The other day I was having dinner with an old friend of mine in London, someone I' d gone to high school with in California, and who has been living and working in Europe for the past 9 years in a corporate analyst type gig. As we reminisced and talked about future plans, she began to muse:
"You know, Paula, I've been starting to think about a post-capitalist era. I've been starting to think a lot about what it's going to be like to run businesses in that era."
There must be something in the air. Especially here in England. Because she's not the only one who has said this to me. In the last two weeks, at least five people have said to me something along those same lines--people from all walks of life, from a pastor in the midlands to a manager at a big supermarket chain. If it had just been my dear friend from high school, I might have written it off. We both studied political economy, so would be prone to these types of discussions. But it's coming at me, this question of "post-capitalism," in all directions.
And the thing is-- I don't think I agree. What on earth does post-capitalism *mean* anyway?
Yes, we've got serious environmental problems, and yes we will need to move to a post-carbon economy. But a post-capitalist economy? Yes, globalization has exacerbated inequalities, and that also needs to be addressed. But does that mean by an entirely new kind of system? If so, what kind?
The answer is always sort of fuzzy. It involves buzz-words like: Local. Less Inequality. Sustainable.
Perhaps I lack imagination. When I think of alternatives to capitalism and democracy, I think of failed Marxist experiments, which scare me, or thousands of years of feudalism, which also scares me. I'm also not particularly prone to romanticize notions of local indigenous culture as being the answer to all of our woes.
Which all leads me to think that what we need is some serious, gut-wrenching reform to our global system. Reforms in the direction of sustainability, and all of the buzzwords floating about these days. Reform that will take tremendous effort, courage, and yes, time.
But a whole new system?
I'm willing to listen on this one. I really am. I just haven't heard anything yet that makes a whole lot of sense to me.
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3 comments:
Actually, I think I said something along the lines of 'I'd like to prove that you can run a successful business while acting in a socially conscious way.'
The next thought was, 'what does a post-capitalist world look like?'
;-)
I can't say I have any kind of answer -- I haven't thought that far. And I'm certainly not suggesting any nouveau-Marxism.
Maybe what I mean is really post-consumerism. We clearly cannot go on with a model based on infinitely increasing levels of consumption, but that is precisely what all of the capital markets inherently assume.
What other mechanisms are there that regulate supply and demand, especially of scarce resources?
War?
Not an appealing thought...
Nicole, you're not allowed to criticize me in public! Otherwise, how on earth is anyone going to believe I'm telling the truth with all of these overheard conversations?! ;)
Point taken and excellent question. It's the same one raised by the grocery-store manager friend of mine, who basically postulated that the environmental crisis couldn't be solved within a capitalist framework.
I'm out of my depth here, but it seems to me that there are certain types of consumption that are tied to depletable resources (and should be priced accordingly, letting the price reflect those externalities) and certain types of consumption that are less dramatically tied to those kinds of resources (internet consumption for example).
Seems to me that serious reforms could price things well enough so the first category gets taken care of (eg all of the variations on carbon trading) and the second category, I'm not so sure there's a problem with continuous consumption... in so far as I have a half-baked idea that there is some connection between access to ideas and opportunity and access to open markets.
I'm going to stop myself before digging the hole deeper, as there are people who understand this far better than I do.
I think we're just going to have to sort it out over many beers, interspersed with lots of gossip and the like. Prepare yourself.
And, yes. Did I mention how psyched I am to be surrounded by friends like you who are doing such cool things, like helping run businesses in socially responsible ways?
One of capitalism's problems is that it may be too effective and efficient. No longer do companies need to increase price when demand goes up, they just pump out more goods. They saturate the market and then make a new product and saturate it again. There is a consumer shortage, not a supply shortage.
And I can see governments moving towards socialism (they already are) and Im not sure if it really is a bad thing. I mean there will be a time were production of stuff like food will be so great that it will be practically free. Would it really be bad if the government stepped in a bit and gave it to those in need?
Now, Im not saying everything will turn socialist. There is still supply and demand out there, especially in areas like fuel. But I could see in the future price wars and innovation in areas like solar panels bringing down even energy to near nothing. And I am not sure if having the government step in would really be a bad thing at that point.
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