ealt, C)ot, accessi)ilit' o2 ,ealt, care an0 environmental concernsD5 =ost important o2 all8 p$)lic 2$n0s Clar4el' 2rom t,e ta6ation o2 workersD will )e 2inancin4 t,e pro3ect8 w,ic, will cost ,$n0re0s o2 millions o2 0ollars an0 is takin4 place at a moment o2 recor0 0e2icits8 t,e la'o22s o2 ,$n0re0s o2 t,o$san0s o2 emplo'ees8 t,e elimination o2 wel2are8 an0 s,ockin4 c$ts in e0$cation an0 2oo0 pro4rams 2or poor c,il0ren5 A moment8 in ot,er wor0s8 in w,ic, enormo$s amo$nts o2 p$)lic reso$rces ,ave alrea0' )een trans2erre0 to private corporations8 in or0er to 2$rt,er privatiFe $r)an space5 All workin4 people t,ere2ore ,ave an $r4ent interest in t,e 0irection o2 t,e re0evelopment5 1ill t,e pro3ect contin$e privatiFin4 an0 commo0i2'in4 t,e cit'8 or will it attempt to p$t t,e nee0s o2 people 2irstO !o talk a)o$t 4ro$n0 Fero8 in ot,er wor0s8 is to talk a)o$t t,e priorities o2 t,e cit' an0 w,ic, interests will )e serve05 A$t it is also to talk a)o$t t,e ca$ses o2 e6istin4 economic ineK$alities an0 social 0ivisions8 an0 ,ow t,ese 0ivisions are to )e c,an4e05 It is in t,is conte6t t,at t,e p$)lic 0e)ates over t,e 2$t$re o2 t,e 1!C site nee0 to )e sit$ate05 In li4,t o2 t,e social conseK$ences o2 w,at t,e re)$il0in4 o2 4ro$n0 Fero entails8 ,ow ,ave t,e nee0s o2 t,e cit' )een represente0 )' 0ominant 0isco$rsesO 1,at are t,e HprioritiesH represente0O &ince notice was 4iven o2 t,e arc,itect$ral contest to 0etermine w,ic, plans wo$l0 4$i0e t,e re)$il0in4 o2 t,e 1orl0 !ra0e Center8 t,e Hp$)lic 0e)ateH ,as 2oc$se0 aro$n0 w,et,er priorit' s,o$l0 )e 4iven to Hc$lt$ralH/HcommercialH interests or H2inancialH concerns5 !,at is8 w,et,er emp,asis s,o$l0 )e on a s$ita)le memorial8 t,e re)$il0in4 o2 a 0istinct sk'line8 places to s,op8 an0 c$lt$ral instit$tions8 or w,et,er re)$il0in4 o2 t,e transportation in2rastr$ct$re an0 2inancial markets5 A$t t,is 0ivision8 I ar4$e8 is lar4el' a res$lt o2 too narrow an0 localist a 2oc$s on partic$laritiesLa 2oc$s w,ic, repro0$ces t,e 2$n0amental pro)lems o2 post7al t,eor'5 One si0e views arc,itect$re an0 $r)an plannin4 in c$lt$ralist terms8 an0 as s$c, posits c$lt$re as t,e site in w,ic, social 0ivisions are ,eale0 t,ro$4, spaces in w,ic, people can come to4et,er Can0 s,opD8 or Hreco4niFeH losses an0 HrespectH eac, ot,ers c$lt$ral 0i22erences5 !,e ot,er si0e is more overtl' concerne0 wit, t,e nee0s o2 capital to0a' an0 t,ere2ore emp,asiFes newer an0 )etter transportation tec,nolo4ies8 an0 t,e )$il0in4 $p o2 water2ront areas an0 o22ices as a means o2 enticin4 corporations to locate in lower =an,attan5 It is not t,at t,e ot,er c$lt$ralist ar4$ments are not also concerne0 wit, meetin4 t,e nee0s o2 capital5 >at,er8 t,eir capit$lation to t,e nee0s o2 capital is more me0iate08 more Hveile0H8 )' s$)stit$tin4 t,e 2ree0om to cons$me 2or 2ree0om 2rom e6ploitation5 Aot, positions t,$s ar4$e 2or minor re2orms o2 t,e capitalist cit' instea0 o2 insistin4 on t,e nee0 2or t,e trans2ormation o2 t,e 2$n0amental economic contra0ictions o2 t,e cit'5 &omew,ere )etween t,e c$lt$ralist an0 2inancial positions is a t,ir0 position8 w,ic, mi4,t )e calle0 a Hc$lt$ral realistH position w,ic, pra4maticall' ar4$es t,at a com)ination o2 c$lt$ral ven$es 2or s,oppin48 3o)s to s$pport peopleJs a)ilit' to s,op8 an0 a ran4e o2 emplo'ment opport$nities 2or people to earn mone' to cons$me are necessar' to meet t,e nee0s o2 people in t,e cit'5

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Dr5 ?len Aarr'8 200- ;<conomic Collapse An0 ?lo)al <colo4'8B Co$nterC$rrents5or48 Ian$ar' 1(t,8 200,ttp"//www5co$nterc$rrents5or4/)arr'1(010-5,tm Caccesse0 +/5/12D ?iven wi0esprea0 2ail$re to p$rs$e policies s$22icient to reverse 0eterioration o2 t,e )iosp,ere an0 avoi0 ecolo4ical collapse8 t,e )est we can ,ope 2or ma' )e t,at t,e 4rowt,7)ase0 economic s'stem cras,es sooner rat,er t,an later5 H$manit' an0 t,e <art, are 2ace0 wit, an enormo$s con$n0r$m 77 s$22icient climate policies en3o' political s$pport onl' in times o2 rapi0 economic 4rowt,5 Pet t,is 4rowt, is t,e primar' 2actor 0rivin4 4reen,o$se 4as emissions an0 ot,er environmental ills5 !,e 4rowt, mac,ine ,as p$s,e0 t,e planet well )e'on0 its ecolo4ical carr'in4 capacit'8 an0 $nless constraine08 can onl' lea0 to ,$man e6tinction an0 an en0 to comple6 li2e5 1it, ever' economic 0ownt$rn8 like t,e one now loomin4 in t,e Unite0 &tates8 it )ecomes more 0i22ic$lt an0 less likel' t,at polic' s$22icient to ens$re 4lo)al ecolo4ical s$staina)ilit' will )e em)race05 !,is essa' e6plores t,e possi)ilit' t,at 2rom a )iocentric viewpoint o2 nee0s 2or lon47term 4lo)al ecolo4ical8 economic an0 social s$staina)ilit'E it wo$l0 )e )etter 2or t,e economic collapse to come now rat,er t,an later5 <conomic 4rowt, is a 0ea0l' 0isease $pon t,e <art,8 wit, capitalism as its most vir$lent strain5 !,row7 awa' cons$mption an0 e6plosive pop$lation 4rowt, are ma0e possi)le )' $sin4 $p 2ossil 2$els an0 0estro'in4 ecos'stems5 Holi0a' s,oppin4 n$m)ers are covere0 )' me0ia in t,e same )reat, as Arctic ice melt8 i4norin4 t,eir 0eep connection5 <6ponential economic 4rowt, 0estro's ecos'stems an0 p$s,es t,e )iosp,ere closer to 2ail$re5 H$manit' ,as proven itsel2 $nwillin4 an0 $na)le to a00ress climate c,an4e an0 ot,er environmental t,reats wit, necessar' ,aste an0 am)ition5 Action on coal8 2orests8 pop$lation8 renewa)le ener4' an0 emission re0$ctions co$l0 )e taken now at net )ene2it to t,e econom'5 Pet8 t,e losers 77 primaril' 2ossil 2$el in0$stries an0 t,eir )o$4,t oli4arc,' 77 s$ccess2$ll' resist 2$t$res not 0epen0ent $pon t,eir 0ea0l' pro0$cts5 #erpet$al economic 4rowt,8 an0 necessar' climate an0 ot,er ecolo4ical policies8 are 2$n0amentall' incompati)le5 ?lo)al ecolo4ical s$staina)ilit' 0epen0s criticall' $pon esta)lis,in4 a stea0' state econom'8 w,ere)' pro0$ction is ri4,t7siFe0 to not 0iminis, nat$ral capital5 1,ole in0$stries like coal an0 nat$ral 2orest lo44in4 will )e eliminate0 even as new opport$nities emer4e in solar ener4' an0 environmental restoration5 !,is critical transition to )ot, economic an0 ecolo4ical s$staina)ilit' is simpl' not ,appenin4 on an' scale5 !,e c,allen4e is ,ow to carr' o$t necessar' environmental policies even as economic 4rowt, en0s an0 cons$mption pl$n4es5 !,e nat$ral response is 4oin4 to )e liK$i0ation o2 even more li2e74ivin4 ecos'stems8 an0 3ettisonin4 o2 climate policies8 to vainl' tr' to maintain ,i4, 4rowt, an0 personal cons$mption5 1e know t,at ,$manit' m$st re0$ce 4reen,o$se 4as emissions )' at least -0Q over comin4 0eca0es5 How will t,is an0 ot,er necessar' climate miti4ation strate4ies )e maintaine0 0$rin4 'ears o2 economic 0ownt$rns8 reso$rce wars8 reasona)le 0eman0s 2or eK$ita)le cons$mption8 an0 2rankl'8 t,e weat,er )ein4 more pleasant in some placesO I2 e22orts to re0$ce emissions an0 move to a stea0' state econom' 2ailE t,e collapse o2 ecolo4ical8 economic an0 social s'stems is ass$re05 Ari4,t 4reens take t,e contin$e0 e6istence o2 a ,a)ita)le <art, wit, via)le8 s$staina)le pop$lations o2 all species incl$0in4 ,$mans as t,e $ltimate tr$t, an0 t,e meanin4 o2 li2e5 1,et,er t,is is possi)le in a time o2 economic collapse is cr$ciall' 0epen0ent $pon w,et,er eno$4, ecos'stems an0 reso$rces remain post collapse to allow ,$manit' to recover an0 reconstit$te s$staina)le8 relocaliFe0 societies5 It ma' )e )etter 2or t,e <art, an0 ,$manit'Js 2$t$re t,at economic collapse comes sooner rat,er t,an later8 w,ile more ecos'stems an0 opport$nities to ret$rn to nat$reJs 2ol0 e6ist5 <conomic collapse will )e 0eepl' wrenc,in4 77 part ?reat Depression8 part A2rican 2amine5 !,ere will )e starvation an0 civil stri2e8 an0 a lon4 perio0 o2 s$22erin4 an0 t$rmoil5 =an' will )e kille0 as )alance ret$rns to t,e <art,5 =ost people ,ave 2or4otten ,ow to 4row 2oo0 an0 t,at t,eir i0entit' is more t,an w,at t,e' own5 Pet t,ere is some 3$stice8 in t,at t,ose w,o ,ave live0 most li4,tl' $pon t,e lan0 will ,ave an easier time o2 it8 even as t,ose s$per7cons$mers livin4 in massive cities 2inall' learn w,ere t,eir 2oo0 comes 2rom an0 t,at ecolo4' is t,e meanin4 o2 li2e5 <conomic collapse now means ,$manit' an0 t,e <art, $ltimatel' s$rvive to prosper a4ain5 H$man s$22erin4 77 alrea0' t,e norm 2or man'8 )$t ,ittin4 t,e c$rrentl' materiall' a22l$ent 77 is inevita)le 4iven t,e 0e4ree to w,ic, t,e planetJs carr'in4 capacit' ,as )een e6cee0e05 1e are a co$ple 0eca0es at most awa' 2rom societal stri2e o2 a m$c, 4reater ma4nit$0e as t,e <art,Js )iosp,ere 2ails5 H$manit' can take t,e )itter me0icine now8 an0 recover w,ile emer4in4 )etter 2or itE or o$r total collapse can )e a 2inal8 2atal 0eat, swoon5 A s$ccess2$l revol$tionar' response to imminent 4lo)al ecos'stem collapse wo$l0 2oc$s $pon )rin4in4 0own t,e <art,Js in0$strial econom' now5 As societ' contin$es to 2ail misera)l' to implement necessar' c,an4es to allow creation to contin$e8 ma')e t,e )est strate4' to ac,ieve 4lo)al ecolo4ical s$staina)ilit' is economic sa)ota4e to ,asten t,e 0a'5 It is more 2ra4ile t,an it looks5 H$manit' is a marvelo$s creation5 Pet ,er c$rrent 0ilemma is $nprece0ente05 It is not 'et known w,et,er s,e is a)le to a0apt8 at some e6pense to ,er com2ort an0 s,ort7term well7)ein48 to ens$re s$rvival5 I2 s,e can8 all 2$t$res o2 economic8 social an0 ecolo4ical collapse can )e avoi0e05 I2 not it is )etter 2rom a lon47term )iocentric viewpoint t,at t,e economic 4rowt, mac,ine collapse now8 )rin4in4 2ort, t,e necessar' c,an4e8 an0 o22erin4 ,ope 2or a planetar' an0 ,$man revival5

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&teve /raser 8writer an0 ,istorian R Col$m)ia 2012 H=ore t,an ?ree08H Dissent @ol 5 %$m 1 20128 =$se8 1,'O =a')e t,at 0ecision stems 2rom =a0rickSs aversion to t,inkin4 o2 t,e crisis as s'stemic an0 to a relate0 2ait, in t,e Democratic #art' as t,e repositor' o2 t,e %ew Deal version o2 capitalism8 a version man' pro4ressives wo$l0 like to restore5 A$t t,e %ew Deal not onl' civiliFe0 a )roken70own economic s'stem8 it also so$4,t s$ccess2$ll' to e6ten0 t,e reac, o2 t,e capitalist marketplace an0 cre0it networks not a)olis, t,em5 It create0 t,e political an0 instit$tional 2o$n0ations o2 mass cons$mption capitalism5 !,ose 2o$n0ations event$all' cr$m)le0 as 0omestic opport$nities 2or pro2ita)le eno$4, capital acc$m$lation 4rew scarce8 a process t,at in t$rn e6erte0 a relentless 0ownwar0 press$re on la)or costs an0 t,e social wa4e5 !,at is to sa'8 in an increasin4l' 2ierce str$44le to compete wit, lower cost 2orei4n pro0$cers8 American )$siness )e4an to $n0ermine t,e 2o$n0ations o2 ;e22ective 0eman0B amon4 or0inar' workin4 people t,at ,a0 kept t,e s'stem $pri4,t 2or so lon45 It set in motion a perverse 0'namic o2 0isacc$m$lation or w,at mi4,t )e calle0 t,e a$to7canni)alism o2 an econom' eatin4 itsel2 alive5 !,e most 0evelope0 econom' in t,e worl0 )e4an a process o2 $n0er0evelopment5 Its in2rastr$ct$reLroa08 )ri04es8 t$nnels8 railroa0s8 waterworks8 0ams8 airports8 electrical 4ri0sLwere allowe0 to 0eca'5 !,e in0$strial core o2 t,e econom' was ,ollowe0 o$t )' precisel' t,ose ;2inancial en4ineersB =a0rick writes M<n0 #a4e 103N a)o$t5 Dein0$strialiFation si4nale0 t,at t,e ol0 s'stem ,a0 )roken 0own5 !,is )ecame a lon48 sec$lar crisis5 ?ra0$all' an0 t,en at an accelerate0 rate8 it elicite0 one overri0in4 responseE namel'8 to levera4e ever't,in4 in si4,t5 <ver't,in4 in t,is case incl$0e0 capital assets t,at pro0$ce0 0e)t7)ase0 asset )$))les in stocks or ,o$sin4 or ot,er sec$rities an0 commo0ities t,at provi0e0 a kin0 o2 ;privatiFe0 Ke'nesianB stim$l$s packa4e 2or elite 2inancial instit$tions5 =eanw,ile8 )elow8 a workin4 pop$lation 2o$n0 itsel2 0rownin4 in a sea o2 $s$rio$s cre0it5

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

=asJU0 :avarFa0e, 1 (8 !,e &t$pi0it' !,at Cons$mption Is I$st as #ro0$ctive as #ro0$ctionH" In t,e &,oppin4 =all o2 t,e #ost7al Le2t8H Colle4e Literat$re8 @ol5 218 %o5 38 !,e #olitics o2 !eac,in4 Literat$re 2 COct58 1 (D8pp5 2711(D 1,at is o)sc$re0 in t,is representation o2 t,e non70ialo4ical is8 o2 co$rse8 t,e violence o2 t,e 0ialo4ical5 I leave asi0e ,ere t,e violence wit, w,ic, t,ese a0vocates o2 non7violent conversations attack me in t,eir te6ts an0 cartoon5 =' concern is wit, t,e practices )' w,ic, t,e post7al le2t8 t,ro$4, 0ialo4$e8 nat$raliFes Can0 eroticiFesD t,e violence t,at keeps capitalist 0emocrac' in power5 1,at is violentO &$)3ectin4 people to t,e 0ail' terrorism o2 la'o22s in or0er to maintain ,i4, rates o2 pro2it 2or t,e owners o2 t,e means o2 pro0$ction or re0irectin4 t,is violence Cw,ic, 4ives ann$al )on$ses8 in a00ition to m$lti7million70ollar salaries8 )ene2its8 an0 stock options8 to t,e C<Os o2 t,e ver' corporations t,at are la'in4 o22 t,o$san0s o2 workersD a4ainst t,e r$lin4 class in or0er to en0 class societiesO 1,at is violentO Keepin4 millions o2 people in povert'8 ,$n4er8 starvation8 an0 ,omelessness8 an0 0eprive0 o2 )asic ,ealt, care8 at a time w,en t,e 2orces o2 pro0$ction ,ave reac,e0 a level t,at can8 in 2act8 provi0e 2or t,e nee0s o2 all people8 or tr'in4 to overt,row t,is s'stemO 1,at is violentO #lacin4 in o22ice8 $n0er t,e ali)i o2 H2ree elections8H post 2ascists CItal'D an0 allies o2 t,e r$lin4 class C=a3or8 Clinton8 Ko,l8 PeltsinD or str$44lin4 to en0 t,is 2arceO 1,at is violentO >ein2orcin4 t,ese practices )' Htalkin4H a)o$t t,em in a Hreasona)leH 2as,ion Ct,at is8 wit,in t,e r$les o2 t,e 4ame esta)lis,e0 )' t,e r$lin4 class 2or limite0 re2orm 2rom Hwit,inHD or markin4 t,e violence o2 conversation an0 its complicit' wit, t,e stat$s K$o8 t,ere )' )reakin4 t,e 2rame t,at represents H0ialo4$eH as participation8 w,en in 2act it is merel' a 2ormal strate4' 2or le4itimatin4 t,e esta)lis,e0 or0erO An' societ' in w,ic, t,e la)or o2 man' is t,e so$rce o2 wealt, 2or t,e 2ew7all class societies7is a societ' o2 violence8 an0 no amo$nt o2 Htalkin4H is 4oin4 to c,an4e t,at o)3ective 2act5 HDialo4$eH an0 HconversationH are aime0 at arrivin4 at a consens$s )' w,ic, t,is violence is ma0e more tolera)le8 3$sti2ia)le8 an0 nat$raliFe05

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

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C,arles Arown8 #ro2essor o2 <conomics an0 >esearc, &cientist at t,e Universit' o2 =ic,i4an8 05/13/20058 ,ttp"//arc,ives5econ5$ta,5e0$/arc,ives/pen7l/2005w15/ms4000*25,tmD Caccesse0 +/5/12D !,e capitalist class owns t,e 2actories8 t,e )anks8 an0 transportation7t,e means o2 pro0$ction an0 0istri)$tion5 1orkers sell t,eir a)ilit' to work in or0er to acK$ire t,e necessities o2 li2e5 Capitalists )$' t,e workersJ la)or8 )$t onl' pa' t,em )ack a portion o2 t,e wealt, t,e' create5 Aeca$se t,e capitalists own t,e means o2 pro0$ction8 t,e' are a)le to keep t,e s$rpl$s wealt, create0 )' workers a)ove an0 )e'on0 t,e cost o2 pa'in4 workerJs wa4es an0 ot,er costs o2 pro0$ction5 !,is s$rpl$s is calle0 Hpro2itH an0 consists o2 $npai0 la)or t,at t,e capitalists appropriate an0 $se to ac,ieve ever74reater pro2its5 !,ese pro2its are t$rne0 into capital w,ic, capitalists $se to 2$rt,er e6ploit t,e pro0$cers o2 all wealt,7t,e workin4 class5 Capitalists are compelle0 )' competition to seek to ma6imiFe pro2its5 !,e capitalist class as a w,ole can 0o t,at onl' )' e6tractin4 a 4reater s$rpl$s 2rom t,e $npai0 la)or o2 workers )' increasin4 e6ploitation5 Un0er capitalism8 economic 0evelopment ,appens onl' i2 it is pro2ita)le to t,e in0ivi0$al capitalists8 not 2or an' social nee0 or 4oo05 !,e pro2it 0rive is in,erent in capitalism8 an0 $n0erlies or e6acer)ates all ma3or social ills o2 o$r times5 1it, t,e rapi0 a0vance o2 tec,nolo4' an0 pro0$ctivit'8 new 2orms o2 capitalist owners,ip ,ave 0evelope0 to ma6imiFe pro2it5 !,e workin4 people o2 o$r co$ntr' con2ront serio$s8 c,ronic pro)lems )eca$se o2 capitalism5 !,ese c,ronic pro)lems )ecome part o2 t,e o)3ective con0itions t,at con2ront eac, new 4eneration o2 workin4 people5 !,e t,reat o2 n$clear war8 w,ic, can 0estro' all ,$manit'8 4rows wit, t,e sprea0 o2 n$clear weapons8 space7)ase0 weaponr'8 an0 a militar' 0octrine t,at 3$sti2ies t,eir $se in preemptive wars an0 wars wit,o$t en05 <ver since t,e en0 o2 1orl0 1ar II8 t,e U5&5 ,as )een constantl' involve0 in a44ressive militar' actions )i4 an0 small5 !,ese wars ,ave cost millions o2 lives an0 cas$alties8 ,$4e material losses8 as well as trillions o2 U5&5 ta6pa'er 0ollars5 !,reats to t,e environment contin$e to spiral8 t,reatenin4 all li2e on o$r planet5 =illions o2 workers are $nemplo'e0 or insec$re in t,eir 3o)s8 even 0$rin4 economic $pswin4s an0 perio0s o2 Hrecover'H 2rom recessions5 =ost workers e6perience lon4 'ears o2 sta4nant real wa4es8 w,ile ,ealt, an0 e0$cation costs soar5 =an' workers are 2orce0 to work secon0 an0 t,ir0 3o)s to make en0s meet5 =ost workers now avera4e 2o$r 0i22erent occ$pations 0$rin4 t,eir li2etime8 )ein4 invol$ntaril' move0 2rom 3o) to 3o) an0 career to career5 O2ten8 retirement7a4e workers are 2orce0 to contin$e workin4 3$st to provi0e ,ealt, care 2or t,emselves5 1it, capitalist 4lo)aliFation8 3o)s move as capitalists e6port 2actories an0 even entire in0$stries to ot,er co$ntries5 =illions o2 people contin$o$sl' live )elow t,e povert' levelE man' s$22er ,omelessness an0 ,$n4er5 #$)lic an0 private pro4rams to alleviate povert' an0 ,$n4er 0o not reac, ever'one8 an0 are ina0eK$ate even 2or t,ose t,e' 0o reac,5 >acism remains t,e most potent weapon to 0ivi0e workin4 people5 Instit$tionaliFe0 racism provi0es )illions in e6tra pro2its 2or t,e capitalists ever' 'ear 0$e to t,e $neK$al pa' raciall' oppresse0 workers receive 2or work o2 compara)le val$e5 All workers receive lower wa4es w,en racism s$ccee0s in 0ivi0in4 an0 0isor4aniFin4 t,em5 In ever' aspect o2 economic an0 social li2e8 A2rican Americans8 Latinos8 %ative Americans8 Asian a n0 #aci2ic Islan0ers8 Ara)s an0 =i00le <astern peoples8 an0 ot,er nationall' an0 raciall' oppresse0 people e6perience con0itions in2erior to t,at o2 w,ites5 >acist violence an0 t,e poison o2 racist i0eas victimiFe all people o2 color no matter w,ic, economic class t,e' )elon4 to5 !,e attempts to s$ppress an0 $n0erco$nt t,e vote o2 t,e A2rican American an0 ot,er raciall' oppresse0 people are part o2 racism in t,e electoral process5 >acism permeates t,e police8 3$0icial an0 prison s'stems8 perpet$atin4 $neK$al sentencin48 racial pro2ilin48 0iscriminator' en2orcement8 an0 police )r$talit'5 !,e 0emocratic8 civil an0 ,$man ri4,ts o2 all workin4 people are contin$all' $n0er attack5 !,ese attacks ran4e 2rom increasin4l' 0i22ic$lt proce0$res 2or $nion reco4nition an0 attempts to prevent 2$ll $nion participation in elections8 to t,e a)sence o2 t,e ri4,t to strike 2or man' p$)lic workers5 !,e' ran4e 2rom $n0erco$ntin4 minorit' comm$nities in t,e cens$s to makin4 it 0i22ic$lt 2or workin4 people to r$n 2or o22ice )eca$se o2 t,e 0omination o2 corporate campai4n 2$n0in4 an0 t,e ,i4, cost o2 a0vertisin45 !,ese attacks also incl$0e 4rowin4 censors,ip an0 0omination o2 t,e me0ia )' t,e $ltra7ri4,tE 4rowin4 restrictions an0 s$rveillance o2 activist social movements an0 t,e Le2tE open 0enial o2 )asic ri4,ts to immi4rantsE an08 violations o2 t,e ?eneva Conventions $p to an0 incl$0in4 tort$re 2or prisoners5 !,ese a)$ses all serve to maintain t,e 4rip o2 t,e capitalists on 4overnment power5 !,e' $se t,is power to ens$re t,e economic an0 political 0ominance o2 t,eir class5 1omen still 2ace a consi0era)le 0i22erential in wa4es 2or work o2 eK$al or compara)le val$e5 !,e' also con2ront )arriers to promotion8 p,'sical an0 se6$al a)$se8 contin$in4 $neK$al workloa0 in ,ome an0 2amil' li2e8 an0 male s$premacist i0eolo4' perpet$atin4 $neK$al an0 o2ten $nsa2e con0itions5 !,e constant attacks on social wel2are pro4rams severel' impact sin4le women8 sin4le mot,ers8 nationall' an0 raciall' oppresse0 women8 an0 all workin4 class women5 !,e repro0$ctive ri4,ts o2 all women are contin$all' $n0er attack i0eolo4icall' an0 politicall'5

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

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De)ora, Cook8 #ro2essor o2 #,ilosop,'8 Universit' o2 1in0sor8 200* ;&ta'in4 Alive" A0orno an0 Ha)ermas on &el27#reservation Un0er Late Capitalism8B 200* ,ttp"//www5tan02online5com/0oi/p02/10510-0/0- 35* 0*00+(-1+3 Caccesse0 +/5/12D In t,e passa4e in %e4ative Dialectics w,ere ,e warns a4ainst sel27preservation 4one wil08 A0orno states t,at it is ;onl' as re2lection $pon T sel27preservation t,at reason wo$l0 )e a)ove nat$reB C1 +38 2- D5 !o rise a)ove nat$re8 t,en8 reason m$st )ecome ;co4niFant o2 its own nat$ral essenceB C1 -)8 13-D5 !o )e more 2$ll' rational8 we m$st re2lect on w,at Hork,eimer an0 A0orno once calle0 o$r $n0er4ro$n0 ,istor' C1 +28 231D5 In ot,er wor0s8 we m$st reco4niFe t,at o$r )e,avior is motivate0 an0 s,ape0 )' instincts8 incl$0in4 t,e instinct 2or sel27preservation CA0orno 1 -a8 153D5 In ,is lect$res on Kant8 A0orno makes similar remarks w,en ,e s$mmariFes ,is sol$tion to t,e pro)lem o2 sel27preservation 4one wil05 !o reme0' t,is pro)lem8 nat$re m$st 2irst )ecome conscio$s o2 itsel2 CA0orno 20008 10(D5 A0optin4 t,e /re$0ian 4oal o2 makin4 t,e $nconscio$s conscio$s8 A0orno also insists t,at t,is critical sel27$n0erstan0in4 )e accompanie0 )' ra0ical social8 political8 an0 economic c,an4es t,at wo$l0 )rin4 to a ,alt t,e sel27immolatin4 0omination o2 nat$re5 !,is is w,' min02$lness o2 nat$re is necessar' )$t not s$22icient to reme0' $n)ri0le0 sel27preservation5 In t,e 2inal anal'sis8 societ' m$st )e 2$n0amentall' trans2orme0 in or0er rationall' to accommo0ate instincts t,at now r$n wil0 owin4 to o$r 2or4et2$lness o2 nat$re in o$rselves5 A' insistin4 on min02$lness o2 nat$re in t,e sel28 A0orno c,ampions a 2orm o2 rationalit' t,at wo$l0 tame sel27 preservation8 )$t in contrast to Ha)ermas8 ,e t,inks t,at t,e tamin4 o2 sel27preservation is a normative task rat,er t,an an accomplis,e0 2act5 Aeca$se sel27preservation remains irrational8 we now enco$nter serio$s environmental pro)lems like t,ose connecte0 wit, 4lo)al warmin4 an0 t,e 4reen,o$se e22ect8 t,e 0epletion o2 nat$ral reso$rces8 an0 t,e 0eat, o2 more t,an one ,$n0re0 re4ions in o$r oceans5 Owin4 to sel27preservation 4one wil08 we ,ave coloniFe0 an0 0esta)iliFe0 lar4e parts o2 t,e worl08 a0versel' a22ectin4 t,e lives o2 millions8 w,en we ,ave not simpl' enslave0 or m$r0ere0 t,eir in,a)itants o$tri4,t5 /amine an0 0isease are o2ten t,e res$lt o2 rava4in4 t,e lan0 in t,e name o2 s$rvival imperatives5 1ars are wa4e0 in t,e name o2 sel27preservation" wit, ,is now notorio$sl' invisi)le weapons o2 mass 0estr$ction8 &a00am H$ssein was sai0 to represent a serio$s t,reat to t,e lives o2 citiFens in t,e 1est5 !,e war a4ainst terrorism8 wa4e0 in t,e name o2 sel27preservation8 ,as serio$sl' $n0ermine0 ,$man ri4,ts an0 civil li)ertiesE it ,as also )een $se0 to 3$sti2' t,e m$r0er8 rape8 an0 tort$re o2 t,o$san0s5 As it now stan0s8 t,e owners o2 t,e means o2 pro0$ction ens$re o$r s$rvival t,ro$4, pro2its t,at8 at )est8 onl' trickle 0own to t,e poorest mem)ers o2 societ'5 !aken in c,ar4e )' t,e capitalist econom'8 sel27preservation now 0ictates t,at pro2its increase e6ponentiall' to t,e 0etriment o2 social pro4rams like wel2are an0 ,ealt, care5 In a00ition8 sel27preservation ,as 4one wil0 )eca$se o$r instincts an0 nee0s are now 2irml' ,arnesse0 to commo0i2ie0 o22ers o2 satis2action t,at 0e2lect an0 0istort t,em5 Havin4 s$rren0ere0 t,e task o2 sel27preservation to t,e economic an0 political s'stems8 we remain in t,rall to $ntame0 s$rvival instincts t,at co$l0 well en0 $p 0estro'in4 not 3$st t,e entire species8 )$t all li2e on t,e planet5

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Ioel Kovel8 Al4er Hiss #ro2essor8 &ocial &t$0ies8 Aar0 Colle4e8 !H< <%<=P O/ %A!U><" !H< <%D O/ CA#I!ALI&= O> !H< <%D O/ !H< 1O>LD8 20028 p5 55 As t,e worl08 or to )e more e6act8 t,e 1estern8 in0$strial worl08 ,as leapt into a prosperit' $nima4ina)le to prior 4enerations8 it ,as prepare0 2or itsel2 a calamit' 2ar more $nima4ina)le still5 !,e present worl0 s'stem in e22ect ,as ,a0 t,ree 0eca0es to limit its 4rowt,8 an0 it ,as 2aile0 so a)3ectl' t,at even t,e i0ea o2 limitin4 4rowt, ,as )een )anis,e0 2rom o22icial 0isco$rse5 /$rt,er8 it ,as )een prove0 0ecisivel' t,at t,e internal lo4ic o2 t,e present s'stem translates U4rowt,S into increasin4 wealt, 2or t,e 2ew an0 increasin4 miser' 2or t,e man'5 1e m$st )e4in o$r inK$ir' t,ere2ore8 wit, t,e c,illin4 2act t,at U4rowt,S so conceive0 means t,e 0estr$ction o2 t,e nat$ral 2o$n0ation o2 civiliFation5 I2 t,e worl0 were a livin4 or4anism8 t,en an' sensi)le o)server wo$l0 concl$0e t,at t,is U4rowt,S is a cancer t,at8 i2 not some,ow treate08 means t,e 0estr$ction o2 ,$man societ'8 an0 even raises t,e K$estion o2 t,e e6tinction o2 o$r species5 A simple e6trapolation tells $s as m$c,8 once we learn t,at t,e 4rowt, is $ncontrolla)le5 !,e 0etails are important an0 interestin48 )$t less so t,an t,e c,ie2 concl$sion L t,at irresisti)le 4rowt,8 an0 t,e evi0ent 2act t,at t,is 4rowt, 0esta)iliFes an0 )reaks 0own t,e nat$ral 4ro$n0 necessar' 2or ,$man e6istence8 means8 in t,e plainest terms8 t,at we are 0oome0 $n0er t,e present social or0er8 an0 t,at we ,a0 )etter c,an4e it as soon as possi)le i2 we are to s$rvive5

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

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Internationalist #erspective8 ;Capitalism an0 ?enoci0e8B 2000 C,ttp"//www54eocities5com/wa4eslave6/capan04en5,tmlD Caccesse0 +/5/12D =ass 0eat,8 an0 4enoci0e8 t,e 0eli)erate an0 s'stematic e6termination o2 w,ole 4ro$ps o2 ,$man )ein4s8 ,ave )ecome an inte4ral part o2 t,e social lan0scape o2 capitalism in its p,ase o2 0eca0ence5 A$sc,witF8 Kol'ma8 an0 Hiros,ima are not merel' t,e names o2 0iscrete sites w,ere ,$man )ein4s ,ave )een s$)3ecte0 to 2orms o2 in0$strialiFe0 mass 0eat,8 )$t s'nec0oc,es 2or t,e 0eat,7worl0 t,at is a component o2 t,e capitalist mo0e o2 pro0$ction in t,is epoc,5 In t,at sense8 I want to ar4$e t,at t,e Holoca$st8 2or e6ample8 was not a Iewis, catastrop,e8 nor an atavistic reversion to t,e )ar)arism o2 a past epoc,8 )$t rat,er an event pro0$ce0 )' t,e $n2ol0in4 o2 t,e lo4ic o2 capitalism itsel25 =oreover8 A$sc,witF8 Kol'ma8 an0 Hiros,ima are not HpastH8 )$t rat,er 2$t$ral events8 o)3ective7real possi)ilities on t,e /ront o2 ,istor'8 to $se concepts 2irst artic$late0 )' t,e =ar6ist p,ilosop,er <rnst Aloc,5 !,e et,nic cleansin4 w,ic, ,as )een $nleas,e0 in Aosnia an0 Kosovo8 t,e 4enoci0e o2 t,e !$tsis in >wan0a8 t,e mass 0eat, to w,ic, C,ec,n'a ,as )een s$)3ecte08 t,e prospect 2or a n$clear war on t,e In0ian s$)7continent8 are so man' e6amples o2 t,e 2$t$re w,ic, awaits t,e ,$man species as t,e capitalist mo0e o2 pro0$ction enters a new milleni$m5 In0ee08 it is 3$st s$c, a 0eat,7worl0 t,at constit$tes t,e meanin4 o2 one pole o2 t,e ,istoric alternative w,ic, >osa L$6em)$r4 2irst pose0 in t,e mi0st o2 t,e sla$4,ter in2licte0 on masses o2 conscripts 0$rin4 1orl0 1ar I" socialism or )ar)arismV

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=assimo De An4elis8 Dept o2 <conomics at <ast Lon0on8 20038 !,e Commoner8 ,ttp"//www5ain2os5ca/03/3an/ain2os00(+ 5,tml Caccesse0 +/5/12D Once we acknowle04e t,e e6istence o2 t,e 4ala6' o2 alternatives as t,e' emer4e 2rom concrete nee0s an0 aspirations8 we can 4ro$n0 to0a'Js new political 0isco$rse in t,e t,inkin4 an0 practice o2 t,e act$aliFation an0 t,e coor0ination o2 alternatives8 so as eac, social no0e an0 eac, in0ivi0$al wit,in it ,as t,e power to 0eci0e an0 take control over t,eir lives5 It is t,is act$aliFation an0 t,is coor0ination t,at resc$es e6istin4 alternatives 2rom t,e clo$0 o2 t,eir invisi)ilit'8 )eca$se alternatives8 as wit, an' ,$man pro0$ct8 are social pro0$cts8 an0 t,e' nee0 to )e reco4niFe0 an0 vali0ate0 sociall'5 O$r political pro3ects m$st p$s, t,eir wa' t,ro$4, )e'on0 t,e e6istin4 2orms o2 coor0ination8 )e'on0 t,e visi)le 2ist o2 t,e state8 )e'on0 t,e invisi)le ,an0 o2 competitive markets8 an0 )e'on0 t,e ,ar0 realities o2 t,eir interconnections t,at e6press t,emselves in to0a' 2orms o2 neoli)eral 4overnance8 promotin4 cooperation t,ro$4, competition an0 comm$nit' t,ro$4, 0isempowerment5 As I will ar4$e8 t,is new political 0isco$rse is )ase0 on t,e pro3ect o2 0e2en0in4 an0 e6ten0in4 t,e space o2 commons8 at t,e same time )$il0in4 an0 stren4t,enin4 comm$nities t,ro$4, t,e social 2iel0s5

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Ioel Kovel8 #ro2essor o2 &ocial &t$0ies at Aar08 20028 !,e <nem' o2 %at$re8 p22( >elentless criticism can 0ele4itimate t,e s'stem an0 release people into str$44le5 An0 as str$44le 0evelops8 victories t,at are no more t,an incremental )' t,eir own terms7 stoppin4 a meetin4 stoppin4 t,e I=/8 t,e ,opes stirre0 2ort, )' a campai4n s$c, as >alp, %a0erSs in 2000 W can ,ave a s'm)olic e22ect 2ar 4reater t,an t,eir e6ternal res$lt8 an0 constit$te points o2 r$pt$re wit, capital5 !,is r$pt$re is not a set o2 2acts a00e0 to o$r knowle04e o2 t,e worl08 )$t a c,an4e in o$r relation to t,e worl05 Its e22ects are 0'namic8 not incremental8 an0 like all 4en$ine insi4,ts it c,an4es t,e )alance o2 2orces an0 can propa4ate ver' swi2tl'5 !,$s t,e release 2rom inertia can tri44er a rapi0 casca0e o2 c,an4es8 so t,at it co$l0 )e sai0 t,at t,e 2orces pressin4 towar0s ra0ical c,an4e nee0 not )e linear an0 incremental8 )$t can )e e6ponential in c,aracter5 In t,is wa'8 conscientio$s an0 ra0ical criticism o2 t,e 4iven8 even in a0vance o2

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

,avin4 )l$eprints 2or an alternative8 can )e a material 2orce8 )eca$se it can seiFe t,e min0 o2 t,e masses o2 people5 !,ere is no 4reater responsi)ilit' 2or intellect$als5

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&lavo3 :iFek 8 Contin4enc'8 He4emon' 20008 Universalit'" Contemporar' Dialo4$es on t,e Le2t8 2K8 p5 322 I am 2$ll' aware o2 w,at one s,o$l0 call8 wit,o$t an' iron'8 t,e 4reat ac,ievements o2 li)eral capitalism" pro)a)l'8 never in ,$man ,istor' ,ave so man' people en3o'e0 s$c, a 0e4ree o2 2ree0om an0 material stan0ar0 o2 livin4 as in to0a'Ss 0evelope0 1estern co$ntries8 However8 2ar 2rom acceptin4 t,e %ew 1orl0 Or0er as an ine6ora)le process w,ic, allows onl' 2or mo0erate palliative meas$res8 I contin$e to t,ink8 in t,e ol0 =ar6ist vein8 t,at to0a'Ss capitalism8 in its ver' tri$mp,8 is )ree0in4 new Ucontra0ictionsS w,ic, are potentiall' even more e6plosive t,an t,os8e o2 stan0ar0 in0$strial capitalism5 A series o2 UirrationalitiesS imme0iatel' comes to min0" t,e res$lt o2 t,e )reat,takin4 4rowt, o2 pro0$ctivit' in t,e last 2ew 0eca0es is risin4 $nemplo'ment8 wit, t,e lon47term perspective t,at 0evelope0 societies will nee0 onl' 20 per cent o2 t,eir work2orce to repro0$ce t,emselves8 wit, t,e remainin4 -0 per cent re0$ce0 to t,e stat$s o2 a s$rpl$s 2rom a p$rel' economic point o2 viewE t,e res$lt o2 0ecoloniFation is t,at m$ltinationals treat even t,eir own co$ntr' o2 ori4in as i$st anot,er colon'E t,e res$lt o2 4lo)aliFation an0 t,e rise o2 t,e U4lo)al villa4eS is t,e 4,ettoiFation o2 w,ole strata o2 t,e pop$lationE t,e res$lt o2 t,e m$c,7praise0 U0isap7pearance o2 t,e workin4 classS is t,e emer4ence o2 millions o2 man$al workers la)o$rin4 in t,e !,ir0 1orl0 sweats,ops8 o$t o2 o$r 0elicate 1estern si4,t5 5 5 !,e capitalist s'stem is t,$s approac,in4 its in,erent limit an0 sel27cancellation" 2or t,e maiorit' o2 t,e pop$lation8 t,e 0ream o2 t,e virt$al U2rictionless capitalismS CAill ?atesD is t$rnin4 into a ni4,t7mare in w,ic, t,e 2ate o2 millionsS is 0eci0e0 in ,'per7 re2le6ive spec$lation on 2$t$res5 /rom t,e ver' )e4innin48 capitalist 4lo)aliFation 7 t,e emer4ence o2 capitalism as t,e worl0 s'stem 7 involve0 its e6act opposite" t,e split8 wit,in partic$lar et,nic 4ro$ps8 )etween t,ose w,o are incl$0e0 in t,is 4lo)aliFation an0 t,ose w,o are e6cl$0e05 !o0a'8 t,is split is more ra07ical t,an ever5 On t,e one ,an08 we ,ave t,e so7calle0 Us'm)olic classS" not onl' mana4ers an0 )ankers8 )$t also aca0emics8 3o$rnalists8 law'ers8 an0 so on 7 all t,ose w,ose 0omain o2 work is t,e virt$al s'm)olic $niverse5 On t,e ot,er8 t,ere are t,e e6cl$0e0 in all t,eir variations Ct,e permanentl' $nemplo'e08 t,e ,omeless8 $n0erprivile4e0 et,nic an0 reli4io$s minorities8 an0 so onD5 In )etween8 t,ere is t,e notorio$s Umi00le classS8 passionatel' a2tac,e0 to t,e tra0itional mo0es o2 pro0$ction an0 kXeolo4' Csa'8 a K$ali2ie0 man$al worker w,ose 3o) is t,reatene0D8 an0 attackin4 )ot, e6tremes8 )i4 )$siness an0 aca0emics as well as t,e e6cl$0e08 as U$n7patrioticS8 UrootlessS 0eviations5 As is alwa's t,e case wit, social anta4onisms8 to0a'Ss class anta4onism 2$nctions as t,e intricate interpla' )etween t,ese t,ree a4ents8 wit, s,i2tin4 strate4ic alliances" t,e Upoliticall' correctS s'm)olic classes 0e2en0in4 t,e e6cl$0e0 a4ainst t,e U2$n0amentalistS mi00le class8 an0 so 2ort,5 !,e split )etween t,em is )ecomin4 even more ra0ical t,an tra0itional class 0ivisions 7one is tempte0 to claim t,at it is reac,in4 almost ontolo4ical propor7tions8 wit, eac, 4ro$p evolvin4 its own Uworl07viewS8 its own relation to realit'" t,e Us'm)olic classS is in0ivi0$alistic8 ecolo4icall' sensitive an0 sim$ltaneo$sl' Upostmo0ernS8 aware t,at realit' itsel2 is a contin4ent s'm)olic 2ormationE t,e Umi00le classS sticks to tra0itional sta)le et,ics an0 a )elie2 in Ureal li2eS8 wit, w,ic, s'm)olic classes are Ulosin4 to$c,SE t,e e6cl$0e0 oscillate )etween ,e0onistic ni,ilism an0 ra0ical Creli4io$s or et,nicD 2$n0amentalism5 Are we not 0ealin4 a4ain wit, t,e Lacanian tria0 o2 &'m)olic8 Ima4inar' an0 >ealO Are t,e e6cl$0e0 not UrealS in t,e sense o2 t,e kernel w,ic, resists social inte4ration8 an0 is t,e Umi00le classS not Uima47inar'S8 clin4in4 to t,e 2antas' o2 societ' as a ,armonio$s 1,ole corr$pte0 t,ro$4, moral 0eca'O !,e main point o2 t,is improvise0 0escription is t,at 4lo)aliFation $n0ermines its own roots" one can alrea0' perceive on t,e ,oriFon t,e con2lict wit, t,e ver' principle o2 2ormal 0emocrac'8 since8 at a certain point8 t,e Us'm)olic classS will no lon4er )e a)le U0emocraticall'S to contain t,e resistance o2 t,e maiorit'5 l1,ic, wa' o$t o2 t,is pre0icament will t,is class t,en resort toO %ot,in4 is to )e e6cl$0e08 even $p to 4enetic manip$lation to ren0er t,ose w,o 0o not 2it into 4lo)aliFation more 0ocile5

10

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

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Istavan =esFaros8 #ro25 <merit$s R U o2 &$sse68 1 5 Ae'on0 Capital" !owar0s a !,eor' o2 !ransition8 p (0 7(10

#olitics an0 moralit' are so closel' intertwine0 in t,e real worl0 t,at it is ,ar0l' ima4ina)le to con2ront an0 resolve t,e con2licts o2 an' a4e wit,o$t )rin4in4 into pla' t,e cr$cial 0imensions o2 )ot,5 !,$s8 w,enever it is 0i22ic$lt to 2ace t,e pro)lems an0 contra0ictions o2 politics in t,e prevailin4 social or0er8 t,eories o2 moralit' are also )o$n0 to s$22er t,e conseK$ences5 %at$rall'8 t,is relations,ip ten0s to prevail also in t,e positive 0irection5 As t,e entire ,istor' o2 p,ilosop,' testi2ies8 t,e a$t,ors o2 all ma3or et,ical works are also t,e ori4inators o2 t,e seminal t,eoretical works on politicsE an0 vice versa8 all serio$s concept$aliFations o2 politics ,ave t,eir necessar' corollaries on t,e plane o2 moral 0isco$rse5 !,is 4oes 2or Aristotle as m$c, as 2or Ho))es an0 &pinoFa8 an0 2or >o$ssea$ an0 Kant as m$c, as 2or He4el5 In0ee08 in t,e case o2 He4el we 2in0 ,is et,ics 2$ll' inte4rate0 into ,is #,ilosop,' o2 >i4,t8 i5e5 ,is t,eor' o2 t,e state5 !,is is w,' it is so astonis,in4 to rea0 in L$kYcss U!actics an0 <t,icsS t,at UHe4elSs s'stem is 0evoi0 o2 et,icsS" a view w,ic, ,e later mellows to sa'in4 t,at t,e He4elian treatment o2 et,ics s$22ers t,e conseK$ences o2 ,is s'stem an0 t,e conservative )ias o2 ,is t,eor' o2 t,e state5 It wo$l0 )e m$c, more correct to sa' t,at L 0espite t,e conservative )ias o2 ,is political conception L He4el is t,e a$t,or o2 t,e last 4reat s'stematic treatment o2 et,ics5 Compare0 to t,at8 t,e twentiet, cent$r' in t,e 2iel0 o2 et,ics Cas well as in t,at o2 political p,ilosop,'D is ver' pro)lematical5 %o 0o$)t t,is ,as a 4reat 0eal to 0o Ueit, t,e ever narrowin4 mar4in o2 alternatives allowe0 )' t,e necessar' mo0e o2 2$nctionin4 o2 t,e 4lo)al capital s'stem w,ic, pro0$ces t,e wis0om o2 Ut,ere is no alternativeS5 /or8 evi0entl'8 t,ere can )e no meanin42$l moral 0isco$rse on t,e premiss t,at Ut,ere is no alternativeS5 <t,ics is concerne0 wit, t,e eval$ation an0 implementation o2 alternative 4oals w,ic, in0ivi0$als an0 social 4ro$ps can act$all' set t,emselves in t,eir con2rontations wit, t,e pro)lems o2 t,eir a4e5 An0 t,is is w,ere t,e inescapa)ilit' o2 politics makes its impact5 /or even t,e most intensel' committe0 investi4ation o2 et,ics cannot )e a s$)stit$te 2or a ra0ical critiK$e o2 politics in its 2r$stratin4 an0 alienatin4 contemporar' realit'5 !,e slo4an o2 Ut,ere is no alternative 0i0 not ori4inate in et,icsE nor is it eno$4, to reassert in et,ical/ontolo4Vcal terms t,e nee0 2or alternatives8 no matter ,ow passionatel' t,is is 2elt an0 pre0icate05 !,e p$rs$it o2 via)le alternatives to t,e 0estr$ctive realit' o2 capitalSs social or0er in all its 2orms wit,o$t w,ic, t,e socialist pro3ect is $tterl' pointless Lis a practical matter5 !,e role o2 moralit' an0 et,ics is cr$cial to t,e s$ccess o2 t,is enterprise5 A$t t,ere can )e no ,ope o2 s$ccess wit,o$t t,e 3oint re7 artic$lation o2 socialist moral 0isco$rse an0 political strate4'8 takin4 2$ll' on )oar0 t,e pain2$l lessons o2 t,e recent past5 /or t,e le2t8 on t,e ot,er ,an08 politics m$st )e t,e art o2 )$il0in4 social 2orce in opposition to t,e s'stem5 !,e le2t m$st not8 t,ere2ore8 see t,e people or pop$lar social 2orce as somet,in4 4iven t,at can )e manip$late0 an0 onl' nee0s to )e stirre0 $p8 )$t as somet,in4 t,at ,as to )e )$ilt5

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Ao) Avakian8 C,airman8 >evol$tionar' Comm$nit' #art'8 1 ;1e Have a U%ew =illeni$mS771,at 1e %ee0 is a %ew 1orl08B ><@OLU!IO%A>P 1O>K<> Decem)er 2*8 1 5 ,ttp"//rwor5or4/a/v21/1030703 /103*/milleni$m5,tm Caccesse0 +/5/12D !,e =L= part' m$st take $p an0 concretel' appl' t,is i0eolo4' to solve t,e practical pro)lems o2 t,e revol$tion5 In an imperialist co$ntr' like t,e U5&58 t,is means lea0in4 t,e masses o2 people in 2i4,tin4 a4ainst t,e o$tra4es an0 in3$stices o2 t,is s'stem8 an0 to 0o t,is in a wa' t,at prepares 2or t,e 4reat revol$tionar' s,ow0own a,ea077t,e revol$tionar' war t,at will 2inall' overt,row t,is s'stem5 !,e part' m$st 0evelop8 t,ro$4, all its work8 an0 all t,e str$44les o2 to0a'8 t,e 2i4,tin4 capacit' an0 or4aniFation o2 t,e proletariat an0 its allies5 It m$st contin$all' 0evelop t,e class conscio$sness o2 t,e proletariat77an $n0erstan0in4 o2 w,at is t,e pro)lem an0 w,at is t,e sol$tion8 w,o is t,e enem' an0 w,o are 2rien0s an0 potential allies8 ,ow t,e str$44le ,as to )e wa4e0 an0 w,at t,e 2inal aim o2 t,at str$44le is5 It m$st ena)le 4rowin4 n$m)ers o2 people to see t,e necessit' an0 possi)ilit' o2 t,e ,istoric mission o2 comm$nism an0 train t,e revol$tionar'7min0e0 people in t,e scienti2ic worl0 o$tlook an0 met,o0 o2 comm$nism5 In t,e U5&5 to0a'8 t,ere is s$c, a part' carr'in4 o$t t,is revol$tionar' work77t,e >evol$tionar' Comm$nist #art'8 U&A5 An08 in t$rn8 o$r #art' is part o2 t,e >evol$tionar' Internationalist =ovement C>I=D8 $nitin4 =L= parties an0 or4aniFations t,ro$4,o$t t,e worl05 !,e p$rpose an0 4oal o2 all t,ese parties an0 or4aniFations w,o are $nite0 in t,e >I= is to 0evelop t,e worl0wi0e proletarian revol$tion towar0 t,e 2inal aim o2 comm$nism77a worl0 wit,o$t e6ploitation8 wit,o$t ineK$alit'8 wit,o$t oppressive relations )ase0 on 0istinctions o2 class8 or se68 or race or nationalit'5 It is a tremen0o$s ac,ievement o2 t,e revol$tionar' str$44le o2 masses o2 people in t,e U5&5 an0 all over t,e worl0 t,at o$r #art' an0 t,e >evol$tionar' Internationalist =ovement e6istE an0 t,is #art' an0 t,is =ovement are tremen0o$sl' important 2orces 2or t,e masses o2 people in 2i4,tin4 2or t,eir li)eration5 1e call on o$r class8 t,e proletarians8 on all oppresse0

11

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

people8 on ever'one w,o wo$l0 love to see a ra0icall' 0i22erent worl08 w,ere t,e 4reat creative potential o2 t,e people is not )eaten 0own an0 twiste0 into c,ains on t,e people t,emselves77w,ere instea0 t,is potential is $nlocke0 an0 $nleas,e0 to serve ,$manit'5

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Io,n Hollowa'8 #ro2essor o2 #olitical &ciecne at t,e Universita #$e)la8 2003 ;C,an4in4 t,e worl0 wit,o$t takin4 power8B <n0pa4e8 2003 Cen0pa4e5or4/articlesD In t,e )e4innin4 is t,e scream5 1e scream5 1,en we write or w,en we rea08 it is eas' to 2or4et t,at t,e )e4innin4 is not t,e wor08 )$t t,e scream5 /ace0 wit, t,e m$tilation o2 ,$man lives )' capitalism8 a scream o2 sa0ness8 a scream o2 ,orror8 a scream o2 an4er8 a scream o2 re2$sal" %O5 !,e startin4 point o2 t,eoretical re2lection is opposition8 ne4ativit'8 str$44le5 It is 2rom ra4e t,at t,o$4,t is )orn8 not 2rom t,e pose o2 reason8 not 2rom t,e reasone07sittin47)ack7an07re2lectin47on7t,e7 m'steries7o27e6istence t,at is t,e conventional ima4e o2 Ut,e t,inkerS5 1e start 2rom ne4ation8 2rom 0issonance5 !,e 0issonance can take man' s,apes5 An inartic$late m$m)le o2 0iscontent8 tears o2 2r$stration8 a scream o2 ra4e8 a con2i0ent roar5 An $nease8 a con2$sion8 a lon4in48 a critical vi)ration5 O$r 0issonance comes 2rom o$r e6perience8 )$t t,at e6perience varies5 &ometimes it is t,e 0irect e6perience o2 e6ploitation in t,e 2actor'8 or o2 oppression in t,e ,ome8 o2 stress in t,e o22ice8 o2 ,$n4er an0 povert'8 or o2 state violence or 0iscrimination5 &ometimes it is t,e less 0irect e6perience t,ro$4, television8 newspapers or )ooks t,at moves $s to ra4e5 =illions o2 c,il0ren live on t,e streets o2 t,e worl05 In some cities8 street c,il0ren are s'stematicall' m$r0ere0 as t,e onl' wa' o2 en2orcin4 respect 2or private propert'5 In 1 t,e assets o2 t,e 200 ric,est people were more t,an t,e total income o2 (1Q o2 t,e worl0Ss people Ctwo an0 a ,al2 )illionD5 In 1 *08 t,e co$ntries wit, t,e wealt,iest 2i2t, o2 t,e worl0Ss people ,a0 per capita incomes 30 times t,at o2 t,e poorest 2i2t," )' 1 0 t,e ratio ,a0 0o$)le0 to *0 to one8 an0 )' 1 5 it stoo0 at +( to one5 !,e stock market rises ever' time t,ere is an increase in $nemplo'ment5 &t$0ents are imprisone0 2or str$44lin4 2or 2ree e0$cation w,ile t,ose w,o are activel' responsi)le 2or t,e miser' o2 millions are ,eape0 wit, ,ono$rs an0 4iven titles o2 0istinction8 ?eneral8 &ecretar' o2 De2ence8 #resi0ent5 !,e list 4oes on an0 on5 It is impossi)le to rea0 a newspaper wit,o$t 2eelin4 ra4e8 wit,o$t 2eelin4 pain5 )etween t,em8 t,at t,e' are all part o2 a worl0 t,at is 2lawe08 a worl0 t,at is wron4 in some 2$n0amental wa'5 1e see more an0 more people )e44in4 on t,e street w,ile t,e stock markets )reak new recor0s an0 compan' 0irectorsJ salaries rise to ever 0iFFier ,ei4,ts8 an0 we 2eel t,at t,e wron4s o2 t,e worl0 are not c,ance in3$stices )$t part o2 a s'stem t,at is pro2o$n0l' wron45 <ven Holl'woo0 2ilms Cs$rprisin4l'8 per,apsD almost alwa's start 2rom t,e portra'al o2 a 2$n0amentall' $n3$st worl0 7 )e2ore 4oin4 on to reass$re $s Cless s$rprisin4l'D t,at 3$stice 2or t,e in0ivi0$al can )e won t,ro$4, in0ivi0$al e22ort5 O$r an4er is 0irecte0 not 3$st a4ainst partic$lar ,appenin4s )$t is a4ainst a more 4eneral wron4ness8 a 2eelin4 t,at t,e worl0 is askew8 t,at t,e worl0 is in some wa' $ntr$e5 1,en we e6perience somet,in4 partic$larl' ,orri2ic8 we ,ol0 $p o$r ,an0s in ,orror an0 sa' Jt,at cannot )eV it cannot )e tr$eVJ 1e know t,at it is tr$e8 )$t 2eel t,at it is t,e tr$t, o2 an $ntr$e worl05 1,at wo$l0 a tr$e worl0 look likeO 1e ma' ,ave a va4$e i0ea" it wo$l0 )e worl0 o2 3$stice8 a worl0 in w,ic, people co$l0 relate to eac, ot,er as people an0 not as t,in4s8 a worl0 in w,ic, people wo$l0 s,ape t,eir own lives5 A$t we 0o not nee0 to ,ave a pict$re o2 w,at a tr$e worl0 wo$l0 )e like in or0er to 2eel t,at t,ere is somet,in4 ra0icall' wron4 wit, t,e worl0 t,at e6ists5 /eelin4 t,at t,e worl0 is wron4 0oes not necessaril' mean t,at we ,ave a pict$re o2 a $topia to p$t in its place5 %or 0oes is necessaril' mean a romantic8 some70a'7m'7prince7will7 come i0ea t,at8 alt,o$4, t,in4s are wron4 now8 one 0a' we s,all come to a tr$e worl08 a promise0 lan08 a ,app' en0in45 1e nee0 no promise o2 a ,app' en0in4 to 3$sti2' o$r re3ection o2 a worl0 we 2eel to )e wron45 !,at is o$r startin4 point" re3ection o2 a worl0 t,at we 2eel to )e wron48 ne4ation o2 a worl0 we 2eel to )e ne4ative5

12

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic AT: "erm#tation

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Ioel KO@<L CAl4er Hiss #ro25 At Aar0D 20028 !,e <nem' o2 %at$re8 :e0 Aooks8 p5 1(273/ !,e val$e7term t,at s$)s$mes ever't,in4 into t,e spell o2 capital sets 4oin4 a kin0 o2 w,eel o2 acc$m$lation8 2rom pro0$ction to cons$mption an0 )ack8 spinnin4 ever more rapi0l' as t,e inertial mass o2 capital 4rows8 an0 4eneratin4 its 2orce 2iel0 as a spinnin4 ma4net 4enerates an electrical 2iel05 !,is p,enomenon ,as important implications 2or t,e re2orma)ilit' o2 t,e s'stem5 Aeca$se capital is so spectral8 an0 s$ccee0s so well in i0eolo4icall' m'sti2'in4 its real nat$re8 attention is constantl' 0e2lecte0 2rom t,e act$al so$rce o2 eco70esta)iliFation to t,e instr$ments )' w,ic, t,at so$rce acts5 !,e real pro)lem8 ,owever8 is t,e w,ole mass o2 4lo)all' acc$m$late0 capital8 alon4 wit, t,e spee0 o2 its circ$lation an0 t,e class str$ct$res s$stainin4 t,is5 !,at is w,at 4enerates t,e 2orce 2iel08 in proportion to its own scaleE an0 it is t,is 2orce 2iel08 actin4 across t,e n$m)erless points o2 insertion t,at constit$te t,e ecosp,ere8 t,at creates ever lar4er a44lomerations o2 capital8 sets t,e ecolo4ical crisis 4oin48 an0 keeps it 2rom )ein4 resolve05 /or one 2act ma' )e taken as certain L t,at to resolve t,e ecolo4ical crisis as a w,ole8 as a4ainst ti0'in4 $p one corner or anot,er8 is ra0icall' incompati)le wit, t,e e6istence o2 4i4antic pools o2 capital8 t,e 2orce 2iel0 t,ese in0$ce8 t,e criminal $n0erworl0 wit, w,ic, t,e' connect8 an08 )' e6tension8 t,e elites w,o comprise t,e transnational )o$r4eoisie5 An0 )' not resolvin4 t,e crisis as a w,ole8 we open o$rselves to t,e spectre o2 anot,er m't,ical creat$re8 t,e man'7,ea0e0 ,'0ra8 t,at re4enerate0 itsel2 t,e more its in0ivi0$al tentacles were c,oppe0 awa'5 !o realiFe t,is is to reco4niFe t,at t,ere is no compromisin4 wit, capital8 no sc,ema o2 re2ormism t,at will clean $p its act )' makin4 it act more 4reenl' or e22icientl' 1e s,all e6plore t,e practical implications o2 t,is t,esis in #art III8 an0 ,ere nee0 simpl' to restate t,e concl$sion in )l$nt terms" 4reen capital8 or non7poll$tin4 capital8 is pre2era)le to t,e imme0iatel' eco0estr$ctive )ree0 on its imme0iate terms5 A$t t,is is t,e lesser point8 an0 0iminis,es wit, its ver' s$ccess5 /or 4reen capital Cor Usociall'/ecolo4icall' responsi)le investin4SD e6ists8 )' its ver' capital7nat$re8 essentiall' to create more val$e8 an0 t,is leac,es awa' 2rom t,e concretel' 4reen location to 3oin t,e 4reat pool8 an0 2ollows its 2orce 2iel0 into Fones o2 4reater concentration8

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

&lavo3 :iFek8 &enior >esearc,er at t,e Universit' o2 L3$)l3ana8 20028 >evol$tion at t,e 4ates p51* 7 1+1D In0ee08 since t,e HnormalH 2$nctionin4 o2 capitalism involves some kin0 o2 0isavowal o2 t,e )asic principle o2 its 2$nctionin4 Cto0a'Js mo0el capitalist is someone w,o8 a2ter r$t,lessl' 4eneratin4 pro2it8 t,en 4enero$sl' s,ares parts o2 it8 4ivin4 lar4e 0onations to c,$rc,es8 victims o2 et,nic or se6$al a)$se etc58 posin4 as a ,$manitarianD8 t,e $ltimate act o2 trans4ression is to assert t,is principle 0irectl'8 0eprivin4 it o2 its ,$manitarian mask5 I am !,ere2ore tempte0 to reverse =ar6Js !,esis 11" t,e 2irst task to0a' is #recisel' not to s$cc$m) to t,e temptation to act8 to intervene 0irectl' an0 C,an4e t,in4s Cw,ic, t,en inevita)l' en0s in a c$l 0e sac o2 0e)ilitatin4 impossi)ilit'" H1,at can we 0o a4ainst 4lo)al capitalO HD8 )$t to K$estion ,e ,e4emonic i0eolo4ical coor0inates5 In s,ort8 o$r ,istorical moment is 8till t,at o2 A0orno"!o t,e K$estion H1,at s,o$l0 we 0oOH I can most o2ten tr$l' answer onl' wit, HI 0onJt know5H I can onl' tr' to anal'se ri4oro$sl' w,at t,ere is5 Here people reproac, me" 1,en 'o$ practise criticism8 'o$ are also o)li4e0 to sa' ,ow one s,o$l0 make it )etter5 !o m' min08 t,is is incontroverti)l' a )o$r4eois pre3$0ice5 =an' times in ,istor' it so ,appene0 t,at t,e ver' works w,ic, p$rs$e0 p$rel' t,eoretical 4oals trans2orme0 conscio$sness8 an0 t,ere)' also social realit'5 5I28 to0a'8 we 2ollow a 0irect call to act8 t,is act will not )e per2orme0 in an empt' space it will )e an act wit,in t,e ,e4emonic i0eolo4ical coor0inates t,ose w,o Hreall' want to 0o somet,in4 to ,elp peopleH 4et involve0 in C$n0o$)te0l' ,ono$ra)leD e6ploits like =e0ecins sans 2rontieres 8?reenpeace8 2eminist an0 anti racist campai4ns8 w,ic, are all not onl' tolerate0 )$t even s$pporte0 )' t,e me0ia8 even i2 t,e' seemin4l' encroac, an economic territor' C2or e6ample8 0eno$ncin4 an0 )o'cottin4 companies w,ic, 0o not respect ecolo4ical con0itions8 or $se c,il0 la)o$r t,e' are tolerate0 an0 s$pporte0 as lon4 as t,e' 0o not 4et too close to a certain limit5 !,is kin0 o2 activit' provi0es t,e per2ect e6ample o2 interpassivit'" o2 0oin4 t,in4s not in or0er to ac,ieve somet,in48 )$t to prevent somet,in4 2rom reall' ,appenin48 reall' c,an4in45 All t,is 2renetic ,$manitarian8 politicall' Correct8 etc58 activit' 2its t,e 2orm$la o2 HLetJs 4o on c,an4in4 somet,in4 all t,e time so t,at8 4lo)all'8 t,in4s will remain t,e sameVH5 I2 stan0ar0 C$lt$ral &t$0ies criticiFe capitalism8 t,e' 0o so in t,e co0e0 wa' ,at e6empli2ies Holl'woo0 li)eral paranoia" t,e enem' is Ht,e s'stemH8 t,e ,i00en Hor4aniFationH8 t,e anti 0emocratic Hconspirac'H8 not simpl' capitalism an0 state apparat$ses5 !,e pro)lem wit, t,is critical stance is not onl' t,at it replaces concrete social anal'sis wit, a str$44le a4ainst a)stract paranoiac 2antasies8 )$t t,at in a t'pical paranoiac 4est$re it $nnecessaril' re0o$)les social realit'8 as i2 t,ere were a secret Or4aniFation )e,in0 t,e Hvisi)leH capitalist an0 state or4ans5 1,at we s,o$l0 accept is t,at t,ere is no nee0 2or a secret H or4aniFation wit,in an or4aniFationH" t,e Hconspirac'H is alrea0' in t,e Hvisi)leH or4aniFation as s$c,8 in t,e capital s'stem8 in t,e wa' t,e political space an0 state apparat$ses work5

13

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic AT: No $olvenc%&Alternatives

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Istavan =esFaros8 #ro25 <merit$s R U o2 &$sse68 1 58Ae'on0 Capital" !owar0s a !,eor' o2 !ransition8 p (21722

!,e implosion o2 t,e &oviet t'pe capital s'stem ,a0 )ro$4,t a seven 0eca0es lon4 ,istorical e6perience to its concl$sion8 makin4 all t,eoriFations an0 political strate4ies conceive0 in t,e or)it o2 t,e >$ssian revol$tion L w,et,er positivel' 0ispose0 towar0s it or representin4 vario$s 2orms o2 ne4ation L ,istoricall' s$perse0e05 !,e collapse o2 t,is s'stem was insepara)le 2rom t,e str$ct$ral crisis o2 capital w,ic, )e4an to assert itsel2 in t,e 1 +0s5 It was t,is crisis w,ic, clearl' 0emonstrate0 t,e vac$it' o2 t,e earlier strate4ies8 2rom &talinSs pro3ection o2 esta)lis,in4 t,e ,i4,est sta4e o2 socialism on t,e 2o$n0ation o2 Uovertakin4 U5&5 capitalismS in per capita pi4 iron pro0$ction to t,e eK$all' a)s$r0 post7&talinist slo4an o2 )$il0in4 a 2$ll' emancipate0 comm$nist societ' )' U0e2eatin4 capitalism t,ro$4, peace2$l competitionS5 /or $n0er t,e capital s'stem t,ere can )e no s$c, t,in4 as Upeace2$l competitionSE not even w,en one o2 t,e competin4 parties contin$es to 0el$0e itsel2 o2 )ein4 2ree 2rom t,e cripplin4 str$ct$ral constraints o2 capital in its ,istoricall' speci2ic 2orm5 !,e 0isinte4ration o2 t,e Comm$nist parties in t,e <ast took place parallel to t,e implosion o2 t,e &oviet s'stem5 In t,e 1estern capitalist co$ntries8 ,owever8 we were witnessin4 a m$c, more complicate0 process5 /or t,e crisis o2 t,e 1estern Comm$nist parties prece0e0 t,e collapse in >$ssia an0 elsew,ere in t,e <ast )' well over a 0eca0e8 as t,e 2ate o2 t,e once most power2$l /renc, an0 Italian Comm$nist parties 0emonstrate05 !,is circ$mstance8 a4ain8 $n0erline0 t,e 2act t,at t,e cr$cial $n0erl'in4 ca$se was t,e 0eepenin4 str$ct$ral crisis o2 t,e capital s'stem in 4eneral8 an0 not t,e 0i22ic$lties o2 political response to t,e )a22lin4 vicissit$0es in >$ssia an0 in <astern <$rope5 !o )e s$re8 a2ter t,e implosion o2 t,e &oviet s'stem all o2 t,e 1estern Comm$nist parties trie0 to $se t,e events in t,e <ast as t,e )elate0 rationaliFation an0 3$sti2ication 2or t,eir a)an0onment o2 all socialist aspirations5 =ost o2 t,em even c,an4e0 t,eir name8 as i2 t,at co$l0 alter an't,in4 2or t,e )etter5 In0ee08 t,e same kin0 o2 rationaliFation an0 reversal o2 act$al ,istorical c,ronolo4'8 in t,e interest o2 3$sti2'in4 an o)vio$s t$rn to t,e ri4,t8 c,aracteriFe0 also t,e Italian &ocialists an0 t,e Aritis, La)o$r #art'5 !,e real pro)lem was t,at $n0er t,e new circ$mstances o2 capitalSs str$ct$ral crisis t,e 2ormer workin4 class parties8 Comm$nist an0 non7Comm$nist alike8 ,a0 no strate4' to o22er as to ,ow t,eir tra0itional constit$enc' L la)o$r L s,o$l0 con2ront capital w,ic, was )o$n0 to impose on t,e workin4 people 4rowin4 ,ar0s,ip $n0er t,e worsenin4 con0itions5 Instea08 t,e' resi4ne0 t,emselves to t,e meek L calle0 UrealisticS L acceptance o2 w,at co$l0 )e o)taine0 2rom t,e s,rinkin4 mar4ins o2 capitalSs tro$)le0 pro2ita)ilit'5 Un0erstan0a)l'8 in terms o2 political i0eolo4' t,is t$rn o2 events presente0 a m$c, 4reater pro)lem to t,e Comm$nist t,an to t,e non7Comm$nist parties5 U!,e still)orn strate4ies o2 U<$rocomm$nismS an0 U4reat ,istoric compromiseS were attempts to come to terms wit, t,is 0i22ic$lt'8 in t,e ,ope o2 2in0in4 a new constit$enc' in t,e mi00le 4ro$n0S w,ile retainin4 some o2 t,e ol0 r,etorics5 A$t it all came to not,in4 an0 en0e0 in tears 2or man' 0evote0 militants w,o once 4en$inel' )elieve0 t,at t,eir part' was movin4 in t,e 0irection o2 a 2$t$re socialist trans2ormation5 !,e 0isinte4ration o2 t,e le2t in Ital'8 amon4 ot,ers8 in t,e last 2ew 'ears )ears witness to t,e 4ravit' o2 t,ese 0evelopments8 $n0erl'in4 t,e enormit' o2 t,e c,allen4e 2or t,e 2$t$re5

AT: Capitalism !nevitable

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

2Ioel Kovel8 #ro2essor o2 &ocial &t$0ies at Aar08 2002 !,e <nem' o2 %at$re8 p 223D !,e )elie2 t,at t,ere can )e no alternative to capital is $)iK$ito$s W an0 no won0er8 4iven ,ow won0er2$ll' convenient t,e i0ea is to t,e r$lin4 i0eolo4'52 !,at8 ,owever8 0oes not keep it 2rom )ein4 nonsense8 an0 a 2ail$re o2 vision an0 political will5 1,et,er or not t,e vision o2 ecosocialism o22ere0 ,ere ,as merit8 t,e notion t,at t,ere is no ot,er wa' o2 or4aniFin4 an a0vance0 societ' ot,er t,an capital 0oes not 2ollow5 %ot,in4 lasts 2or ever8 an0 w,at is ,$manl' ma0e can t,eoreticall' )e $nma0e5 O2 co$rse It co$l0 )e t,e case t,at t,e 3o) o2 c,an4in4 it is too ,ar0 an0 capital is as is as ,$manit' can 4o8 in w,ic, instance we m$st simpl' accept o$r 2ate stoicall' an0 tr' to palliate t,e res$lts5 A$t we 0onJt know t,is an0 cannot know t,is5 !,ere is no provin4 it one wa' or t,e ot,er8 an0 onl' inertia8 2ear o2 c,an4e or opport$nism can e6plain t,e )elie2 in so s,a))' an i0ea as t,at t,ere can )e no alternative to capital 2or or4aniFin4 societ'5

1(

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

AT: !nnovation

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

>o)ert ?ol0man8 &tep,en #apson8 %oa, Kerse'8 200* Lan0scapes o2 t,e &ocial >elations o2 #ro0$ction in a %etworke0 &ociet'8 /ast Capitalism 2518 ,ttp"//www5$ta5e0$/,$ma/a44er/2astcapitalism/291/&ocial>elations5,tml Caccesse0 +/5/12D %ow,ere is t,is scenario more 4rap,icall' pla'e0 o$t t,an in t,e 1 a0 campai4n 2or &alomon &mit, Aarne' t,at reveals a worl0 movin4 at warp spee0 w,ile t,e elite investment )ankers calml' s$rve' it as t,e' spot t,e ;opport$nitiesB t,at will pa' o225 !,ese representations resem)le w,at !,omas /rie0man C1 D 0$)s t,e ;<lectronic Her0B in !,e Le6$s an0 t,e Olive !ree5 His metap,or em)races t,e volatilit' o2 markets in con3$nction wit, t,e 0i22$sion o2 capital across t,e electronic circ$its o2 2inance5 Accor0in4 to /rie0man8 no corporation or nation7state can risk losin4 t,e 2avor o2 t,e Her05 In t,e 4lo)al econom' t,is can )e catastrop,ic to market val$es5 !,ose w,o comprise t,e Her0 compete to ma6imiFe t,e rate o2 ret$rn on investments8 w,ic, translates into manicall' sco$rin4 t,e planet 2or opport$nities or c$ttin4 losses as K$ickl' as possi)le w,en it is time to sell5 !,e manic nee0 to invest is matc,e0 )' panic sellin45 Com)ine0 wit, t,e a)ilit' to trans2er 2$n0s an0 monies electronicall'8 a stock can )e c$t in ,al2 in ,o$rs8 or a co$ntr'Ss c$rrenc' t,rown into crisis wit, a rapi0it' ,it,erto $nknown5 /rie0manSs metap,or o2 t,e electronic ,er0 pict$res an economic elite 0as,in4 a)o$t in a 4lo)al 2ree market econom' 2$ele0 )' tec,nolo4ical innovation an0 t,e liK$i0it' o2 capital 2orms Cc$rrenc'8 stocks8 commo0itiesD5 !,e 2i4$res w,o compose t,is 4ro$pin4 are constr$cte0 as 0'namic8 mo)ile8 an0 tec,nolo4icall' sop,isticate05 !,e' 2l$i0l' traverse t,e worl0 o2 nonplaces an0 occ$p' o22ice s$ites in corporate towers s$rro$n0e0 )' personal comm$nication tec,nolo4ies5 An0 'et8 even in t,ese i0ealiFe0 a)stractions8 $ncertainties an0 an6ieties seep t,ro$4,5 %arratives o2 s$ccess are sprinkle0 wit, ,ints o2 impen0in4 crisis8 or stories o2 t,ose w,o ma0e t,e wron4 c,oices 7 t,e wron4 o22ice eK$ipment8 t,e wron4 so2tware8 t,e wron4 packa4e 0eliver' service5 !,e e6,ilaration associate0 wit, accelerate0 social8 economic8 an0 tec,nolo4ical c,an4e mi6es wit, an $n0erc$rrent o2 appre,ension5 &pee0 ma' mean winnin48 )$t it can also lea0 to cras,in45 !,ere are more losers t,an winners in casino capitalism5 !,e lan0scape o2 risk is omnipresent5

15

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

Affirmative Answers
"erm

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

I5K5 ?i)son7?ra,am8 2eminist economist8 1 *8 <n0 o2 Capitalism

One o2 o$r 4oals as =ar6ists ,as )een to pro0$ce a knowle04e o2 capitalism5 Pet as ;t,at w,ic, is known8B Capitalism ,as )ecome t,e intimate enem'5 1e ,ave $ncloake0 t,e i0eolo4icall'7clot,e08 o)sc$re monster8 )$t we ,ave installe0 a nake0 an0 visi)le monster in its place5 In ret$rn 2or o$r la)ors o2 creation8 t,e monster ,as ro))e0 $s o2 all 2orce5 1e ,ear W an0 2in0 it eas' to )elieve W t,at t,e le2t is in 0isarra'5 #art o2 w,at pro0$ces t,e 0isarra' o2 t,e le2t is t,e vision o2 w,at t,e le2t is arra'e0 a4ainst5 1,en capitalism is represente0 as a $ni2ie0 s'stem coe6tensive wit, t,e nation or even t,e worl08 w,en it is portra'e0 as crow0in4 o$t all ot,er economic 2orms8 w,en it is allowe0 to 0e2ine entire societies8 it )ecomes somet,in4 t,at can onl' )e 0e2eate0 an0 replace0 )' a mass collective movement Cor )' a process o2 s'stemic 0issol$tion t,at s$c, a movement mi4,t assistD5 !,e revol$tionar' task o2 replacin4 capitalism now seems o$tmo0e0 an0 $nrealistic8 'et we 0o not seem to ,ave an alternative conception o2 class trans2ormation to take its place5 !,e ol0 political economic ;s'stemsB an0 ;str$ct$resB t,at call 2ort, a vision o2 revol$tion as s'stemic replacement still seem to )e 0ominant in t,e =ar6ist political ima4ination5 !,e %ew 1orl0 Or0er is o2ten represente0 as political 2ra4mentation 2o$n0e0 $pon economic $ni2ication5 In t,is vision t,e econom' appears as t,e last stron4,ol0 o2 $nit' an0 sin4$larit' in a worl0 o2 0iversit' an0 pl$ralit'5 A$t w,' canSt t,e econom' )e 2ra4mente0 tooO I2 we t,eoriFe0 it as 2ra4mente0 in t,e Unite0 &tates8 we co$l0 )ein4 to see a ,$4e state sector Cincorporatin4 a variet' o2 2orms o2 appropriation o2 s$rpl$s la)orD8 a ver' lar4e sector o2 sel27emplo'e0 an0 2amil'7)ase0 pro0$cers Cmost noncapitalistD8 a ,$4e ,o$se,ol0 sector Ca4ain8 K$ite vario$s in terms o2 2orms o2 e6ploitation8 wit, some ,o$se,ol0s movin4 towar0s comm$nal or collective appropriation an0 ot,ers operatin4 in a tra0itional mo0e in w,ic, one a0$lt appropriates s$rpl$s la)or 2rom anot,erD5 %one o2 t,ese t,in4s is eas' to see5 I2 capitalism takes $p t,e availa)le social space8 t,ereSs no room 2or an't,in4 else5 I2 capitalism cannot coe6ist8 t,ereSs no possi)ilit' o2 an't,in4 else5 I2 capitalism 2$nctions as a $nit'8 it cannot )e partiall' or locall' replace05 =' intent is to ,elp create t,e 0isc$rsive conception $n0er w,ic, socialist or ot,er noncapitalist constr$ction )ecomes ;realisticB present activit' rat,er t,an a l$0icro$s or $topian 4oal5 !o ac,ieve t,is I m$st smas, Capitalism an0 see it in a t,o$san0 pieces5 I m$st make its $nit'

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Lawrence ?ross)er48 #ro2ess8 Comm$nication &t$0ies8 U%C7C,apel Hill8 1 2 1< ?O!!A ?<! OU! O/ !HI& #LAC<" #O#ULA> CO%&<>@A!I&= A%D #O&!=OD<>% CUL!U><8 1 28 p5 3--73- 5 !,e 0eman0 2or moral an0 i0eolo4ical p$rit' o2ten res$lts in t,e re3ection o2 an' ,ierarc,' or or4aniFation5 !,e K$estion7can t,e masterJs tools )e $se0 to tear 0own t,e masterJs ,o$seO7i4nores )ot, t,e contin4enc' o2 t,e relation )etween s$c, tools an0 t,e masterJs power an08 even more importantl'8 t,e 2act t,at t,ere ma' )e no ot,er tools availa)le5 Instit$tionaliFation is seen as a repressive imp$rit' wit,in t,e )o0' politic rat,er t,an as a strate4ic an0 tactical8 even empowerin48 necessit'5 It sometimes seems as i2 ever' pro4ressive or4aniFation is con0emne0 to recapit$late t,e same ar4$ments an0 crisis8 o2ten lea0in4 to t,eir collapse5 5( /or e6ample8 =inkowitF ,as 0escri)e0 a crisis in Act Up over t,e nee0 2or e22icienc' an0 or4aniFation8 pro2essionaliFation an0 even ,ierarc,'855 as i2 t,ese in,erentl' contra0icte0 its commitment to 0emocrac'5 !,is is partic$larl' $n2ort$nate since Act Up8 w,atever its limitations8 ,as proven itsel2 an e22ective an0 ima4inative political strate4ist5 !,e pro)lems are o)vio$sl' ma4ni2ie0 wit, s$ccess8 as mem)ers,ip8 2inances an0 activities 4row5 !,is re2$sal o2 e22icient operation an0 t,e moment o2 or4aniFation is intimatel' connecte0 wit, t,e Le2tJs appropriation an0 privile4in4 o2 t,e local Cas t,e site o2 0emocrac' an0 resistanceD5 !,is is 'et anot,er reason w,' str$ct$res o2 alliance are ina0eK$ate8 since t,e' o2ten ass$me t,at an e22ective movement can )e or4aniFe0 an0 s$staine0 wit,o$t s$c, str$ct$rin45 !,e Le2t nee0s to reco4niFe t,e necessit' o2 instit$tionaliFation an0 o2 s'stems o2 ,ierarc,'8 wit,o$t 2allin4 )ack into its own a$t,oritarianism5 It nee0s to 2in0 reasona)l' 0emocratic str$ct$res o2 instit$tionaliFation8 even i2 t,e' are imp$re an0 compromise05

1*

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

=ont,l' >eview8 =arc, 1 08 v5 (18 no5 108 p 3-

%o instit$tion is or ever ,as )een a seamless monolit,5 Alt,o$4, t,e in,erent mec,anism o2 American capitalism is as 'o$ 0escri)e it8 oriente0 solel' to pro2it wit,o$t re4ar0 to social conseK$ences8 t,is 0oes not precl$0e si4ni2icant portions o2 t,at ver' s'stem 2rom 3oinin4 2orces wit, t,e worl0wi0e e22ort 2or t,e salvation o2 civiliFation8 per,aps even to t,e e6tent o2 2$rnis,in4 t,e mar4in o2 s$ccess 2or t,at ver' e22ort5

Capitalism e% to environmental protection

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Ierr' !a'lor8 0irector o2 nat$ral reso$rce st$0ies at CA!O8 2003 Happ' <art, Da'O !,ank Capitalism8 ,ttp"//www5cato5or4/p$)90ispla'5p,pOp$)9i0Z30+3D Caccesse0 +/5/12D
In0ee08 we wo$l0nJt even ,ave environmentalists in o$r mi0st were it not 2or capitalism5 <nvironmental amenities8 a2ter all8 are l$6$r' 4oo0s5 America 77 like m$c, o2 t,e !,ir0 1orl0 to0a' 77 ,a0 no environmental movement to speak o2 $ntil livin4 stan0ar0s rose s$22icientl' so t,at we co$l0 t$rn o$r attention 2rom simpl' provi0in4 2or 2oo08 s,elter8 an0 a reasona)le e0$cation to ,i4,er HK$alit' o2 li2eH iss$es5 !,e ric,er 'o$ are8 t,e more likel' 'o$ are to )e an environmentalist5 An0 people wo$l0nJt )e ric, wit,o$t capitalism5 1ealt, not onl' )ree0s environmentalists8 it )e4ets environmental K$alit'5 !,ere are 0oFens o2 st$0ies s,owin4 t,at8 as per capita income initiall' rises 2rom s$)sistence levels8 air an0 water poll$tion increases correspon0in4l'5 A$t once per capita income ,its )etween [38500 an0 [158000 C0epen0ent $pon t,e poll$tantD8 t,e am)ient concentration o2 poll$tants )e4ins to 0ecline 3$st as rapi0l' as it ,a0 previo$sl' increase05 !,is relations,ip is 2o$n0 2or virt$all' ever' si4ni2icant poll$tant in ever' sin4le re4ion o2 t,e planet5 It is an iron law5 ?iven t,at wealt,ier societies $se more reso$rces t,an poorer societies8 s$c, 2in0in4s are in0ee0 co$nterint$itive5 A$t t,e 0ata 0onJt lie5 How 0o we e6plain t,isO !,e o)vio$s answer 77 t,at wealt,ier societies are willin4 to tra0e7o22 t,e economic costs o2 4overnment re4$lation 2or environmental improvements an0 t,at poorer societies are not 77 is onl' partiall' correct5 In t,e Unite0 &tates8 poll$tion 0eclines 4enerall' pre0ate0 t,e passa4e o2 laws man0atin4 poll$tion controls5 In 2act8 2or most poll$tants8 0eclines were 4reater )e2ore t,e 2e0eral 4overnment passe0 its panopl' o2 environmental re4$lations t,an a2ter t,e <#A came $pon t,e scene5 =$c, o2 t,is ,a0 to 0o wit, in0ivi0$al 0eman0s 2or environmental K$alit'5 #eople w,o co$l0 a22or0 cleaner7)$rnin4 2$rnaces8 2or instance8 )o$4,t t,em5 #eople w,o wante0 recreational services spent t,eir mone' accor0in4l'8 creatin4 pro2it opport$nities 2or t,e provision o2 $ntrammele0 nat$re5 #ropert' val$es rose in cleaner areas an0 0ecline0 in more poll$te0 areas8 s,i2tin4 capital 2rom Arown to ?reen investments5 =arket a4ents will s$ppl' w,atever it is t,at people are willin4 to spen0 mone' on5 An0 w,en people are willin4 to spen0 mone' on environmental K$alit'8 t,e market will provi0e it5 =eanw,ile8 capitalism rewar0s e22icienc' an0 p$nis,es waste5 #ro2it7,$n4r' companies 2o$n0 in4enio$s wa's to re0$ce t,e nat$ral reso$rce inp$ts necessar' to pro0$ce all kin0s o2 4oo0s8 w,ic, in t$rn re0$ce0 environmental 0eman0s on t,e lan0 an0 t,e amo$nt o2 waste t,at 2lowe0 t,ro$4, smokestacks an0 water pipes5 As we learne0 to 0o more an0 more wit, a 4iven $nit o2 reso$rces8 t,e waste involve0 Cw,ic, mani2ests itsel2 in t,e 2orm o2 poll$tionD s,rank5 !,is tren0 was ma4ni2ie0 )' t,e s,i2t awa' 2rom man$2act$rin4 to service in0$stries8 w,ic, c,aracteriFes wealt,'8 4rowin4 economies5 !,e latter are 2ar less poll$tion7intensive t,an t,e 2ormer5 A$t t,e 2ormer are necessar' prereK$isites 2or t,e latter5 #ropert' ri4,ts 77 a necessar' prereK$isite 2or 2ree market economies 77 also provi0e stron4 incentives to invest in reso$rce ,ealt,5 1it,o$t t,em8 no one cares a)o$t 2$t$re ret$rns )eca$se no one can )e s$re t,e'Jll )e aro$n0 to reap t,e 4ains5 #ropert' ri4,ts are also important means )' w,ic, private 0esires 2or reso$rce conservation an0 preservation can )e realiFe05 1,en t,e 4overnment8 on t,e ot,er ,an08 ,ol0s a monopol' on s$c, 0ecisions8 minorit' pre2erences in 0evelopin4 societies are overr$le0 Csee t,e ol0 &oviet )lock 2or 0etailsD5 /$rt,ermore8 onl' wealt,' societies can a22or0 t,e investments necessar' to sec$re )asic environmental improvements8 s$c, as sewa4e treatment an0 electri2ication5 Unsanitar' water an0 t,e in0oor air poll$tion Cca$se0 primaril' )' )$rnin4 or4anic 2$els in t,e ,ome 2or ,eatin4 an0 cookin4 nee0sD are 0irectl' responsi)le 2or a)o$t 10 million 0eat,s a 'ear in t,e !,ir0 1orl08 makin4 povert' t,e n$m)er one environmental killer on t,e planet to0a'5 Capitalism can save more lives t,reatene0 )' environmental poll$tion t,an all t,e environmental or4aniFations com)ine05

1+

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic Capitalism is t'e most et'ical s%stem

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

Donal0 A5 Aillin4s8 #ro2essor o2 <conomics at Aoise &tate Universit'8 1 -3 !,e /reeman" I0eas on Li)ert'8 ;!,e =oral Case 2or Competitive CapitalismB8 I$l' -38 ,ttp"//www52ee5or4/vnews5p,pOni0Z12++D Caccesse0 +/5/12D \/ollowin4 t,e lea0 o2 t,e economist Aen3amin >o44e8 it is in 2act t,e case t,at ;5 5 5 t,e most important part o2 t,e case 2or economic 2ree0om is not its 0ramatic s$ccess in promotin4 economic 4rowt,8 )$t rat,er its consistenc' wit, certain 2$n0amental moral principles o2 li2e itsel25BM+N /or personal 2ree0om8 an0 t,ere2ore economic an0 political 2ree0om8 is not ;et,icall' in0i22erentB )$t a necessar' con0ition o2 moralit'5 /rie0ric, Ha'ek remin0s $s o2 certain 2$n0amental con0itions o2 t,e moral li2e5 It is 5 5 5 an ol0 0iscover' t,at morals an0 moral val$es will 4row onl' in an environment o2 2ree0om8 an0 t,at8 in 4eneral8 moral stan0ar0s o2 people an0 classes are ,i4, onl' w,ere t,e' ,ave lon4 en3o'e0 2ree0om Lan0 proportional to t,e amo$nt o2 2ree0om t,e' ,ave possesse0 5 5 5 !,at 2ree0om is t,e matri6 reK$ire0 2or t,e 4rowt, o2 moral val$esLin0ee0 not merel' one val$e amon4 man' )$t t,e so$rce o2 all val$esLis almost sel27evi0ent5 It is onl' w,ere t,e in0ivi0$al ,as c,oice8 an0 its in,erent responsi)ilit'8 t,at ,e ,as occasion to a22irm e6istin4 val$es8 to contri)$te to t,eir 2$rt,er 4rowt,8 an0 to earn moral merit5M-N =oralit' an0 t,e =arket It appears t,at t,e 2ree market s'stem8 in w,ic, onl' vol$ntar' an0 m$t$all' )ene2icial e6c,an4e are permitte08 is a necessar' con0ition 2or a moral or0er in w,ic, t,e inte4rit' o2 t,e in0ivi0$al conscience is respecte05 Ha'ek points o$t in !,e >oa0 to &er20om t,at onl'" w,ere we o$rselves are responsi)le 2or o$r own interests 5 5 5 ,as o$r 0ecision moral val$e5 /ree0om to or0er o$r own con0$ct in t,e sp,ere w,ere material circ$mstances 2orce a c,oice $pon $s8 an0 responsi)ilit' 2or t,e arran4ement o2 o$r own li2e accor0in4 to o$r own conscience8 is t,e air in w,ic, alone moral sense 4rows an0 in w,ic, moral val$es are 0ail' recreate0 in t,e 2ree 0ecision o2 t,e in0ivi0$al5 >esponsi)ilit'8 not to a s$perior8 )$t to oneSs conscience8 t,e awareness o2 a 0$t' not e6acte0 )' comp$lsion 5 5 5 an0 to )ear t,e conseK$ences o2 oneSs own 0ecision8 are t,e ver' essence o2 an' morals w,ic, 0eserve t,e name5M N ;&$rel'8B a00s Ha'ek on anot,er occasion8 ;it is $n3$st to )lame a s'stem as more materialistic )eca$se it leaves it to t,e in0ivi0$al to 0eci0e w,et,er ,e pre2ers material 4ain to ot,er kin0s o2 e6cellence5BM10N 1,atever t,e 4oals o2 in0ivi0$als8 w,et,er virt$o$s or not8 t,e ;v$l4ar calc$l$s o2 t,e marketplaceB still seems to )e t,e most ,$mane wa' mankin0 ,as 2o$n0 2or 0ealin4 wit, t,e economic pro)lems o2 scarcit' an0 t,e 0i22ic$lt allocation o2 reso$rces5 =$rra' >ot,)ar0 2orce2$ll' remin0s $s t,at ;5 5 5 in a worl0 o2 vol$ntar' social cooperation t,ro$4, m$t$all' )ene2icial e6c,an4es 5 5 5 it is o)vio$s t,at 4reat scope is provi0e0 2or t,e 0evelopment o2 social s'mpat,' an0 ,$man 2rien0s,ips5B In0ee08 ;it is 2ar more likel' t,at 2eelin4s o2 2rien0s,ip an0 comm$nion are t,e e22ects o2 a re4ime o2 contract$al social cooperation rat,er t,an t,e ca$se5BM11N Capitalism ten0s to 2avor t,ose w,o respect t,e sanctit' o2 t,eir contracts )eca$se o2 t,e respect 2or an0 en2orcement o2 private propert' ri4,ts5 !,e work et,icE enco$ra4e0 )' t,e instit$tion o2 private propert'8 represents an important so$rce o2 moral responsi)ilit' as well as a contin$o$s remin0er t,at o$r actions alwa's entail costsLa pervasive c,aracteristic o2 ,$man e6istence5 !,ese essential in4re0ients o2 a 2ree market or0er8 Art,$r &,en2iel0 tells $s8 0e2ine a set o2 social instit$tions w,ic, enco$ra4es m$t$al respect 2or eac, an0 ever' in0ivi0$al5 1,at we want a)ove all 2or o$rselves8 an0 w,ic, t,ere2ore we m$st accor0 to o$r nei4,)or8 is 2ree0om to p$rs$e o$r own p$rposes 5 5 5 As a corollar' to t,is 2ree0om we want ot,ers to respect o$r in0ivi0$alit'8 in0epen0ence8 an0 stat$s as responsi)le ,$man )ein4s 5 5 5 !,is is t,e 2$n0amental moralit' w,ic, capitalism reK$ires an0 w,ic, it n$rt$res5 It alone amon4 economic s'stems operates on t,e )asis o2 respect 2or 2ree8 in0epen0ent responsi)le persons5 All ot,er s'stems in var'in4 0e4rees treat men as less t,an t,is5M12N]

1-

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic Capitalism is not t'e root ca#se

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>ic,ar0 A)er0een 2003 ;!,e 1a'8B ,ttp"//2ree0omtracks5com/$ncommonsense/t,ewa'5,tml Caccesse0 +/5/12D I2 one e6amines ;t,e co$rse o2 ,$man eventsB closel'8 it can correctl' )e s$rmise0 t,at t,e ;rootB ca$se o2 ,$manit'Ss pro)lems comes 2rom in0ivi0$al ,$man 4ree0 an0 similar ne4ative in0ivi0$al motivation5 !,e =ar6/<n4les view o2 ,istor' )ein4 a ;classB str$44le ^ 0oes not a00ress t,e root pro)lem an0 is t,$s 2$n0amentall' 2lawe0 2rom a tr$e ,istorical perspective Csee ?allo Arot,ers2or more 0etailsD5 &o7calle0 ;classesB o2 people8 $nions8 corporations an0 political 4ro$ps are ma0e $p o2 in0ivi0$als w,o s$pport t,e partic$lar 4ro$p or or4aniFational position )ase0 on t,eir own in0ivi0$al nee0s8 4ree0 an0 0esires an0 t,$s8 an apparent ;class str$44leB in realit'8 is an e6tension o2 in0ivi0$al motivation5 Likewise8 nations en4a4e in wars o2 a44ression8 not )eca$se capitalism or classes o2 societ' are at root ca$se8 )$t )eca$se in0ivi0$al mem)ers o2 a societ' are in0ivi0$all' convince0 t,at it is in t,eir own economic s$rvival )est interest5 1ar8 povert'8 starvation an0 lack o2 H$man an0 Civil >i4,ts ,ave e6iste0 on o$r planet since lon4 )e2ore t,e rise o2 mo0ern capitalism8 2ree enterprise an0 m$lti7national corporation avarice8 t,$s t,e root pro)lem o)vio$sl' 4oes 0eeper t,an t,is5

Capitalism is !nevitable ( $#stainable

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Iosep, &trom)er4 ,istorian in resi0ence at t,e =ises Instit$te I$l' +/5/12D 200( ,ttp"//mises5or4/article5asp6OI0Z15*2 Caccesse0

In a00ition8 ,e ma' ,ave )een t,e 2irst to anticipate t,e wa' in w,ic, t,e terms le2t an0 ri4,t wo$l0 event$all' come to mean t,eir precise opposite in t,e re2ormin4 economies o2 <astern <$rope5 He was 2ascinate0 )$t not entirel' s$rprise0 )' t,e events in ol0 P$4oslavia8 w,ere a &talinist s'stem ,a0 )een 2orce0 to re2orm into a more market oriente0 econom'5 In 2act8 ,e note0 t,at t,e tren0 ,a0 )e4$n in t,e 1 *0s8 an0 e6ten0e0 all over <astern <$rope5 1,at was essentiall' ,appenin48 >ot,)ar0 wrote8 was t,at socialism ,a0 )een trie0 an0 2aile0 an0 now t,ese co$ntries were t$rnin4 to market mo0els5 Keep in min0 t,at t,is was 1 +38 w,en ,ar0l' an'one else )elieve0 t,ese co$ntries capa)le o2 re2orm" HIn <astern <$rope8 t,en8 I t,ink t,at t,e prospects 2or t,e 2ree market are e6cellent77I t,ink weSre 4ettin4 2ree7market capitalism an0 t,at its tri$mp, t,ere is almost inevita)le5H !en 'ears later8 it was still 2as,iona)le to speak o2 a$t,oritarian re4imes t,at co$l0 re2orm8 as contraste0 wit, socialist totalitarianism t,at co$l0 not )e re2orm an0 pres$ma)l' ,a0 to )e o)literate05 >ot,)ar0 0i0 not )elieve t,is8 )ase0 on )ot, t,eor' an0 evi0ence5 >ot,)ar0 saw t,at all sectors in all co$ntries movin4 eit,er towar0 capitalism or towar0 socialism8 w,ic, is to sa'8 towar0 2ree0om or towar0 control5 In t,e U&8 t,e tren0s looke0 ver' )leak in0ee0 )$t ,e 2o$n0 tren0s to c,eer in t,e antiwar movement8 w,ic, ,e saw as a positive 0evelopment a4ainst militar' central plannin45 ;Aot, in @ietnam an0 in 0omestic 4overnment intervention8 eac, escalatin4 step onl' creates more pro)lems w,ic, con2ront t,e p$)lic wit, tile c,oice" eit,er8 press on 2$rt,er wit, more interventions8 or repeal t,em77in @ietnam8 wit,0raw 2rom t,e co$ntr'5H His concl$sion m$st ,ave so$n0e0 impossi)l' naive in 1 +3 )$t to0a' we can see t,at ,e saw 2$rt,er t,an an' ot,er H2$t$ristsH o2 ,is time" Ht,e a0vent o2 in0$strialism an0 t,e In0$strial >evol$tion ,as irreversi)l' c,an4e0 t,e pro4nosis 2or 2ree0om an0 statism5 In t,e pre7in0$strial era8 statism an0 0espotism co$l0 pe4 alon4 in0e2initel'8 content to keep t,e peasantr' at s$)sistence levels an0 to live o22 t,eir s$rpl$s5 A$t in0$strialism ,as )roken t,e ol0 ta)lesE 2or it ,as )ecome evi0ent t,at socialism cannot r$n an in0$strial s'stem8 an0 it is 4ra0$all' )ecomin4 evi0ent t,at neomercantilism8 interventionism8 in t,e lon4 r$n cannot r$n an in0$strial s'stem eit,er5 /ree7market capitalism8 t,e victor' o2 social power an0 t,e economic means8 is not onl' t,e onl' moral an0 )' 2ar t,e most pro0$ctive s'stemE it ,as )ecome t,e onl' via)le s'stem 2or mankin0 in t,e in0$strial era5 Its event$al tri$mp, is t,ere2ore virt$all' inevita)le

HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic

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%ational #ost 200- CHDonJt #anic8H %ational <0ition8 April 2*8 200- &at$r0a'8 Le6isD A$t ,istor' s,ows t,at ,$man a0aptation invaria)l' intervenes 77especiall' in parts o2 t,e worl0 t,at ,ave t,e )ene2it o2 a market econom'5 &carcit' 0rives innovations t,at p$ll t,e worl0 )ack 2rom t,e )rink5 Cons$mers take ,i4, prices as t,eir c$e to cons$me lessE pro0$cers take t,e same c$e to pro0$ce more5 A new eK$ili)ri$m is reac,e08 3$st as colle4e microeconomics te6t)ooks wo$l0 pre0ict5 !,atJs w,' we arenJt losin4 an' sleep over t,e latest pre0ictions 2rom Cana0ian Imperial Aank o2 Commerce c,ie2 economist Ie22re' >$)in8 w,ic, were 2ronte0 prominentl' on /ri0a'Js %ational #ost5 %ew inventions8 new oil 0iscoveries an0 improvements in e6istin4 tec,nolo4ies will conspire to spare $s =r5 >$)inJs para0e o2 ,orri)les8 w,ic, incl$0e [25257a7litre 4asoline an0 tens o2 t,o$san0s o2 3o) losses in t,e a$to7makin4 sector5 In a report entitle0 !,e A4e o2 &carcit'8 release0 on !,$rs0a'8 =r5 >$)in pre0icts t,at )' 20128 0eman0 2or oil8 4as an0 0iesel in t,e rest o2 t,e worl0 will e6cee0 t,at in O<CD co$ntries5 As 0evelopin4 nations 4et ric,er8 t,e' will )e4in competin4 wit, t,e c$rrent in0$strialiFe0 worl0 2or 0iminis,in4 reso$rces5 !,is will 0rive $p t,e cost o2 ever't,in4 2rom ener4' to 2oo0 to comp$ter components5 =r5 >$)in pre0icts t,is will lea0 to t,e )i44est economic 0isr$ption in %ort, America since t,e 1 +3 oil crisis5 A$t t,at same ,istorical comparison s$44ests a reason Cana0ians s,o$l0 )e s$spicio$s o2 t,is omino$s 2orecast" 1,ile t,e oil s,orta4es o2 t,e 1 +0s 0isplace0 millions o2 assem)l'7line workers an0 le0 to a temporar' slow0own o2 t,e %ort, American econom'8 t,e a0aptations t,e' sp$rre0 $ltimatel' ma0e in0$str' more e22icient an0 or0inar' people more prospero$s5 %ort, American man$2act$rin4 is 2ar more pro0$ctive an0 ener4'7e22icient now t,an it was 30 'ears a4o8 as well as pro0$cin4 2ar less poll$tion5 C=an' Cana0ians $n0er 308 w,o ,ave )een reare0 on a constant 0iet o2 0ire environmental claims8 ma' ,ave tro$)le )elievin4 t,is8 )$t 0espite t,e rapi0 4rowt, o2 o$r econom' in t,e last t,ree 0eca0es8 smo4 is act$all' less to6ic an0 o$r waters less poll$te0 t,an in 1 +05D In an interview wit, t,e %ational #ost8 =r5 >$)in 2ell into a common trap" He ass$me0 4rowt, is a Fero7s$m 4ame8 w,ere)' someone m$st lose 4ro$n0 ever' time someone else 4ains it5 HI t,ink t,ere will )e 2ewer people on t,e roa0 in %ort, America in 2ive 'ears t,an t,ere is ri4,t now8H =r5 >$)in sai0 on !,$rs0a'5 H/or ever')o0' w,oJs a)o$t to 4et on t,e roa0 )' )$'in4 a new !ata or a C,er' car in t,e 0evelopin4 worl08 someoneJs 4oin4 to ,ave to 4et o22 t,e roa0 in t,is part o2 t,e worl05 !,ereJs 3$st not eno$4, 4asoline to 4o aro$n05H An'one tempte0 to )$' into t,is line o2 t,inkin4 wo$l0 0o well to remem)er t,e 2amo$s )et )etween #a$l >5 <,rlic,8 a$t,or o2 t,e apocal'ptic 1 *- )ook !,e #op$lation Aom)8 an0 economist I$lian &imon5 =r5 <rlic, pre0icte0 t,at )' t,e late 1 +0s8 t,e worl0 wo$l0 )e4in to r$n o$t o2 oil an0 metals8 an0 t,at Hwi0e7scale 2amine ca$se0 )' 0eclinin4 2oo0 pro0$ctionH wo$l0 ca$se ,$n0re0s o2 millions o2 0eat,s ann$all'5 =r5 &imon8 on t,e ot,er ,an0 conten0e08 t,at Hnat$ral reso$rces are not 2inite in an' serio$s wa'E t,e' are create0 )' t,e intellect o2 man8 an alwa's renewa)le reso$rce5H In 1 -08 ,e )et =r5 <,rlic, [18000 t,at )' 1 0 a )asket o2 an' 2ive commo0ities o2 ,is c,oosin4 wo$l0 cost less t,an it ,a0 10 'ears earlier5 A' t,e en07is7ni4, t,inkin4 em)race0 )' =r5 <,rlic, Can08 to a lesser e6tent8 =r5 >$)inD8 ,e s,o$l0 ,ave won easil'5 Instea08 =r5 &imon won5 !,e 2ive commo0ities c,osen were8 a2ter in2lation8 (0Q c,eaper in 1 0 t,an t,e' ,a0 )een a 0eca0e )e2ore5 !,e same pattern is )e4innin4 to $n2ol0 in 200-5 In 3$st a 2ew s,ort mont,s8 risin4 prices 2or 2$el ,ave prompte0 t,e sort o2 market70riven ener4' e22iciencies an0 environmental sol$tions t,at t,e 4reen movement ,as 2aile0 to ac,ieve t,ro$4, 'ears o2 ,ectorin48 re4$latin4 an0 le4islatin45 /$ll7siFe0 &U@ sales ,ave pl$mmete08 ,ome )$il0ers are 0esi4nin4 smaller8 low7cons$mption ,o$ses8 airlines an0 railwa's are switc,in4 to more e22icient planes an0 en4ines an0 car makers are scram)lin4 to li4,ten t,eir mo0els5 !,anks to 3$st a 30Q increase in p$mp prices8 t,e a$tomo)ile sector is likel' to raise 2leet 2$el e22icienc' more t,an all t,e laws 0eman0in4 ,i4,er stan0ar0s passe0 in t,e past 35 'ears com)ine05 !,ere is no 0o$)t t,at o$r societ' is c,an4in4 )eca$se o2 t,e scarcit' in 2oo0 an0 2$el t,at =r5 >$)in ,i4,li4,ts5 A$t it 0e2ies t,e principles o2 economics to ima4ine t,at s$c, scarcit' will persist in0e2initel'5 I2 t,ere is one tren0 we can 0epen0 on8 it is t,at t,e law o2 s$ppl' an0 0eman0 will intervene to )l$nt t,e economic s,ocks t,at even t,e most prospero$s nations m$st inevita)l' 2ace5

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HUDL 2012/13 Capitalism Kritic )ree Tra*e $olves +ar

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<rik ?artFke8 associate pro2essor o2 political science at Col$m)ia Universit' an0 a$t,or o2 a st$0' on economic 2ree0om an0 peace containe0 in t,e 2005 <conomic /ree0om o2 t,e 1orl0 >eport8 ;/$t$re Depen0s on CapitaliFin4 on Capitalist #eace8B 10/1-/20058 1in0sor &tar8 ,ttp"//www5cato5or4/p$)90ispla'5p,pOp$)9i0Z5133D Caccesse0 +/5/12D 1it, terrorism ac,ievin4 H4lo)al reac,H an0 con2lict ra4in4 in A2rica an0 t,e =i00le <ast8 'o$ ma' ,ave misse0 a startlin4 2act 7 we are livin4 in remarka)l' peacea)le times5 /or si6 0eca0es8 0evelope0 nations ,ave not 2o$4,t eac, ot,er5 /rance an0 t,e Unite0 &tates ma' c,a2e8 )$t t,e res$ltin4 con2lict pitte0 2renc, 2ries a4ainst H2ree0om 2ries8H rat,er t,an /renc, sol0iers a4ainst U5&5 H2ree0om 2i4,ters5H !on' Alair an0 IacK$es C,irac ,a0 a nast' spat over t,e <U8 )$t t,e <n4lis, arenJt 4oin4 to storm Calais an' time soon5 !,e present peace is $n$s$al5 Historicall'8 power2$l nations are t,e most war prone5 !,e conventional wis0om is t,at 0emocrac' 2osters peace )$t t,is claim 2ails scr$tin'5 It is )ase0 on statistical st$0ies t,at s,ow 0emocracies t'picall' 0onJt 2i4,t ot,er 0emocracies5 Pet8 t,e same st$0ies s,ow t,at 0emocratic nations 4o to war a)o$t as m$c, as ot,er nations overall5 An0 more recent researc, makes clear t,at onl' t,e a22l$ent 0emocracies are less likel' to 2i4,t eac, ot,er5 #oor 0emocracies )e,ave m$c, like non70emocracies w,en it comes to war an0 lesser 2orms o2 con2lict5 A more power2$l e6planation is emer4in4 2rom newer8 an0 ol0er8 empirical researc, 7 t,e Hcapitalist peace5H As pre0icte0 )' =ontesK$ie$8 A0am &mit,8 %orman An4ell an0 ot,ers8 nations wit, ,i4, levels o2 economic 2ree0om not onl' 2i4,t eac, ot,er less8 t,e' 4o to war less o2ten8 perio05 <conomic 2ree0om is a meas$re o2 t,e 0ept, o2 2ree market instit$tions or8 p$t anot,er wa'8 o2 capitalism5 !,e H0emocratic peaceH is a mira4e create0 )' t,e overlap )etween economic an0 political 2ree0om5 Democrac' an0 economic 2ree0om t'picall' co7e6ist5 !,$s8 i2 economic 2ree0om ca$ses peace8 t,en statisticall' 0emocrac' will also appear to ca$se peace5 1,en 0emocrac' an0 economic 2ree0om are )ot, incl$0e0 in a statistical mo0el8 t,e res$lts reveal t,at economic 2ree0om is consi0era)l' more potent in enco$ra4in4 peace t,an 0emocrac'8 50 times more potent8 in 2act8 accor0in4 to m' own researc,5 <conomic 2ree0om is ,i4,l' statisticall' si4ni2icant Cat t,e one7per7cent levelD5 Democrac' 0oes not ,ave a meas$ra)le impact8 w,ile nations wit, ver' low levels o2 economic 2ree0om are 1( times more prone to con2lict t,an t,ose wit, ver' ,i4, levels5 A$t8 w,' wo$l0 2ree markets ca$se peaceO Capitalism is not onl' an immense 4enerator o2 prosperit'E it is also a revol$tionar' so$rce o2 economic8 social an0 political c,an4e5 1ealt, no lon4er arises primaril' t,ro$4, lan0 or control o2 nat$ral reso$rces5 %ew Kin0 o2 1ealt, #rosperit' in mo0ern societies is create0 )' market competition an0 t,e e22icient pro0$ction t,at arises 2rom it5 !,is new kin0 o2 wealt, is ,ar0 2or nations to HstealH t,ro$4, conK$est5 In 0a's o2 ol08 w,en t,e <n4lis, 0i0 occasionall' storm Calais8 no)les 0reame0 o2 wealt, an0 power in conK$ere0 lan0s8 w,ile visions o2 )oot' 0ance0 in t,e ,ea0s o2 peasant sol0iers5 @ictor' in war meant new propert'5 In a 2ree market econom'8 war 0estro's immense wealt, 2or victor an0 loser alike5 <ven i2 capital stock is restore08 e22icient pro0$ction reK$ires propert' ri4,ts an0 2ree 0ecisions )' market participants t,at are 0i22ic$lt or impossi)le to co7or0inate to t,e victorJs a0vanta4e5 !,e IraKi war8 0espite IraKJs immense oil wealt,8 will not )e a mone'7maker 2or t,e Unite0 &tates5 <conomic 2ree0om is not a 4$arantee o2 peace5 Ot,er 2actors8 like i0eolo4' or t,e perceive0 nee0 2or sel270e2ence8 can still res$lt in violence5 A$t8 w,ere economic 2ree0om ,as taken ,ol08 it ,as ma0e war less likel'5 >esearc, on t,e capitalist peace ,as pro2o$n0 implications in to0a'Js worl05 <mer4in4 0emocracies8 w,ic, ,ave not sta)iliFe0 t,e instit$tions o2 economic 2ree0om8 appear to )e at least as warlike 7 per,aps more so 7 t,an emer4in4 0ictators,ips5 Pet8 t,e Unite0 &tates an0 ot,er western nations are p$ttin4 immense reso$rces into 0emocratiFation even in nations t,at lack 2$nctionin4 2ree markets5 !,is is in part )ase0 on t,e 2a$lt' premise o2 a H0emocratic peace5H It ma' also in part )e 0$e to p$)lic perception5 <ver'one approves o2 0emocrac'8 )$t HcapitalismH is o2ten a 0irt' wor05 However8 in recent 0eca0es8 an increasin4 n$m)er o2 people ,ave re0iscovere0 t,e economic virt$es o2 t,e Hinvisi)le ,an0H o2 2ree markets5 1e now ,ave an a00itional )ene2it o2 economic 2ree0om 7 international peace5 !,e act$al presence o2 peace in m$c, o2 t,e worl0 sets t,is era apart 2rom ot,ers5 !,e empirical )asis 2or optimistic claims 7 a)o$t eit,er 0emocrac' or capitalism 7 can )e teste0 an0 re2ine05 !,e wa' 2orwar0 is to capitaliFe on t,e capitalist peace8 to 0eepen its roots an0 e6ten0 it to more co$ntries t,ro$4, e6pan0in4 markets8 0evelopment8 an0 a common sense o2 international p$rpose5 !,e risk to0a' is t,at 2a$lt' anal'sis an0 anti7market activists ma' 0istract t,e 0evelope0 nations 2rom t,is ,istoric opport$nit'5

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