Post-Capitalism. Really?

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.