Product Description

Liberal, democratic capitalism as the end of history? Not necessarily. This work argues that there are forces developing in the world that might constitute a "counterproject" to the project of globalizing capitalism. At present, however, this movement lacks a coherent vision of a viable, desirable alternative. This text attempts to fill this lacuna by articulating, as a successor-system to capitalism, a model of "economic democracy", an economic system that preserves the efficiency strengths of a market economy, while extending democracy to the workplace and to the structures of investment finance. This model, which derives from both theoretical and empirical research, is shown to be efficient, dynamic and superior to capitalism among a range of values. The model allows us to see how the interconnected problems of global poverty and environmental degradation might be fruitfully addressed. It seeks to make sense of the vast number of large-scale economic "experiments" that have taken place in the past century, and is suggestive of a reform agenda that can and must be purchased in order to make a successful transition from capitalism to something much better.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #85765 in Books
• Published on: 2002-06-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .1 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 222 pages

Review
After Capitalism makes the clearest case I have seen that capitalism leads nowhere but to moral, social, and environmental catastrophe. Yet it inspires hope by describing a realistic and sensible way to put our productive lives in our own hands instead of at the service of capital accumulation. Schweickart's accessible book will enlighten students and political activists about how the world works while opening new paths for its transformation.--Clayton Morgareidge

About the Author
David Schweickart has been a professor of Philosophy at the Loyola University of Chicago since 1992. His previous books include Market Socialism: The Debate Among Socialists, Against Capitalism and Capitalism or Worker Control? An Ethical Economic Appraisal.