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Natural State Debate Institute

Daniel Schexnayder
The Capitalism Kritik

The Capitalism Kritik............................................................................................................................................................1 The Capitalism Kritik............................................................................................................................................................1 1NC....................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 1NC....................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 *** inks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Infrastructure Investment Link..............................................................................................................................................4 Infrastructure Investment Link..............................................................................................................................................4 Environment Links................................................................................................................................................................5 Environment Links................................................................................................................................................................5 Free Tra e Link..................................................................................................................................................................... ! Free Tra e Link..................................................................................................................................................................... ! "an ator# $i%ek Car &Neutral Econom# Link.....................................................................................................................' "an ator# $i%ek Car &Neutral Econom# Link.....................................................................................................................' (e)emon# Link..................................................................................................................................................................... * (e)emon# Link..................................................................................................................................................................... * +ar........................................................................................................................................................................................ , +ar........................................................................................................................................................................................ , ***Impacts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!# Ethics................................................................................................................................................................................... 1Ethics................................................................................................................................................................................... 1Environment........................................................................................................................................................................11 Environment........................................................................................................................................................................11 .enoci e............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 .enoci e............................................................................................................................................................................. 12
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$/57 Daniel Schexnayder /alue to Life........................................................................................................................................................................10 /alue to Life........................................................................................................................................................................10 1T 2erm.............................................................................................................................................................................. 14 1T 2erm.............................................................................................................................................................................. 14 ***%Ts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1& 1T Frame3ork..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 1T Frame3ork..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 1T Cap .oo Environment.................................................................................................................................................1! 1T Cap .oo Environment.................................................................................................................................................1! 1T Cap .oo 2overt#.........................................................................................................................................................1' 1T Cap .oo 2overt#.........................................................................................................................................................1' 1T Cap .oo +ar............................................................................................................................................................... 1* 1T Cap .oo +ar............................................................................................................................................................... 1* 1T Cap Inevita4le................................................................................................................................................................1, 1T Cap Inevita4le................................................................................................................................................................1, 1T .i4son .raham..............................................................................................................................................................21T .i4son .raham..............................................................................................................................................................21T Case 5ut3ei)hs............................................................................................................................................................. 21 1T Case 5ut3ei)hs............................................................................................................................................................. 21 1T 1lt6/iolence.................................................................................................................................................................. 22 1T 1lt6/iolence.................................................................................................................................................................. 22 1lternative lea s to violence...............................................................................................................................................24 1lternative lea s to violence...............................................................................................................................................24 ***%'' %ns(ers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$& .i4son7.raham................................................................................................................................................................... 25 .i4son7.raham................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Cap Inevita4le.....................................................................................................................................................................2! Cap Inevita4le.....................................................................................................................................................................2!
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"/57 Daniel Schexnayder Cap68elf correctin).............................................................................................................................................................2' Cap68elf correctin).............................................................................................................................................................2' Cap .oo 9 2overt#............................................................................................................................................................2* Cap .oo 9 2overt#............................................................................................................................................................2* Cap .oo 9 Environment....................................................................................................................................................2, Cap .oo 9 Environment....................................................................................................................................................2, Cap .oo 9 /2L.................................................................................................................................................................0Cap .oo 9 /2L.................................................................................................................................................................0Cap .oo 9 +ar..................................................................................................................................................................01 Cap .oo 9 +ar..................................................................................................................................................................01
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Daniel Schexnayder
1NC
The a''irmati)e is n*t an is*lated instance+it is deeply embedded in the lar,er s*ci*ec*n*mic matrix *' the status -u*! In)estment in transp*rtati*n in'rastructure is mechanism '*r ampli'yin, the expansi*n *' capital! The a''irmati)e.s in)estment (ill n*t be used t* increase the ,reater s*cial ,**d but t* increase ine-ualities in de)el*pment!
/%0120 11 9 2rofessor of 8ociolo)# : ;oosevelt <niversit# =8tephanie> ?<neven pu4lic transportation evelopment in neoli4erali%in) Chica)o> <81 Environment an 2lannin) 1 40 p. 11557115'> @8A
evelopment an pu4lic transportation neoli4eralism 8ince the pro uction of space is inherentl# a social phenomenon> a theor# of uneven )eo)raphic evelopment shoul 4e attune to the particular articulation of structural forces an social relations in capitalist societ#. <neven )eo)raphic evelopment is pro uce 4# a constellation of factors consistin) of =1A the em4e in) of capital accumulation processes in spaceB =2A historical class> social> an political relations contin)ent to a )eo)raph# that privile)es some places> social )roups> or activities over othersB =0A the preeCistin) 4uilt environmentB =4A institutional an political policies implemente in localitiesB an =5A consumption preferences =(arve#> 2--!> pa)e '*A. (arve# =1,,,A sketches out the contours of uneven )eo)raphic evelopmentD EE<neven evelopment occurs as capital mo4ili%es particular places as forces of pro uction creatin) a hi)hl# varie)ate capitalist )eo)raph# consistin) of an uneFual istri4ution of pro uctive forces > institutional arran)ements> ra3 materials> the 4uilt environment an transport facilities> as 3ell as ifferentiations of social relations an a litan# of other factors shapin) spatial relationsGG =pa)e 41!A. The specific confi)uration of market forces> state re)ulation> an class relations at 3ork at a )iven time an place =the prevailin) accumulation re)imeA profoun l# shapes the evelopment of the ur4an terrain. Contemporar# ur4ani%ation processes are stron)l# shape 4# the lo)ic an policies of neoli4eralism. Neoli4eral i eolo)# a vocates the eCtension of market74ase principles in the arena of the state in or er to Eli4erateG 4oth pu4lic services from so7calle Estate inefficienciesG an capital EsFuan ere G 4# taCation that coul 4e more profita4ilit# eplo#e 4# private actors. 1ccor in)l#> neoli4eral re)ulator# frame3orks promote market iscipline over the state> usuall# achieve 4# such polic# mechanisms as
lo3erin) taCes on 4usinesses an the 3ealth#> shrinkin) or ismantlin) pu4lic services> an su4Hectin) pu4lic services to the lo)ic of markets throu)h pu4lic I private partnerships or outri)ht privati%ation. The
2 <neven
creative I estructive processes of neoli4eral state strate)# reconfi)ure the territorial or)ani%ation of accumulation> an conseFuentl# pro uce ne3 forms of uneven )eo)raphic evelopment. The literature on
neoli4eral ur4ani%ation esta4lishes the 4roa er processes of political> economic> an social restructurin) an rescalin) in response to eclinin) profita4ilit# of the For ist accumulation re)ime =Jrenner an Theo ore> 2--2B 2eck an Tickell> 2--2A. The roll74ack of For ist re)ulator# confi)urations an the roll7out of neoli4erali%ation transforme the sociospatial hierarch# of re)ulator# frame3orks 3ith the nation7state as the center of state re)ulation to a more multiscalar re)ulator# frame3ork articulate 4# the interactions of )lo4al> national> an local scales =Jrenner an Theo ore> 2--2A. Cities emer)e as crucial sites of neoli4erali%ation an institutional restructurin). In the <nite 8tates> neoli4eral policies restructure For ist forms of territorial or)ani%ation 4# evolvin) the relativel# centrali%e > mana)erial I re istri4utive s#stem of ur4an plannin) an financin) at the fe eral level to su4re)ional states an municipalities =Eisin)er> 1,,*B (arve#> 1,*,A. Thus localities 3ere force to finance local infrastructure> transit> housin)> an other forms of collective consumption on their o3n or a4an on them alto)ether. J# starvin) cities of revenues> neoli4eral state restructurin) ren ere states an municipalities more epen ent upon locall# )enerate taC revenues as 3ell as intensif#in) intercit# competition =(arve#> 1,*,A. Cities starve 4# neoli4eral state restructurin) respon e to their fiscal trou4les 4# a optin) entrepreneurial norms> practices> an institutional frame3orks. Entrepreneurial municipal )overnments prioriti%e policies that create a )oo 4usiness climate an competitive a vanta)es for 4usinesses =(arve#> 1,*,B 8mith> 2--2A 4# EEreconstitutin) social 3elfare provisions as anticompetitive costsGG> an 4# implementin) EEan eCtremel# narro3 ur4an polic# repertoire 4ase on capital su4si ies> place promotion> suppl# si e intervention> central7cit# makeovers an local 4oosterismGG =2eck an Tickell> 2--2> pa)es 4' I 4*A. In effect> neoli4eral ur4ani%ation encoura)es local )overnments to retreat from social re istri4ution an inte)rate social 3elfare policies in favor of 4olsterin) 4usiness activit# =Jrenner an Theo ore> 2--2B 2eck an Tickell> 2--2B 83#n)e ou3 et al> 2--2A. 1s a conseFuence> entrepreneurial ma#ors emer)e in the 1,*-s to for)e alliances 4et3een )overnment an 4usiness lea ers =3hat I refer to as the E)lo4al cit# )ro3th machineGA un er the 4anner of ur4an revitali%ation =Ku an 8impson> 2--0A. Cit#
space is mo4ili%e EEas an arena 4oth for market7oriente economic )ro3th an for elite consumption practicesGG =Jrenner an
Theo ore> 2--2> pa)e 21A. The a4an onment of For ist plannin)> privile)in) a more inte)rate ur4an form in favor of selective investment in privile)e places> has
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2---B 8assen 1,,1B 83#n)e ou3 et al> 2--2A. The

Daniel Schexnayder
resulte in 3hat scholars have variousl# eeme as a fra)mente > polari%e > splintere > or Fuartere ur4anit# =.raham an "arvin> 2--1B "arcuse an van Kempen>
4usiness7frien l# policies an practices pursue 4# entrepreneurial ur4an )overnments must also 4e un erstoo in relation to the )lo4al reor)ani%ation of pro uction. .lo4al cities emer)e as the comman an control no es of the )lo4al econom#> 3here multinational hea Fuarters> pro ucer services> an FI;E =finance> insurance> an real estateA firms cluster =8assen> 1,,1A. To lure multinational corporate hea Fuarters> pro ucer services> professional I mana)erial 3orkers> an tourists to their cit#> municipal )overnments recreate ur4an space 4# prioriti%in) me)aproHects an infrastructure that help 4usinesses )ain competitive a vanta)es an keep them connecte 3ithin )lo4al net3orks as 3ell as provi in) financin) an amenities for )entrification> tourism> an cultural consumption
=Jrenner an Theo ore> 2--2B Fainstein> 2--*B .raham an "arvin> 2--1B 2eck an Tickell> 2--2B 83#n)e ou3 et al> 2--2A. These ur4an evelopment strate)ies are i eolo)icall# an iscursivel# le)itimi%e 4# the )lo4al cit# )ro3th machine as necessar# for E)lo4al cit#G or E3orl 7class cit#G formation ="c.uirk> 2--4B +ilson> 2--4A. 2u4lic
transportation polic# is one imension of spatial restructurin) eplo#e 4# entrepreneurial )overnments to create place74ase competitive a vanta)es for )lo4al capital. Transportation represents a fiCe > place74ase )eo)raphic element 3here the local an the )lo4al interactB 3here )lo4al processes shape local )eo)raphies an 3here local politics shape )lo4al net3orks. 1s Keil an Loun) =2--*A su))est> transportation shoul no3 4e consi ere in relation to )lo4ali%e tra e an economic net3orks an consumption7oriente patterns of ever# a# life. .ro3th eman s in cities eCperiencin) )entrification> the evelopment of luCur# consumption spaces> an a sur)e of tourism have place pressure on local a)encies to eCpan airports> roa s> an rail an pu4lic transit capacities . Lar)e7scale ur4an re evelopment plans have ma e a come4ack as
cit# planners conceive of me)aproHects that concentrate ne3 pu4lic transit investment in the revalori%e core =Fainstein> 2--*B Keil an Loun)> 2--*B 83#n)e ou3 et al> 2--2A.
3Speci'ic inks ,* here4
Capitalism 'uels a ,en*cidal '*rei,n p*licy that threatens ,l*bal destructi*n!
/*ster> co7e
itor of "onthl# ;evie3> professor of sociolo)# at the <niversit# of 5re)on> $k" MKohn> ?The ne3 1)e of Imperialism>N "onthl# ;evie3 55.0O
1t the same time> it is clear that in
the present perio of )lo4al he)emonic imperialism the <nite 8tates is )eare a4ove all to eCpan in) its imperial po3er to 3hatever eCtent possi4le an su4or inatin) the rest of the capitalist 3orl to its interests. The
2ersian .ulf an the Caspian 8ea Jasin represent not onl# the 4ulk of 3orl petroleum reserves> 4ut also a rapi l# increasin) proportion of total reserves> as hi)h pro uction rates iminish reserves else3here. This has provi e much of the stimulus for the <nite 8tates to )ain )reater control of these resourcesPat the eCpense of its present an potential rivals. Jut <.8. imperial am4itions o not en there> since the# are riven 4# economic am4itions that kno3 no 4oun s. 1s (arr# "a) off note in the closin) pa)es of The 1)e of Imperialism in 1,!,> Qit
is the professe )oalQ of <.8. multinational corporations Qto control as lar)e a share of the 3orl market as the# o of the <nite 8tates market>Q an this hun)er for forei)n markets persists to a#. Flori a74ase +ackenhut Corrections Corporation has 3on prison privati%ation contracts in 1ustralia> the <nite Kin) om> 8outh 1frica> Cana a> Ne3 $ealan > an the Netherlan s 1ntilles =Q2rison In ustr# .oes .lo4al>Q 333.futurenet.or)> fall 2---A.2romotion of <.8. corporate interests a4roa is one of the primar# responsi4ilities of the <.8. state. Consi er the cases of "onsanto an )eneticall# mo ifie foo > "icrosoft an intellectual propert#> Jechtel an the 3ar on IraF. It 3oul 4e impossi4le to eCa))erate ho3 an)erous this ual eCpansionism of <.8. corporations an the <.8. state is to the 3orl at lar)e. 1s Istvan "es%aros o4serve in 2--1 in 8ocialism or Jar4arism> the <.8. attempt to sei%e )lo4al control> 3hich is inherent in the 3orkin)s of capitalism an imperialism> is no3 threatenin) humanit# 3ith the QeCtreme violent rule of the 3hole 3orl 4# one he)emonic imperialist countr# on a permanent 4asis...an a4sur an unsustaina4le 3a# of runnin) the 3orl or er.QR This ne3 a)e of <.8. imperialism 3ill )enerate its o3n contra ictions> amon)st them attempts 4# other maHor po3ers to assert their influence> resortin) to similar 4elli)erent means > an all sorts of strate)ies 4# 3eaker states an non7state actors to en)a)e in Qas#mmetricQ forms of 3arfare. .iven the unprece ente estructiveness of contemporar# 3eapons> 3hich are iffuse ever more 3i el#> the conseFuences for the population of the 3orl coul 3ell 4e evastatin) 4e#on an#thin) ever 4efore 3itnesse . ;ather than )eneratin)a ne3 Q2aC 1mericanaQ the <nite
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5/57 Daniel Schexnayder 8tates ma# 4e pavin) the 3a# to ne3 )lo4al holocausts. The )reatest hope in these ire circumstances lies in a risin) ti e of revolt from 4elo3 > 4oth in the <nite 8tates an )lo4all# . The )ro3th of the anti)lo4ali%ation movement> 3hich ominate the 3orl sta)e
for nearl# t3o #ears follo3in) the events in 8eattle in Novem4er 1,,,> 3as succee e in Fe4ruar# 2--0 4# the lar)est )lo4al 3ave of anti3ar protests in human histor#. Never 4efore has the 3orl Gs population risen up so Fuickl# an in such massive num4ers in the attempt to stop an imperialist 3ar. The ne3 a)e of imperialism is also a ne3 a)e of revolt. The /ietnam 8#n rome> 3hich has so 3orrie the strate)ic planners of the imperial or er for eca es> no3 seems not onl# to have left a eep le)ac# 3ithin the <nite 8tates 4ut also to have 4een couple this time aroun 3ith an Empire 8#n rome on a much more )lo4al scale77somethin) that no one reall# eCpecte . This more than an#thin) else makes it clear that the
strate)# of the 1merican rulin) class to eCpan the 1merican Empire cannot possi4l# succee in the lon) run> an 3ill prove to 4e its o3n 773e hope not the 3orl GsPun oin)
The alternati)e is t* re6ect the a''irmati)e! 7ur re'usal *pens up ne( space '*r chan,e and is a prere-uisite t* e''ecti)e p*litical acti*n!
8er*d & =Kames> 1uthor of .ettin) Free> ?The 8trate)# @escri4e 14stractl#>N httpD&&site.333.um4.e u&facult#&sal%manS)&8trate&.etFre&-!.htmA It is time to tr# to escri4e> at first a4stractl# an later concretel#> a strate)# for estro#in) capitalism. This strate)#> at its most 4asic> calls for pullin) time> ener)#> an resources out of capitalist civili%ation an puttin) them into 4uil in) a ne3 civili%ation. The ima)e then is one of empt#in) out capitalist structures> hollo3in) them out> 4# rainin) 3ealth> po3er> an meanin) out of them until there is nothin) left 4ut shells. This is efinitel# an a))ressive strate)#. It reFuires )reat militanc#> an constitutes an attack on the eCistin) or er. The strate)# clearl# reco)ni%es that capitalism is the enem# an must 4e estro#e > 4ut it is not a frontal attack aime at overthro3in) the s#stem> 4ut an insi e attack aime at )uttin) it> 3hile simultaneousl# replacin) it 3ith somethin) 4etter> somethin) 3e 3ant.Thus capitalist structures =corporations> )overnments> 4anks> schools> etc.A are notseized so much as simpl# aband*ned. Capitalist relations are not '*u,ht so much as the# are simpl# re6ected. +e st*p participatin, in activities that support =finance> con oneA the capitalist 3orl an start participatin, in activities that 4uil a ne3 3orl 3hile simultaneousl# un erminin) the ol . +e create a ne3 pattern of social relations alon)si e capitalist relations an then 3e continuall# 4uil an stren)then our ne3 pattern 3hile oin) ever# thin) 3e can to 3eaken capitalist relations. In this 3a# our ne3 emocratic> non7hierarchical> non7commo ifie relations can eventuall# over3helm the capitalist relations an force them out of eCistence . This is ho3 it has to 4e one. This is a plausi4le> realistic strate)#. To think that 3e coul create a 3hole ne3 3orl of ecent social arran)ements overni)ht> in the mi st of a crisis> urin) a so7calle revolution> or urin) the collapse of capitalism> is foolhar #. 5ur ne3 social 3orl must )ro3 3ithin the ol > an in opposition to it> until it is stron) enou)h to ismantle an a4olish capitalist relations. 8uch a revolution 3ill never happen automaticall#> 4lin l#> etermina4l#> 4ecause of the ineCora4le> materialist la3s of histor#. It 3ill happen> an onl# happen> 4ecause 3e 3ant it to> an 4ecause 3e kno3 3hat 3ere oin) an kno3 ho3 3e 3ant to live> an kno3 3hat o4stacles have to 4e overcome 4efore 3e can live that 3a#> an kno3 ho3 to istin)uish 4et3een our social patterns an theirs Jut 3e must not think that the capitalist 3orl can simpl# 4e i)nore > in a live an let live attitu e> 3hile 3e tr# to 4uil ne3 lives else3here. =There is no else3here.A There is at least one thin)> 3a)e7slaver#> that 3e cant simpl# stop participatin) in =4ut even here there are 3a#s 3e can chip a3a# at itA. Capitalism must 4e explicitly re'used an replace 4# somethin) else. This constitutes 9ar> 4ut it is not a 3ar in the tra itional sense of armies an tanks> 4ut a 3ar fou)ht on a ail# 4asis> on the level of ever# a# life> 4# millions of people. It is a 3ar nevertheless 4ecause the accumulators of capital 3ill use coercion> 4rutalit#> an mur er> as the# have al3a#s one in the past> to tr# to 4lock an# reHection of the s#stem. The# have al3a#s ha to force complianceB the# 3ill not hesitate to continue oin) so. Nevertheless> there are man# concrete 3a#s that in ivi uals> )roups> an nei)h4orhoo s can )ut capitalism> 3hich I 3ill enumerate shortl#. +e must al3a#s keep in min ho3 3e 4ecame slavesB then 3e can see more clearl# ho3 3e can cease 4ein) slaves. +e 3ere force into 3a)e7slaver# 4ecause the rulin) class slo3l#> s#stematicall#> an 4rutall# estro#e our a4ilit# to live autonomousl#. J# rivin) us off the lan > chan)in) the propert# la3s> estro#in)
communit# ri)hts> estro#in) our tools> imposin) taCes> estro#in) our local markets> an so forth> 3e 3ere force onto the la4or market in or er to survive> our onl# remainin) option 4ein) to sell> for a 3a)e> our a4ilit# to 3ork. Its
Fuite clear then ho3 3e can overthro3 slaver#. +e must reverse this
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7/57 Daniel Schexnayder process. +e must 4e)in to reacFuire the a4ilit# to live 3ithout 3orkin) for a 3a)e or 4u#in) the pro ucts ma e 4# 3a)e7 slaves =that is> 3e must )et free from the la4or market an the 3a# of livin) 4ase on itA> an em4e ourselves instea in cooperative la4or an cooperativel# pro uce )oo s. 1nother clarification is nee e . This strate,y d*es n*t call '*r re'*rmin, capitalism > for chan)in) capitalism into somethin) else. It calls for replacin, capitalism> totall#> 3ith a ne3 civili%ation. This is an important istinction> 4ecause capitalism has prove impervious to reforms> as a s#stem. +e can sometimes in some places 3in certain concessions from it =usuall# onl# temporar# onesA an 3in some =usuall# short7live A improvements in our lives as its victims> 4ut 3e cannot reform it piecemeal> as a s#stem . Thus our strate)# of )uttin) an eventuall# estro#in) capitalism reFuires at a minimum a totali%in) ima)e> an a3areness that 3e are attackin) an entire 3a# of life an replacin) it 3ith another> an not merel# reformin) one 3a# of life into somethin) else. "an# people ma# not 4e accustome to thinkin) a4out entire s#stems an social or ers> 4ut ever#one kno3s 3hat a lifest#le is> or a 3a# of life> an that is the 3a# 3e shoul approach it. The thin) is thisD in or er for capitalism to 4e estro#e millions an millions of people must 4e issatisfie 3ith their 3a# of life. The# must (ant s*methin, else an see certain eCistin) thin)s as o4stacles to )ettin) 3hat the# 3ant. It is not useful to think of this as a ne3 i eolo)#. It is not merel# a 4elief7s#stem that is nee e > like a reli)ion> or like "arCism> or 1narchism. ;ather it is a ne3 prevailin) vision> a ominant esire> an overri in) nee . +hat must eCist is a pressin) esire to live a certain 3a#> an not to live another 3a# . If this pressin) esire 3ere a esire to live free> to 4e autonomous> to live in emocraticall# controlle communities> to participate in the self7re)ulatin) activities of a mature people> then capitalism coul 4e estro#e . 5ther3ise 3e are oome to perpetual slaver# an possi4l# even to eCtinction The content of this vision is actuall# not ne3 at all> 4ut Fuite ol . The lon) term )oal of communists> anarchists>
an socialists has al3a#s 4een to restore communit#. Even the )reat peasant revolts of earl# capitalism sou)ht to )et free from eCternal authorities an restore autonom# to villa)es. "arC efine communism once as a free association of pro ucers> an at another time as a situation in 3hich the free evelopment of each is a con ition for the free evelopment of all. 1narchists have al3a#s calle for 3orker an peasant self7mana)e cooper atives. The lon) term )oals have al3a#s 4een clearD to a4olish 3a)e7slaver#> to era icate a social or er or)ani%e solel# aroun the accumulation of capital for its o3n sake> an to esta4lish in its place a societ# of free people 3ho emocraticall# an cooperativel# self7 etermine the shape of their social 3orl .
7nly a re6ecti*n *' the ide*l*,y *' capital can s*l)e!

:*hnst*n & =@epartment of 2hilosoph# <niversit# of Ne3 "eCico> @ecem4er> ?The C#nicTs FetishD 8lavoH $i%ek an the @#namics of Jelief> International Kournal of $i%ek 8tu ies>N httpD&&333.%i%ekstu ies.or)&in eC.php&iH%s&article&vie3&*&24> @8A
5n the 4asis of Lacanian theor#> one
coul ar)ue that an act is somethin) 3hose occurrence can onl# 4e etermine retroactivel# =as per Freu Ts Nachtraglichkeit an LacanTs apres-coupA. It isnTt until after a 3hole series of concrete actions have alrea # 4een en)a)e in> an 3hose effects have temporall# unfurle to a sufficient eCtent> that one is a4le to assess 3hether an act actuall# i happen. 5ne al3a#s reco)ni%es an act as such after7the7fact =UiVek himself ackno3le )es this too12!A. Thus> as Lacan insists> acts arenTt events 4rou)ht a4out in the present 4# self7conscious volitional a)ents 4ecause> 3ithin the imme iac# of the here7an 7 no3> in ivi uals arenTt a4le to etermine or eci e 3hether their actions 3ill eventuall# Fualif#> throu)h the ver ict of su4seFuent histor#> as )enuine acts strictl# speakin). In ivi uals must first immerse themselves in action> since> 3ithout these particular interventions> there 3oul 4e nothin) to )rasp later throu)h hin si)ht as an act. 1lthou)h an act is in ee not an action =an althou)h far from ever# action can or oes 4ecome an actA> there is> nonetheless> no act 3ithout an action. 1 politics of the pure act> one that esche3s en)a)in) in an# specifications concernin) actions to 4e performe > is an empt# ?politics 3ithout politics.N The risk that this position refuses isnTt the risk of the ?a4solute 1ctN an its al3a#s7possi4le failurePit risks refusin)
the active specification an performance of actions that mi)ht not en up 4ecomin) acts. The activit# of thinkin) that UiVek hopes to facilitate a)ain 4# topplin) certain implicit i eolo)ical prohi4itions must not allo3 itself to ne)lect )rapplin) 3ith the tan)i4le etails of> for instance> social an political polic#makin). Is the passivit# of a3aitin) the messianic future arrival of the un efine actmiracle the sole via4le replacement for "arCTs a4an one political proHect of communismW 1t some point soon> UiVek nee s to eCplain 3hat fills the vacuum remainin) after he severs the positive prescriptive a)en a of "arCism from its ia)nostic7 escriptive imension. 2erhaps the a4sence of a etaile practical roa map in UiVekTs political 3ritin)s isnTt a maHor shortcomin). "a#4e> at least for the time 4ein)> the
most important task is simpl# the ne)ativit# of the critical stru))le> the effort to cure an intellectual constipation resultin) from capitalist i eolo)# an there4# trul# to open up the space for ima)inin) authentic alternatives to the prevailin) state of the situation.
Cap K NSDI
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From this perspective> seein) throu)h i eolo)ical fantasies 4# learnin)

Daniel Schexnayder
1nother efinition of materialism offere 4# UiVek is that it amounts to acceptin) the internal inherence of 3hat fantasmaticall# appears as an eCternal ea lock or hin rance12' =3ith fantas# itself 4ein) efine as the false eCternali%ation of somethin) 3ithin the su4Hect> namel#> the illusor# proHection of an inner o4stacle12*A.
ho3 to think a)ain outsi e the confines of current restrictions has> in an of itself> the potential to operate as a form of real revolutionar# practice =rather than remainin) Hust an instance of
ne)ative&critical intellectual reflectionA. +h# is this the caseW ;ecallin) the earlier anal#sis of commo it# fetishism> the social efficac# of mone# as the universal me ium of eCchan)e =an the entire political econom# )roun e upon itA ultimatel# relies upon nothin) ,0 more than a kin of ?ma)ic>N that is> the 4elief in mone#Ts social efficac# 4# those usin) it in the processes of eCchan)e. 8ince the value of currenc# is> at 4ottom> re uci4le to the 4elief that it has the value attri4ute to it =an
erailin) capitalism 4# estro#in) its essential financial su4stance is> in a certain respect> as eas# as issolvin) the mere 4elief in this su4stanceTs po3ers. The ?eCternalN o4stacle of the capitalist s#stem eCists eCclusivel# on the con ition that su4Hects> 3hether consciousl# or unconsciousl#> ?internall#N 4elieve in itP capitalismTs life74loo > mone#> is simpl# a fetishistic cr#stalli%ation of a 4elief in othersT 4elief in the socioperformative force emanatin) from this same material. 1n #et> this point of capitalismTs frail vulnera4ilit# is simultaneousl# the source of its enormous stren)thD Its vampiric s#m4iosis 3ith in ivi ual human esire> an the fact that the late7capitalist c#nicTs fetishism ena4les the isavo3al of his&her de facto 4elief in capitalism> makes it hi)hl# unlikel# that people can 4e persua e to stop 4elievin) an start thinkin) =especiall# since> as UiVek claims> man# of these people are convince that the# alrea # have cease 4elievin)A. 5r> the more isFuietin) possi4ilit# to entertain is that some people to a#> even if one succee s in eCposin) them to
that ever#one 4elieves that ever#one else 4elieves this as 3ellA> the un erl#in) lo)ic of their position> mi)ht respon in a manner resem4lin) that of the Ku as7like character C#pher in the film The Matrix =C#pher opts to em4race enslavement 4# illusion rather than cope 3ith the iscomfort of 3ellin) in the ? esert of the realNAD Face 3ith the choice 4et3een livin) the capitalist lie or )rapplin) 3ith certain unpleasant truths> man# in ivi uals mi)ht ver# 3ell eli4eratel# eci e to accept 3hat the# kno3 full 3ell to 4e a false pseu o7realit#> a eceptivel# comfortin) fiction =?Capitalist commo it# fetishism or the truthW I choose fetishism.NA.
*** inks
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#/57

Daniel Schexnayder
In'rastructure In)estment ink

The a''irmati)e is n*t an is*lated instance it is deeply embedded in the lar,er s*ci*ec*n*mic matrix *' the status -u*! In)estment in transp*rtati*n in'rastructure is n*t a neutral act it is a meth*d *' ampli'yin, the expansi*n *' capital! The a''irmati)e.s in)estment (ill be used t* increase ine-ualities in de)el*pment!*
/%0120 11 9 2rofessor of 8ociolo)# : ;oosevelt <niversit# =8tephanie> ?<neven pu4lic transportation evelopment in neoli4erali%in) Chica)o> <81 Environment an 2lannin) 1 40 p. 11557115'> @8A
evelopment an pu4lic transportation neoli4eralism 8ince the pro uction of space is inherentl# a social phenomenon> a theor# of uneven )eo)raphic evelopment shoul 4e attune to the particular articulation of structural forces an social relations in capitalist societ#. <neven )eo)raphic evelopment is pro uce 4# a constellation of factors consistin) of =1A the em4e in) of capital accumulation processes in spaceB =2A historical class> social> an political relations contin)ent to a )eo)raph# that privile)es some places> social )roups> or activities over othersB =0A the preeCistin) 4uilt environmentB =4A institutional an political policies implemente in localitiesB an =5A consumption preferences =(arve#> 2--!> pa)e '*A. (arve# =1,,,A sketches out the contours of uneven )eo)raphic evelopmentD EE<neven evelopment occurs as capital mo4ili%es particular places as forces of pro uction creatin) a hi)hl# varie)ate capitalist )eo)raph# consistin) of an uneFual istri4ution of pro uctive forces> institutional arran)ements> ra3 materials> the 4uilt environment an transport facilities > as 3ell as ifferentiations of social relations an a litan# of other factors shapin) spatial relationsGG =pa)e 41!A. The specific confi)uration of market forces> state re)ulation> an class relations at 3ork at a )iven time an place =the prevailin) accumulation re)imeA profoun l# shapes the evelopment of the ur4an terrain. Contemporar# ur4ani%ation processes are stron)l# shape 4# the lo)ic an policies of neoli4eralism. Neoli4eral i eolo)# a vocates the eCtension of market74ase principles in the arena of the state in or er to Eli4erateG 4oth pu4lic services from so7calle Estate inefficienciesG an capital EsFuan ere G 4# taCation that coul 4e more profita4ilit# eplo#e 4# private actors. 1ccor in)l#> neoli4eral re)ulator# frame3orks promote market iscipline over the state> usuall# achieve 4# such polic# mechanisms as
lo3erin) taCes on 4usinesses an the 3ealth#> shrinkin) or ismantlin) pu4lic services> an su4Hectin) pu4lic services to the lo)ic of markets throu)h pu4lic I private partnerships or outri)ht privati%ation. The
2 <neven
creative I estructive processes of neoli4eral state strate)# reconfi)ure the territorial or)ani%ation of accumulation> an conseFuentl# pro uce ne3 forms of uneven )eo)raphic evelopment. The literature on
neoli4eral ur4ani%ation esta4lishes the 4roa er processes of political> economic> an social restructurin) an rescalin) in response to eclinin) profita4ilit# of the For ist accumulation re)ime =Jrenner an Theo ore> 2--2B 2eck an Tickell> 2--2A. The roll74ack of For ist re)ulator# confi)urations an the roll7out of neoli4erali%ation transforme the sociospatial hierarch# of re)ulator# frame3orks 3ith the nation7state as the center of state re)ulation to a more multiscalar re)ulator# frame3ork articulate 4# the interactions of )lo4al> national> an local scales =Jrenner an Theo ore> 2--2A. Cities emer)e as crucial sites of neoli4erali%ation an institutional restructurin). In the <nite 8tates> neoli4eral policies restructure For ist forms of territorial or)ani%ation 4# evolvin) the relativel# centrali%e > mana)erial I re istri4utive s#stem of ur4an plannin) an financin) at the fe eral level to su4re)ional states an municipalities =Eisin)er> 1,,*B (arve#> 1,*,A. Thus localities 3ere force to finance local infrastructure> transit> housin)> an other forms of collective consumption on their o3n or a4an on them alto)ether. J# starvin) cities of revenues> neoli4eral state restructurin) ren ere states an municipalities more epen ent upon locall# )enerate taC revenues as 3ell as intensif#in) intercit# competition =(arve#> 1,*,A. Cities starve 4# neoli4eral state restructurin) respon e to their fiscal trou4les 4# a optin) entrepreneurial norms> practices> an institutional frame3orks. Entrepreneurial municipal )overnments prioriti%e policies that create a )oo 4usiness climate an competitive a vanta)es for 4usinesses =(arve#> 1,*,B 8mith> 2--2A 4# EEreconstitutin) social 3elfare provisions as anticompetitive costsGG> an 4# implementin) EEan eCtremel# narro3 ur4an polic# repertoire 4ase on capital su4si ies> place promotion> suppl# si e intervention> central7cit# makeovers an local 4oosterismGG =2eck an Tickell> 2--2> pa)es 4' I 4*A. In effect> neoli4eral ur4ani%ation encoura)es local )overnments to retreat from social re istri4ution an inte)rate social 3elfare policies in favor of 4olsterin) 4usiness activit# =Jrenner an Theo ore> 2--2B 2eck an Tickell> 2--2B 83#n)e ou3 et al> 2--2A. 1s a conseFuence> entrepreneurial ma#ors emer)e in the 1,*-s to for)e alliances 4et3een )overnment an 4usiness lea ers =3hat I refer to as the E)lo4al cit# )ro3th machineGA un er the 4anner of ur4an revitali%ation =Ku an 8impson> 2--0A. Cit#
space is mo4ili%e EEas an arena 4oth for market7oriente economic )ro3th an for elite consumption practicesGG =Jrenner an
Theo ore> 2--2> pa)e 21A. The a4an onment of For ist plannin)> privile)in) a more inte)rate ur4an form in favor of selective investment in privile)e places> has
Cap K NSDI
1</57
2---B 8assen 1,,1B 83#n)e ou3 et al> 2--2A. The

Daniel Schexnayder
resulte in 3hat scholars have variousl# eeme as a fra)mente > polari%e > splintere > or Fuartere ur4anit# =.raham an "arvin> 2--1B "arcuse an van Kempen>
4usiness7frien l# policies an practices pursue 4# entrepreneurial ur4an )overnments must also 4e un erstoo in relation to the )lo4al reor)ani%ation of pro uction. .lo4al cities emer)e as the comman an control no es of the )lo4al econom#> 3here multinational hea Fuarters> pro ucer services> an FI;E =finance> insurance> an real estateA firms cluster =8assen> 1,,1A. To lure multinational corporate hea Fuarters> pro ucer services> professional I mana)erial 3orkers> an tourists to their cit#> municipal )overnments recreate ur4an space 4# prioriti%in) me)aproHects an infrastructure that help 4usinesses )ain competitive a vanta)es an keep them connecte 3ithin )lo4al net3orks as 3ell as provi in) financin) an amenities for )entrification> tourism> an cultural consumption
=Jrenner an Theo ore> 2--2B Fainstein> 2--*B .raham an "arvin> 2--1B 2eck an Tickell> 2--2B 83#n)e ou3 et al> 2--2A. These ur4an evelopment strate)ies are i eolo)icall# an iscursivel# le)itimi%e 4# the )lo4al cit# )ro3th machine as necessar# for E)lo4al cit#G or E3orl 7class cit#G formation ="c.uirk> 2--4B +ilson> 2--4A. 2u4lic
transportation polic# is one imension of spatial restructurin) eplo#e 4# entrepreneurial )overnments to create place74ase competitive a vanta)es for )lo4al capital. Transportation represents a fiCe > place74ase )eo)raphic element 3here the local an the )lo4al interactB 3here )lo4al processes shape local )eo)raphies an 3here local politics shape )lo4al net3orks. 1s Keil an Loun) =2--*A su))est> transportation shoul no3 4e consi ere in relation to )lo4ali%e tra e an economic net3orks an consumption7oriente patterns of ever# a# life. .ro3th eman s in cities eCperiencin) )entrification> the evelopment of luCur# consumption spaces> an a sur)e of tourism have place pressure on local a)encies to eCpan airports> roa s> an rail an pu4lic transit capacities . Lar)e7scale ur4an re evelopment plans have ma e a come4ack as
cit# planners conceive of me)aproHects that concentrate ne3 pu4lic transit investment in the revalori%e core =Fainstein> 2--*B Keil an Loun)> 2--*B 83#n)e ou3 et al> 2--2A.
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11/57

Daniel Schexnayder
2n)ir*nment inks
The a''irmati)e.s strate,y *' en)ir*nmental pr*tecti*n is a campai,n *' ,l*bal capital= their ec*l*,ical re'*rm simply shi'ts c*nsumerist ide*l*,y int* the en)ir*nment (hich renders e)erythin, int* capital t* be c*nsumed!
uke> @epartment of 2olitical 8cience at /ir)inia 2ol#technic Institute> 1##7 Timoth# +.> The =<nA+ise =14A<se of NatureD Environmentalism as .lo4ali%e ConsumerismW httpD&&333.c c.vt.e u&tim&tims&Tim52*.htm
1ll of these environmentali%in) initiatives reveal ifferent aspects of NatureGs infrastructurali%ation in the isor)ani%e an incomplete transnational campai)ns of environmentali%e capitalGs terraformin) pro)rams. The actions of the +orl 3atch Institute> the Nature Conservanc#> or the +orl +il life Fun > or the 8ierra Clu4 are frame3orks 3ithin 3hich a ne3 ha4itus 3ith its o3n environmentali%e social relations of pro uction an consumption can come alive 4# )uar in) ha4itat as the supremel# perfect site of ha4itus. 1s Jau rillar o4serves> Qthe )reat si)nifie > the )reat referent Nature is ea > replace 4# environment> 3hich simultaneousl# esi)nates an esi)ns its eath an the restoration of nature as simulation mo el....3e enter a social environment of s#nthesis in 3hich a total a4stract communication an an immanent manipulation no lon)er leave an# point eCterior to the s#stem.Q 115 ;en erin) 3il life> air> 3ater> ha4itat> or Nature into compleC ne3 s#stems of rare )oo s in the name of environmental protection> an then re)ulatin) the social consumption of them throu)h ecolo)ical activism sho3s ho3 mainstream environmentalists are servin) as a)ents of social control or factors in political econom# to reinte)rate the intracta4le eFuations of =unA3ise =a4Ause alon) consummational rather than consumptive lines. 2uttin) earth first onl# esta4lishes ecolo)ical capital as the ultimate 4asis of life. Infrastructurali%in) Nature ren ers ever#thin) on Earth > or Qhumanit#Gs home>Q into capital77lan > la4or> animals> plants> air> 3ater> )enes> ecos#stems. 1n > mainstream environmentalism often 4ecomes a ver# special kin of Qhome eco nomicsQ to mana)e humanit#Gs in oors an out oors househol accounts. (ousehol consumption is al3a#s home consumption> 4ecause
human economics rests upon terrestrial ecolo)ics. (ere the roots of ecolo)# an economics intert3ine throu)h Qsustaina4le evelopment>Q revealin) its truest ou4le si)nificanceD sustaina4l# mana)in)
the planet is the same thin) as repro ucin) terrestrial stocks of infrastructoriali%e )reen capital. +hether or not environmentalists prevent the un3ise a4use or promote 3ise use of natural resources is immaterialB ever#thin) the# o optimi%es the si)n value of )reen )oo s an serves to repro uce )lo4al capital as environmentali%e sites> stocks or spaces77an outcome that ever# +orl 3atch Institute 8tate of the +orl report or Clu4 8ierra ecotour easil#
confirms. Like3ise> the scarcit# measures of Nature Conservanc# or +orl +il life Fun scare campai)ns sho3 ho3 ever#thin) no3 has a price> inclu in) 3il life preservation or ecolo)ical e)ra ation> 3hich )lo4al markets 3ill mark an meet in their =unA3ise =a4Ause of environmentali%e resources.
The a''irmati)e.s en)ir*nmentalism encapsulates a (h*le series *' tactics '*r disciplinin, and re,ulatin, p*pulati*ns > the c*ncept *' en)ir*nmental pr*tecti*n is inc*rp*rated int* a ,l*bal stru,,le '*r ec*n*mic d*minance (hich simply p*lices the (*rld ar*und us
uke> @epartment of 2olitical 8cience at /ir)inia 2ol#technic Institute> 1##7 Timoth# +.> The =<nA+ise =14A<se of NatureD Environmentalism as .lo4ali%e ConsumerismW httpD&&333.c c.vt.e u&tim&tims&Tim52*.htm
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1$/57

Daniel Schexnayder
1 political> economic> an technical incitement to talk a4out ecolo)#> environments> an Nature> first surface as the social proHect of QenvironmentalismQ urin) the 1,!-s in the <nite 8tates> 4ut it plainl# has 4ecome far more pronounce in the 1,,-s. Not much of this takes the form of )eneral theor#> 4ecause most of its practices
one can follo3 Foucault 4# eCplorin) ho3 mainstream environmentalism in the <nite 8tates operates as Qa 3hole series of ifferent tactics that com4ine in var#in) proportions the o4Hective of isciplinin) the 4o # an that of re)ulatin) populations.Q 0 The proHect of Qsustaina4ilit#>Q 3hether one speaks of sustaina4le evelopment> )ro3th or use in relation to EarthGs ecolo)ies> em4o ies this ne3 responsi4ilit# for the life processes in the 1merican stateGs rationali%e harmoni%ation of political econom# 3ith )lo4al ecolo)# as a form of )reen )eo7politics. These interconnections 4ecome even more intri)uin) in the aftermath of the Col +ar. (avin) 3on the lon) t3ili)ht stru))le a)ainst communist totalitarianism> the <nite 8tates is )overne 4# lea ers 3ho no3 see QEarth in the 4alance>Q ar)uin) that )lo4al ecolo)ies incarnate 3hat is 4est an 3orst in the human spirit. 5n the one han > economists> in ustrialists> an political lea ers increasin)l# ten to represent the strate)ic terrain of the post71,,1 3orl s#stem as one on 3hich all nations must compete ruthlessl# to control the future evelopment of the 3orl econom# 4# evelopin) ne3 technolo)ies> ominatin) more markets> an eCploitin) ever# national economic asset. (o3ever> the phenomenon of Qfaile states>Q
have 4een instea steere to3ar anal#sis> stock takin)> an classification in Fuantitative> causal> an humanistic stu ies. Nonetheless> ran)in) from 4asket cases like ;3an a> 8omalia or 1n)ola to cripple entities like <kraine> 1f)hanistan or Ka%akhstan> often is attri4ute to the severe environmental frictions associate 3ith the =unA3ise =a4Ause of Nature 4# ineffective strate)ies for creatin) economic )ro3th. 4 ConseFuentl#> environmental
protection issues77ran)in) from resource conservation to sustaina4le evelopment to ecos#stem restoration77are )ettin) )reater consi eration in the name of creatin) Ho4s> maintainin) )ro3th> or a vancin) technolo)ical evelopment. Takin) Qecolo)#Q into account> then> creates iscourses on Qthe environmentQ that erive not onl# from moralit#> 4ut from rationalit# as 3ell. 1s humanit# has face Qthe limits of )ro3thQ an hear Qthe population 4om4Q tickin) a3a#> ecolo)ies an environments 4ecame somethin) more than 3hat one must Hu )e morall#B the# 4ecame thin)s that state must a minister. Ecolo)# has evolve into Qa pu4lic potentialB it calle for mana)ement proce uresB it ha to 4e taken char)e of 4# anal#tical iscourses>Q as it 3as reco)ni%e in its environmentali%e manifestations to 4e Qa police matterQ77Qnot the repression of isor er> 4ut an or ere maCimi%ation of collective an in ivi ual forces.Q 5
Cap K NSDI
1"/57

Daniel Schexnayder
/ree Trade ink

Trade a,reements are an extensi*n *' he,em*nic capitalism Sakellar*p*ul*s 1ssTt 2rof of 8ocial 2olic# 2anteion <niversit# ? S*tiris @epartment of 8ociolo)#> <niversit# of the 1e)ean $<<; 8p#ros X 2ana)iotis 8cience X 8ociet# proFuest
The role of international economic organizations such as the IMF and the World Bank was crucial, because they enforced neoliberal reforms and the lowering of trade and investment barriers. !ually im"ortant were the outcome of the #$TT negotiations and the im"lementation of the WT% structure. This form of global "olitical economy and the considerable influence e&ercised by the '($ on these international institutions created a friendly environment for '. (. com"anies to maintain and e&"and their international activities. They also secured the su""ort of business interests )and their "olitical re"resentatives* in other countries. $t the same time, this strategy aimed at making sure that the dollar remained the global money+ that '. (. and '. (.,controlled financial institutions were the "rimary medium for international money flows+ that the '($ would kee" the seignorage advantage it had since the Bretton,Woods agreements )#owan, -...*. Ideologically this was /ustified by the 0globalization0 rhetoric that became dominant in the -..1s.2 The
<nited 8tatesG open en orsement of a))ressive capitalist policies> restructurin) of capitalist pro uction> attacks on tra e an )enerall# all forms of reinstatement of capitalGs po3er over la4or on a )lo4al scale 3as an essential part of its he)emonic role. It 3as not Hust a omestic polic#. It 3as more a strate)ic choice of class interests an a social 4asis for an eCpansive internationali%ation of capital> the ver# 4asis of mo ern imperialism )Wood, 3114*. $nd although the growth of the financial sector has been described as a sign of the structurally weak
the welfare state, defense of "ro"erty rights )es"ecially intellectual "ro"erty rights*, free and crisis,"rone character of modern ca"italism in general and the '. (. economy in "articular )Brenner, 3113*, we think that such a view underestimates the disci"linary character of international financial deregulation and the way it induces neoliberal "olicies and ca"italist restructuring and enhances the hegemonic role of the 'nited (tates )5ude, 3116*. It
3as not onl# a4out the lo3er7in) of tra e 4arriers or financial li4erali%ation. It has more to o 3ith the removal of most forms of protection that ha aime at safe)uar in) less pro uctive capitals an tra itional pett# 4our)eois strata a)ainst international competition an at )uaranteein) forms of class compromise. It was not only an o"en,market "olicy serving '. (. firms+ it also offered other ca"italist social formations a way out of ca"italist
crisis and the use of international com"etition as "ressure for ca"italist restructuring. $nd this can e&"lain why non,hegemonic formations might acce"t
this internationali%ation of capital an capitalist restructurin) there has 4een some sort of o4Hective ialectic of he)emon# at 3ork. The entire strate)# of internationali%ation 4ecame a strate)ic consi eration to incorporate all eC7socialist countries into the economic> political> an i eolo)ical practices of the imperialist chain 4# means of their a option of free market policies> ismantlin) of all forms of social protection> a4olition of all 4arriers to forei)n investment an full compliance 3ith the current 1merican strate)# )#owan, -..1+ #owan, -..7*.
a global economic and financial architecture that actually "uts greater stress on their domestic economies. We can say that with
Trade liberali@ati*n is an extensi*n *' imperialism 6usti'ies internati*nal c*n'lict Sakellar*p*ul*s 1ssTt 2rof of 8ocial 2olic# 2anteion <niversit# ? S*tiris @epartment of 8ociolo)#> <niversit# of the 1e)ean $<<; 8p#ros X 2ana)iotis 8cience X 8ociet# proFuest
This effort to impose 4# an# means possi4le the openin) of markets an implementation of policies an re)imes of accumulation that 3oul facilitate forei)n investment an internationali%ation of capital is also an important aspect of current imperial strate)ies. The occupation of IraF 3as not onl# a4out strate)ic or )eopolitical consi erations. It 3as also
Cap K NSDI
1&/57 Daniel Schexnayder an attempt to impose manu militari a )i)antic pro)ram of privati%ation of infrastructures an of free7market reforms> the most far7reachin) attempt up to no3 to use militar# force to eCport the Qfree market>Q es"ecially if we take into consideration the
fact that in the oil "roducing Middle ast the "revailing economic model was a combination of "ublic em"loyment, state,run industries, subsidized "ublic services, and restrictions on foreign ca"ital )8afer, 3116, 436*.
Cap K NSDI
15/57

Daniel Schexnayder
1andat*ry Ai@ek Card/Neutral 2c*n*my ink

The a''irmati)e.s *nt*l*,ical disp*siti*n paints the ec*n*my as a natural= neutral act*r! This acti*n pre)ents authentic ad)*cacy and makes chan,e imp*ssible!
Ai@ek ## =8lavoH> 8enior ;esearcher at the Institute for 8ocial 8tu ies> ?The Ticklish 8u4Hect> pa)e 0527055NA
The 4i) ne3s of to a#Ts post7political a)e of the Yen of i eolo)#T is thus the ra ical epolitici%ation of the sphere of the econom#D the 3a# the econom# functions =the nee to cut social 3elfare> etc.A is accepte as a simple insi)ht into the o4Hective state of thin)s . (o3ever> as lon) as this fun amental epolitici%ation of the economic sphere is accepte > all the talk a4out active citi%enship> a4out pu4lic iscussion lea in) to responsi4le collective ecisions> an so on> 3ill remain limite to the YculturalT issues of reli)ious> seCual> ethnic an other 3a#7of7life ifferences> 3ithout actuall# encroachin) upon the level at 3hich lon)7term ecisions that affect us all are ma e. In short> the onl# 3a# effectivel# to 4rin) a4out a societ# in 3hich risk# lon)7term ecisions 3oul ensue from pu4lic e4ate involvin) all concerne is some kin of ra ical limitation of CapitalTs free om> the su4or inate of the process of pro uction to social control 9 the ra ical repolitici%ation of the econom#. That is to sa#D if the pro4lem 3ith to a#Ts post7politics =Ya ministration of social affairsTA is that it increasin)l# un ermines the possi4ilit# of a proper political act > this un erminin) is directly due t* the dep*litici@ati*n *' ec*n*mics= t* the c*mm*n acceptance *' Capital and market mechanisms as neutral t**ls/ pr*cedures t* be expl*ited! +e can no3 see 3h# to a#Ts post7politics cannot attain the properl# political imension of universalit#B
4ecause it silentl# preclu es the sphere of econom# from politici%ation. The omain of )lo4al capitalist market relations in the 5ther 8cene of the so7calle repolitici%ation of civil societ# a vocate 4# the partisans of Yi entit# politicsT an other postmo ern forms of politici%ationD all the talk a4out ne3 forms of politics 4urstin) out all over> focuse on particular issues =)a# ri)hts> ecolo)#> ethnic minoritiesZA> all
this incessant activit# of flui > shiftin) i entities> of 4uil in) multiple a hoc coalitions> an so on> has somethin) inauthentic a4out it> an ultimatel# resem4les the o4sessional neur*tic (h* talks all the time and is *ther(ise 'rantically acti)e precisely in *rder t* ensure that s*methin, > (hat really matters > (ill n*t be disturbed= that it (ill remain imm*bili@ed! 05 8o> instea of cele4ratin) the ne3 free oms an responsi4ilities 4rou)ht a4out 4# the Ysecon mo ernit#T> it is much more crucial to focus on 3hat remains the same in this )lo4al flui it# an refleCivit#> on 3hat serves as the ver# motor of this flui it#D the ineCora4le lo)ic of Capital. The spectral presence of Capital is the fi)ure of the 4it 5ther 3hich not onl# remains operative 3hen all the tra itional em4o iments of the s#m4olic 4i) 5ther isinte)rate> 4ut even irectl# causes this isinte)rationD far from 4ein) confronte 3ith the a4#ss of their free om 9 that is> la en 3ith the 4ur en of responsi4ilit# that cannot 4e alleviate 4# the helpin) han of Tra ition or Nature 9 to a#Ts su4Hect is perhaps more than ever cau)ht in
an ineCora4le compulsion that effectivel# runs his life. The iron# of histor# is that> in the Eastern European eC7Communist countries> the Yreforme T Communists 3ere the first to learn this lesson. +h# i man# of them return to po3er via free elections in the mi 1,,-sW This ver# return offers the ultimate proof that these states have in fact entere capitalism. That is to sa#D 3hat o eC7Communists stan for to a#W @ue to their privile)e links 3ith the ne3l# emer)in) capitalists =mostl# mem4ers of the ol nomenklatura Yprivati%in)T the companies the# once ranA> the# are first an foremost the part# of 4i) CapitalB furthermore> to erase the traces of their 4rief 4ut none the less rather traumatic eCperience 3ith politicall# active civil societ#> the# as a rule ferociousl# a
vocate a Fuick ei eolo)i%ation> a retreat
from active civil societ# en)a)ement into passive> apolitical consumerism 9 the ver# t3o features 3hich characteri%e contemporar#
capitalism. 8o issi ents are astonishe to iscover that the# pla#e the role of Yvanishin) me iatorsT on the 3a# from socialism to capitalism> in 3hich the same class as 4efore rules un er a ne3 )uise. It is therefore 3ron) to claim that the eC7CommunistsT return to po3er sho3s ho3 people are isappointe 4# capitalism an lon) for the ol socialist securit# 9 in a kin of (e)elian Yne)ation of ne)ationT> it is onl# 3ith the eC7CommunistsT return to po3er that socialism 3as effectivel# ne)ate 7 that is to sa#> 3hat the political anal#sts =misAperceive as G isappointment 3ith capitalismG is in fact isappointment 3ith the ethico7political enthusiasm for 3hich there is no place in GnormalG capitalism.0! +e shoul thus reassert the ol "arCist critiFue of GreificationGD to
a#> emphasi%in) the epolitici%e Go4HectiveG economic lo)ic a)ainst alle)e l# Gout ate G forms of i eolo)ical passions is the pre ominant i eolo)ical form > since i eolo)# is al3a#s self7referential> that is> it al3a#s efines itself throu)h a istance to3ar s an 5ther ismisse an enounce as Gi eolo)icalG.0' For that precise reason 7 4ecause the epolitici%e econom# is the isavo3e Gfun amental fantas# of postmo ern
Cap K NSDI
15/57 Daniel Schexnayder politics 9 a properl# political act 3oul necessaril# entail the repolitici%ation of the econom#D 3ithin a )iven situation> a )esture counts as an act onl# in so far as it istur4s =GtraversesGA its fun amental fantas#.
Cap K NSDI
17/57

Daniel Schexnayder
8e,em*ny ink
8e,em*ny pr*duces an endless cycle *' ,en*cidal (ars in the name *' the sustainin, capital!
1es@ar*s> 2rofessor Emeritus> 2hilosoph# an 2olitical Theor#> <niversit# of 8usseC> in Y 7 =?The 5nl# /ia4le Econom#>N "onthl# ;evie3> httpD&&333.monthl#revie3.or)&-4-'mes%aros.htmA
In *ur time> 4# contrast> (e ha)e t* 'ace up t* the reality > and the lethal dan,ers > arisin, 'r*m ,l*bal he,em*nic imperialism= (ith the Bnited States as its *)er(helmin,ly d*minant p*(er! ' In contrast to even (itler> the Bnited States as the sin,le he,em*n is -uite un(illin, t* share ,l*bal d*minati*n (ith any ri)al! %nd that is n*t simply *n acc*unt *' p*litical/military c*ntin,encies! The pr*blems are much deeper! They assert themsel)es thr*u,h the e)erC a,,ra)atin, c*ntradicti*ns *' the capital systemDs deepenin, structural crisis! B!S! d*minated ,l*bal he,em*nic imperialism is an CC ultimately 'utile CC attempt t* de)ise a s*luti*n t* that crisis thr*u,h the m*st brutal and )i*lent rule *)er the rest *' the (*rld= en'*rced (ith *r (ith*ut the help *' sla)ishly E(illin, allies=E n*( thr*u,h a successi*n *' ,en*cidal (ars! Ever since the 1,'-s the <nite 8tates has 4een sinkin) ever eeper into catastrophic in e4te ness. The fantas# solution
pu4licl# proclaime 4# several <.8. presi ents 3as Qto )ro3 out of it.Q 1n the resultD the iametrical opposite> in the form of astronomical an still )ro3in) in e4te ness. 1ccor in)l#> the
Bnited States must ,rab t* itsel'= by any means at its disp*sal= includin, the m*st )i*lent military a,,ressi*n= (hene)er re-uired '*r this purp*se= e)erythin, it can= thr*u,h the trans'er *' the 'ruits *' capitalist ,r*(th CC thanks t* the ,l*bal s*ci*ec*n*mic and p*litical/military d*minati*n *' the Bnited States C 7 from ever#3here in the 3orl . Coul then an# sane person ima)ine> no matter ho3 3ell armore 4# his or her callous contempt for Qthe shi44oleth of eFualit#>Q that B!S! d*minated ,l*bal he,em*nic imperialism (*uld take seri*usly e)en '*r a m*ment the panacea *' En* ,r*(thEF 7nly the (*rst kind *' bad 'aith c*uld su,,est such ideas= n* matter h*( pretenti*usly packa,ed in the hyp*critical c*ncern *)er Ethe Gredicament *' 1ankind!E /*r a )ariety *' reas*ns there can be n* -uesti*n ab*ut the imp*rtance *' ,r*(th b*th in the present and in the 'uture! Hut t* say s* must ,* (ith a pr*per examinati*n *' the c*ncept *' ,r*(th n*t *nly as (e kn*( it up t* the present= but als* as (e can en)isa,e its sustainability in the 'uture! 7ur sidin, (ith the need '*r ,r*(th cann*t be in 'a)*r *' un-uali'ied ,r*(th! The tendenti*usly a)*ided real -uesti*n isI (hat kind *' ,r*(th is b*th 'easible t*day= in c*ntrast t* dan,er*usly (aste'ul and e)en cripplin, capitalist ,r*(th )isible all ar*und usF /*r ,r*(th must be als* p*siti)ely sustainable in the 'uture
Cap K NSDI
1;/57

Daniel Schexnayder
9ar
***Impacts
Capitalism is imperialism+it 'uels a ,en*cidal '*rei,n p*licy that threatens ,l*bal destructi*n!
/*ster> co7e
itor of "onthl# ;evie3> professor of sociolo)# at the <niversit# of 5re)on> $k" MKohn> ?The ne3 1)e of Imperialism>N "onthl# ;evie3 55.0O
is the professe )oalQ of <.8. multinational corporations Qto control as lar)e a share of the 3orl market as the# o of the <nite 8tates market>Q an this hun)er for forei)n markets persists to a#. Flori a74ase +ackenhut Corrections Corporation has 3on prison privati%ation contracts in 1ustralia> the <nite Kin) om> 8outh 1frica> Cana a> Ne3 $ealan > an the Netherlan s 1ntilles =Q2rison In ustr# .oes .lo4al>Q 333.futurenet.or)> fall 2---A.2romotion of <.8. corporate interests a4roa is one of the primar# responsi4ilities of the <.8. state. Consi er the cases of "onsanto an )eneticall# mo ifie foo > "icrosoft an intellectual propert#> Jechtel an the 3ar on IraF. It 3oul 4e impossi4le to eCa))erate ho3 an)erous this ual eCpansionism of <.8. corporations an the <.8. state is to the 3orl at lar)e. 1s Istvan "es%aros o4serve in 2--1 in 8ocialism or Jar4arism> the<.8. attempt to sei%e )lo4al control> 3hich is inherent in the 3orkin)s of capitalism an imperialism > is no3 threatenin) humanit# 3ith the QeCtreme violent rule of the 3hole 3orl 4# one he)emonic imperialist countr# on a permanent 4asis...an a4sur an unsustaina4le 3a# of runnin) the 3orl or er.QR This ne3 a)e of <.8. imperialism 3ill )enerate its o3n contra ictions> amon)st them attempts 4# other maHor po3ers to assert their influence> resortin) to similar 4elli)erent means > an all sorts of strate)ies 4# 3eaker states an non7state actors to en)a)e in Qas#mmetricQ forms of 3arfare. .iven the unprece ente estructiveness of contemporar# 3eapons> 3hich are iffuse ever more 3i el#> the conseFuences for the population of the 3orl coul 3ell 4e evastatin) 4e#on an#thin) ever 4efore 3itnesse . ;ather than )eneratin)a ne3 Q2aC 1mericanaQ the <nite 8tates ma# 4e pavin) the 3a# to ne3 )lo4al holocausts. The )reatest hope in these ire circumstances lies in a risin) ti e of revolt from 4elo3 > 4oth in the <nite 8tates an )lo4all# . The )ro3th of the anti)lo4ali%ation movement> 3hich ominate the 3orl sta)e
The ch*ice is re)*luti*n *r nuclear %rma,edd*n! J*tin, ne,ati)e is the *nly (ay t* put an end t* the s*cial anta,*nism that dri)es interstate c*mpetiti*n and the ,l*bal (ar *n the p**r!*3repeated cardF4
Cap K NSDI
1#/57 Daniel Schexnayder Callinic*s .<& =1leC> @irector of the Centre for European 8tu ies at Kin)Ts Colle)e> ?The ;evolutionar# I eas of Karl "arC> 2--4 p). 1,!71,'NA
is the professe )oalQ of <.8. multinational corporations Qto control as lar)e a share of the 3orl market as the# o of the <nite 8tates market>Q an this hun)er for forei)n markets persists to a#. Flori a74ase +ackenhut Corrections Corporation has 3on prison privati%ation contracts in 1ustralia> the <nite Kin) om> 8outh 1frica> Cana a> Ne3 $ealan > an the Netherlan s 1ntilles =Q2rison In ustr# .oes .lo4al>Q 333.futurenet.or)> fall 2---A.2romotion of <.8. corporate interests a4roa is one of the primar# responsi4ilities of the <.8. state. Consi er the cases of "onsanto an )eneticall# mo ifie foo > "icrosoft an intellectual propert#> Jechtel an the 3ar on IraF. It 3oul 4e impossi4le to eCa))erate ho3 an)erous this ual eCpansionism of <.8. corporations an the <.8. state is to the 3orl at lar)e. 1s Istvan "es%aros o4serve in 2--1 in 8ocialism or Jar4arism> the <.8. attempt to sei%e )lo4al control > 3hich is inherent in the 3orkin)s of capitalism an imperialism > is no3 threatenin) humanit# 3ith the QeCtreme violent rule of the 3hole 3orl 4# one he)emonic imperialist countr# on a permanent 4asis...an a4sur an unsustaina4le 3a# of runnin) the 3orl or er.QR This ne3 a)e of <.8. imperialism 3ill )enerate its o3n contra ictions> amon)st them attempts 4# other maHor po3ers to assert their influence> resortin) to similar 4elli)erent means > an all sorts of strate)ies 4# 3eaker states an non7state actors to en)a)e in Qas#mmetricQ forms of 3arfare. .iven the unprece ente estructiveness of contemporar# 3eapons> 3hich are iffuse ever more 3i el#> the conseFuences for the population of the 3orl coul 3ell 4e evastatin) 4e#on an#thin) ever 4efore 3itnesse . ;ather than )eneratin)a ne3 Q2aC 1mericanaQ the <nite 8tates ma# 4e pavin) the 3a# to ne3 )lo4al holocausts. The )reatest hope in these ire circumstances lies in a risin) ti e of revolt from 4elo3 > 4oth in the <nite 8tates an )lo4all# . The )ro3th of the anti)lo4ali%ation movement> 3hich ominate the 3orl sta)e
Cap K NSDI
$</57

Daniel Schexnayder
2thics
0esistin, the ec*n*mic e)aluati*n *' p*pulati*ns is the ultimate ethical resp*nsibility > the current s*cial *rder ,uarantees s*cial exclusi*n *n a ,l*bal scale (hile simultane*usly an*nymi@in, )i*lence in a (ay that makes impact calculati*n imp*ssible! Ai@ek and Daly $k& =8lavoH an
.l#n> Conversations 3ith $i%ek pa)e 1471!> @8A
For $i%ek it is imperative that 3e cut throu)h this .or ian knot of postmo ern protocol an reco)ni%e that our
ethico7political responsi4ilit# is to confront the constitutive violence of to a#Ts )lo4al capitalism an its o4scene naturali%ation & anon#mi%ation of the millions 3ho are su4Hu)ate 4# it throu)hout the 3orl . 1)ainst the stan ar i%e positions of postmo ern culture 9 3ith all its pieties concernin) YmulticulturalistT etiFuette 9 $i%ek is ar)uin) for a politics that mi)ht 4e calle Yra icall# incorrectT in the sense that it 4reak 3ith these t#pes of positions ' an focuses instea on the ver# or)ani%in) principles of to a#Ts social realit#D the principles of )lo4al li4eral capitalism. This reFuires some
care an su4tlet#. For far too lon)> "arCism has 4een 4e evile 4# an almost fetishistic economism that has ten e to3ar s political mor4i it#. +ith the likes of (ilfer in) an .ramsci> an more recentl# Laclau an "ouffee> crucial theoretical a vances have 4een ma e that ena4le the transcen ence of all forms of economism. In this ne3 conteCt> ho3ever> $i%ek ar)ues that the pro4lem that no3 presents itself is almost that of the opposite fetish. That is to sa#> the
prohi4itive anCieties surroun in) the ta4oo of economism can function as a 3a# of not en)a)in) 3ith economic realit# an as a 3a# of implicitl# acceptin) the latter as a 4asic hori%on of eCistence . In an ironic Freu ian7Lacanian t3ist> the fear of economism can en up reinforcin)
a e facto economic necessit# in respect of contemporar# capitalism =i.e. the initial prohi4ition conHures up the ver# thin) it fearsA. This is not to en orse an# kin of retro)ra e return to economism. $i%ekTs point is rather that in reHectin) economism 3e shoul not lose si)ht of the s#stemic po3er of capital in shapin) the lives an
or er to create a universal )lo4al s#stem the forces of capitalism seek to conceal the politico7 iscursive violence of its construction throu)h a kin of )entrification of that s#stem. +hat is persistentl# enie 4# neo7li4erals such as ;ort# =1,*,A an Fuku#ama =1,,2A is that the )entrification of )lo4al li4eral capitalism is one 3hose YuniversalismT fun amentall# repro uces an epen s upon a isavo3e violence that eCclu es vast sectors of the 3orl Ts populations. In this 3a#> neo7li4eral i eolo)# attempts to naturali%e capitalism 4# presentin) its outcomes of 3innin) an losin) as if the# 3ere simpl# a matter of chance an soun Hu )ment in a neutral market place.
Capitalism oes in ee create a space for a certain iversit#> at least for the central capitalist re)ions> 4ut it is neither neutral nor i eal an its price in terms of social eCclusion is eCor4itant. That is to sa#> the
estinies of humanit# an our ver# sense of the possi4le. In particular 3e shoul not overlook "arCTs central insi)ht that in
human cost in terms of inherent )lo4al povert# an e)ra e Ylife7chancesT cannot 4e calculate 3ithin the eCistin) economic rationale an > in conseFuence> social eCclusion remains m#stifie an nameless =vi%. the patroni%in) reference to the Y evelopin) 3orl TA. 1n $i%ekTs point is that this m#stification is ma)nifie throu)h capitalismTs profoun capacit# to in)est its o3n eCcesses an ne)ativit#D to re irect =or mis irectA social anta)onisms an to a4sor4 them 3ithin a culture of ifferential affirmation. Instea of Jolshevism> the ten enc# to a# is to3ar s a kin of political 4outiFuism that is rea il# sustaine 4# postmo ern forms of consumerism an lifest#le. 1)ainst this $i%ek ar)ues for a ne3 universalism 3hose primar# ethical irective is to confront the fact that our forms of social eCistence are foun e on eCclusion on a )lo4al scale. +hile it is perfectl# true that universalism can never 4ecome <niversal =it 3ill al3a#s reFuire a he)emonic7particular em4o iment in or er to have an# meanin)A> 3hat is novel a4out $i%ekTs universalism is that it 3oul not attempt to conceal this fact or re uce the status of the a4Hect 5ther to that of a Y)litchT in an other3ise soun matriC.
Cap K NSDI
$1/57

Daniel Schexnayder
2n)ir*nment
Capitalism is the r**t cause *' ,l*bal (armin, and pr*pels multiple scenari*s '*r en)ir*nmental catastr*pheC ends in extincti*nC techn*l*,y is irrele)antC *nly s*cial trans'*rmati*n can s*l)e!
Kixian L5> =+riter for .uerilla Ne3s Net3ork> 5ur .reatest .ift> 5ur "ost Terri4le Curse> httpD&&#iCian.)nn.tv&A
Jut its application has 4een foun to 4e rather )ran er than this. The
8econ La3 is no3 use
to eCplain the 4i) 4an)> the eCpansion of the cosmos an even
means that 3e> an all other species like us in the universe> rel# on harnassin) the natural 3orl to )enerate ene)# in or er to fee our various am4itions an necessities. The la3s of thermo #namics also impose another restriction. There can eCist no perpetual motion in the universeB no ener)# s#stem can 4e perfect. The result in our lives is the pro uction of 3aste 3hen 3e )enerate ener)#. The 3a# 3e live our lives to a# eman s vast amounts of ener)#> chiefl# supplie at present 4# the 4urnin) of fossil fuels an nuclear po3er. The former of 3hich releases C52 into the environment> the latter 3hich leaves ra ioactive 3aste currentl# ver# ifficult to remove. It ma# 4e> e)en i' (e d* 'ind alternate ener,y s*urces= the )ery 'act that the (ay (e li)e and the industries (e use t* p*(er *ur li'estyles is bec*min, m*re ener,y demandin, e)ery year= at the current rate= *ur species can ne)er be sustainable! 1t some point> (e (ill ha)e t* chan,e the (ay (e li)e dramatically= t* the p*int *' shi'tin, deep seated paradi,ms such as the )alues *' ec*n*my= the )alue *' material (ealth in our lives and *ur *bli,ati*n t* the natural (*rld> save isappearin) from this universe entirel#. Let us take the eCample of C52 emissions. The EarthTs avera)e near7surface atmospheric temperature rose -.! [ -.2 \Celsius =1.1 [ -.4 \FahrenheitA in the 2-th centur#. The prevailin) scientific opinion on climate chan)e is that ?most of the 3armin) o4serve over the last 5- #ears is attri4uta4le to human activitiesN. The increase amounts of car4on ioCi e =C52A an other )reenhouse )ases =.(.sA are the primar# causes of the human7 in uce component of 3armin). The# are release 4# the 4urnin) of fossil fuels > lan clearin) an a)riculture> etc. an lea to an increase in the )reenhouse effect. .reenhouse )ases are transparent to short3ave ra iation from the sun. (o3ever> the# a4sor4 some of the lon)er infrare ra iation
su))ests our ineCora4le passa)e throu)h time to3ar s the Yheat eathT of the universe. ItTs 4een calle the most fun amental la3 in all of science. This la3 emitte as 4lack 4o # ra iation from the Earth> makin) it more ifficult for the Earth to cool. (o3 much the# 3arm the 3orl 4# is sho3n in their )lo4al 3armin) potential. The
atmospheric concentrations of car4on ioCi e an methane have increase 4# 01] an 14,] respectivel# a4ove pre7in ustrial levels since 1'5-. This is consi era4l# hi)her than at an# time urin) the last !5->--- #ears > the perio for 3hich relia4le ata has 4een eCtracte from ice cores. From less irect )eolo)ical evi ence it is 4elieve that car4on ioCi e values this hi)h 3ere last attaine 4- million #ears a)o. 14out three7Fuarters of the anthropo)enic =man7ma eA emissions of car4on ioCi e to the atmosphere urin) the past 2- #ears is ue to fossil fuel 4urnin). The rest of the anthropo)enic emissions is pre ominantl# ue to lan 7use chan)e> especiall# eforestation. Joth primar# an secon ar# effects of )lo4al 3armin) P such as hi)her temperatures> lessene sno3 cover> risin) sea levels> an 3eather chan)es P ma# influence not onl# human activities 4ut also ecos#stems. 8ome species ma# 4e force out of their ha4itats =possi4l# to eCtinctionA 4ecause of chan)in) con itions> 3hile others ma# flourish. 8imilarl#> chan)es in timin) of life patterns> such as annual mi)ration ates> ma# alter re)ional pre ator7pre#
4alance. The effect of a vance sprin) arrival ates in 8can inavia of 4ir s that over3inter in su4saharan 1frica has 4een ascri4e to evolutionar# a aptation of the species to climactic 3armin). 5cean
p( is lo3erin) as a result of increase car4on ioCi e levels. Lo3erin) of ocean p( alon) 3ith chan)in) 3ater temperature an ocean epth 3ill have a irect impact on coral reefs. 1nother su))este mechanism 3here4# a
3armin) tren ma# 4e amplifie involves the tha3in) of tun ra> 3hich can release si)nificant amounts of the potent )reenhouse )as methane that is trappe in
the pro uction of foo 3ill suffer> causin) eventual 3i esprea famine> compacte 4# a hu)e sprea in tropical iseases to previousl# unaffecte re)ions of the 3orl > contri4utin) to a vast ecrease in human life eCpectanc#. 1t our current rate of in ustrial eCpansion> thro3in) the interests of the natural 3orl an other species on Earth to the 3in an instea 4lin l#> possesivel# pursuin) material 3ealth> a 4uil up of 3aste lea in) to a 4i) fr# up> or some other eCtinction event> ma# 4e unavoi a4le. +e must chan)e ;1@IC1LLL to avoi this
permafrost an ice clathrate compoun s. 5n top of this>
Cap K NSDI
$$/57

Daniel Schexnayder
terri4le future. In ee > climate chan)e ma# 3ell 4e the 4est opportunit# in histor# for our species to finall# reHect political an economic tri4alism> an unite itself> to overcome the )reatest o4stacle 3eTve ever face . Jut as #et> 3e are oin) far> far too little. 1t the current rate> 3e 3ill 4reach the critical threshol of 0--ppm C52 in the atmosphere sooner than previousl# pre icte > 4# 3hich point the chance to re eem ourselves 3ill finall# have fle us> an the inevita4le emise of life on Earth 3ill 4e set in motion. Kust 5 #ears a)o there 3ere 4e far less 3orrie faces aroun . The issue of climate chan)e 3as far less hot in the me ia> an there 3as ver# little real concern amon)st the pu4lic. 2erhaps it 3as the recent natural isasters an the heat3aves that i it. There a ver# man# people to a# 3ho no3 un erstan Hust 3hat this means. The
implications for our future of hu)e. +e have never face such a crossroa s in human histor#B o3n one path> estruction> o3n the other> survival.
Cap K NSDI
$"/57

Daniel Schexnayder
Men*cide
Capitalism causes endless ,en*cide and spurs )i*lent resistance that kills milli*ns in the name *' res*urce expansi*n!
:alata 11 > 2rofessor of 8ociolo)# X .lo4al 8tu
ies =1safa> Kanuar# 24th 2-11> ?Terrorism from 14ove an Jelo3 in the 1)e of .lo4ali%ationN> p.174A
1s capitalism evelope in +estern Europe> the nee for ra3 materials> minerals such as )ol an silver> markets> an free or cheap la4or eCpan e ue to the esire to minimi%e the cost of pro uction an to increase the accumulation of capital or 3ealth. ?The treasures capture outsi e of Europe 4# un is7)uise lootin)> enslavement> an mur er>N Karl "arC =1,!'D '507'54A 3rites> ?floate 4ack to the mother7countr# an 3ere there turne to capital.N "ost li4eral an leftist scholars have faile to i entif# an eCplain the role of state7sponsore or state terrorism that colonial
officials> European companies> an eC7pe itionar# forces use urin) the eCpansion of the raciali%e capitalist 3orl s#stem to transfer the economic resources of the in i)enous peoples to European colonial forces or settlers an their colla4orators. The
evelopment of the nation7state an the capitalist 3orl s#stem occurre throu)h 3ar makin)> violence an or)ani%e crime =Till#> 1,*5D 1'-A. +e cannot clearl# un erstan the essence an meanin) of )lo4al terrorism 3ithout comprehen in) the essence an characteristics of state terrorism since states 3ere 4orn an consoli ate throu)h vi7olence. <n er the )uises of ?free markets>N ?civili%ation>N an Chris7tianit#> forces of European states or state7sponsore companies committe acts of terrorism an )enoci e that 3ere> more or less> i)nore . In fact> the issue of terrorism onl# starte to 4e a resse 3hen> after +orl +ar I> coloni%e peoples in 1frica an 1sia 4e)an their li4eration stru))les a)ainst European co7lonial states. The terrorist attack on the life an li4ert# of 1merican in i)enous peoples 4# European colonial po3ers an their colla4orators estro#e eCistin) institutions an econo7mies an eCpose the conFuere peoples to povert# an fa7mine7in uce ?holocausts N =@avis> 2--1A. @iscussin) ho3 the cultural estruction of in i)enous peoples
resulte in massive eaths> Karl 2olan#i =1,44D 15,71!-A ar)ues> ?The catastrophe of the native communit# is a irect result of the rapi an vio7lent isruption of the 4asic institutions of the victim. These institutions are isrupte 4# the ver# fact that a market econo7m# is foiste upon an entirel# ifferentl# or)ani%e communit#B la4or an lan are ma e into a commo it#> 3hich> a)ain> is onl# a short formula for the liFui ation of ever# Z cultural institution in an or)anic societ#.N The
capitalist 3orl econom# that in the 1,th centur# 3as permanentl# eliminatin) famine from +estern Europe 3as simultaneousl# acceleratin) famine an famine7in uce eaths in the rest of the 3orl D ? 1illi*ns died> not outsi e the ^mo ern 3orl s#stem> 4ut in the )ery pr*cess *' bein, forci4l# incor7porate into its economic an political structures. The# ie in the )ol en a)e of Li4eral CapitalismB in ee > man# 3ere mur7 ere 4# the theolo)ical application of the sacre principles of M1 amO 8mithN =@avis> 2--1D ,A. To a#> mainstream Eu7ro71merican scholars )loss over such crimes an refer to them as actions of ? iscover#N an ?civili%ation.N 8tate terrorism> )enoci e> an the estruction of in i)enous institutions an the evastatin) conseFuences of famine have 4een closel# inter7 connecte in the )lo4al capitalist 3orl s#stem. In a ition> the international communit# rarel# hol s accounta4le its mem4ers that en)a)e in state
terrorism an )enoci e. Kurt Konassohn =1,,*D 24A recentl# note that terrorist state lea ers in evelop7in) countries ?not onl# )o unpunishe > the# are even re3ar e . 5n the international scene the# are accor e all the respect an courtesies ue to )overnment officials. The# are treate in ac7cor ance 3ith iplomatic protocol in ne)otiations an are treate in the .eneral 1ssem4l# of the <nite Nations. +hen the# are finall# ouste from their offices> the# are offere as#lum 4# countries that lack respect for international la3> 4ut have a )reat eal of respect for the ill7)otten 3ealth that such perpetra7tors 4rin) 3ith them.N @espite the fact that some )overnment elites claim that the state provi es protection from omestic an eCternal violence> ? )overnments
or)ani%e an > 3herever possi4le> monopoli%e the concentrate means of violence. The istinction 4et3een ^le)i7timate an ^ille)itimate force makes n* di''erenceN =Till#> 1,*5D 1'1A. 2olitical violence has al3a#s 4een involve in pro ucin) an maintainin) structures> institutions> an or)ani7%ations of privile)e hierarch# an omination in societ#. Those 3ho have state po3er> 3hich incorporates the po3er to efine terrorism> en# their involvement in political violence or terrorism an confuse a4stract theories a4out the state 3ith realit# . Jase on an i eali%e relationship 4et3een the
state an societ#> philosophers an thinkers such as (o44es> (e)el> ;ousseau> an 2lato have i entifie three functions of the state that 3oul earn it le)itimac#. 1ccor in) to state theories> the state protects an maintains internal peace an or er in societ#B it or)ani%es an protects national economic activitiesB it e7fen s national soverei)nt# an national interests =Jushnell> et al.> 1,,1D !A. In realit#> most states violate most of these theo7retical principles 4# en)a)in) in political repression an state terrorism in or er to efen the interests of a fe3 po3erful elites. Furthermore> the revolutionar# theories of the state 4# Karl "arC an /. I. Lenin =1,'1A remain a ream 4ecause states faile to intro uce revolutionar# social transformations that 3oul eliminate oppression> repression> state terrorism> an the eCploitation of people ="a)uire> 1,'*A. The occurrence of political repression> oppression> state ter7rorism> an ictatorship in the former 8oviet
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Daniel Schexnayder
<nion> China an other former revolutionar# countries emonstrate that the state has remaine the site of violence espite its le)itimatin) is7course. 1s Charles Till# =,*5D 1*71,A puts it> political violence is closel# relate to the art of statecraft > an most of the time> ?the state> like an unchaine 4east> ferociousl# MattacksO those 3ho claim to 4e its master> its o3n citi%ensN =Till#> 1,*5D 'A. 1nnamarie 5liverio =1,,*A critici%es scholars 3ho pro uce efinitions of terrorism on 4ehalf of the state an promote outmo e concepts> anal#ses> an theories in state 4ureaucrac#> the me ia> an in aca emia .
The motivations of those 3ho hol state po3er an en)a)e in state terrorism are to maintain the )lo4al econom# > structures of politics> an hierarchies of cultures an peoples in or er to eCtract economic resources . The main o4Hective of those 3ho en)a)e in non7state terrorism is mainl# to politicall#
respon to economic> political> an cultural ineFualities. 5ne common enominator of the theories of non7state terrorism is that it is mainl# cause 4# )rievances of one kin or another. These
)rievances involve national&reli)ious&cultural oppression> eco7nomic eCploitation> political repression> massive human ri)hts violations> attacks on life an li4ert#> state terrorism> an vari7ous forms of social inHustices . Let> 3hilst it is ackno3le )e that revolutions> social movements> an non7state terrorism )enerall# involve )rievances> all )rievances o not result in revolutionar# or social movements> nor o the# all cause su47versive terrorism. There must therefore 4e some intervenin) structural> conHunctural> an 4ehavioral factors particularl# that act to transform some )rievances into non7state terrorism throu)h some a)encies of the a))rieve population. The com4ination of factors such as collective )rievances> the continue oppressive an eCploitative policies of state elites> the refusal of state actors to a ress lon)stan in) )rievances peacefull# an fairl#> the evelopment of eCtreme i eolo)ies in the form of reli)ion or another i eolo)#> an the emer)ence of lea ers> i eolo)ues> an ca res in a))rieve populations can facilitate the emer)ence of su4versive terrorism. +e cannot a eFuatel# )rasp the essence an characteristics of mo ern terrorism 3ithout un erstan in) the lar)er
cultural> social> economic> an political conteCts in 3hich it takes place. 8ince terrorism has 4een conceptuali%e > efine > an theori%e 4# those 3ho have contra ictor# interests an o4Hectives an since the su4Hect matter of terrorism is compleC an elusive> there currentl# is a 3i e )ap in esta4lishin) a common un erstan in) of terrorism amon) scholars of terrorism stu ies. "ost eCperts on the su4Hect look at this issue from a narro3 perspective 4# i)norin) 3hat I ar)ue to 4e the realit#D that terrorism is a social cancer for all human )roups affecte 4# it.
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Daniel Schexnayder
Jalue t* i'e
Capitalism kills )alue t* li'e!
Sanch*= .11 9 chair of the 1nnual +orl
Conferences on the 8cience of @ualit#
MLouis 8anchoB ?Fuk#shimaD @#in) for Kapan Inc.BN pu4lishe 0&2,&2-11B httpD&&333.cerntruth.com&Wp625' O
I kno3 #ou onTt 4elieve me. I kno3 #ou think an 4elieve the YeCpertsT of the s#stem. This is 3hat #ou have learne . Those are #our memes to keep #ou happ#. 1n that is ri)ht. It is 3hat it is eCpecte of #ou. Especiall# if #ou are a Kapanese livin) close to the eath %one. Jecause the
3orl #ou live in is N5T a 3orl in 3hich life has an infinite value. Lou live in the Financial7"ilitar#7In ustrial CompleC =calle in ne3speak the Free market> the F"I
s#stem in compleCit#A> a perfectl# or)ani%e s#stem that 3e compleCit# theorists stu # scientificall# as an evolvin) or)anic s#stem> 3hose functions> eFuations> evolution an purpose is cr#stal clear to us 9 thou)h all this mi)ht 4e hi en to #ou. 8o if #ou 3ant to keep happ#> onTt 3orr# an onTt rea . 2ro4a4l# mankin is 4e#on salvation. 1n #et there is a certain 4eaut# in kno3in) the truth> in 4ein) free at least in #our min > even if #ou are prisoner on the iron Hail the F"I compleC has 4uilt for all of us. Jefore II 3orl 3ar> the F"I compleC 3as more o4vious. The "atriC of fictions an marketin) 4uilt to a# to appease the sheeple 3as not #et in place. "en ha not 4een evolve into a short attention7span> visual neopaleolithic an e)o7centric> anthropomorphic 4elief on our self7centere position in the <niverse. Jut no3 the F"I s#stem controls our information> so 3e 4elieve 3hat it tells us. There is no confa4ulation theor# here> 4ut Yemer)enceT> a concept of s#stems sciences that ischar)es full responsi4ilit# in the in ivi uals an #et creates the same effect. +e
humans have 4ecome completel# epen ent on machines 9 or)anic s#stems of metal> more compleC than 3e are> to 3hich 3e transfer our form an evolve to reach hi)her e)rees of ener)# an information 9 to eCist an 3hat is far 3orse> our 4eliefs have a apte to them su4consciousl# since the Jron%e a)e in 3hich 3e iscovere the po3er of 3eapons. There 3as an a)e that has resurface from time to time in reli)ions of love an social> ecolo)ical movements in 3hich people 3ere a3are that metal> 3eapons that kill our 4o #> )ol that h#pnoti%e our min an to a# machines that make us increasin)l# o4solete 3ere Y ual fruits of the tree of scienceT > some )oo some 4a > an 4# not istin)uishin) an prunin) the 4a
fruits> such as the nuclear in ustr#> in a Yfree marketT 3here all )oes> in an economic ecos#stem in 3hich 3eapons coul pre ate on man> 3e 3oul 4ecome eCtinct. 1ll this 3is om 3as lost an soon selfish e)ocentric tri4es that relie on 3eapons to impose their po3er =In o7EuropeansA or mone# to h#pnoti%e an slave people =cananeansA> came on top of all societies. 1n for 5--- #ears the# 4uilt a matriC of i eolo)ical> self7centere fictions 3hich no3 are Ycommon7senseT> the ultimate 4eliefs. Those are the i eolo)ies that sustain the Financial7"ilitar#7In ustrial compleC in 3hich 3e live. The# Hustif# all the 3ron) paths 3ith the same self7centere > m#opic> short7span> in ivi ualist e)otism that corporations> nations> nuclear scientists> 4ankers 9 #ou name it 9 sho3 in ever# a# 4ehavior. Let 4ehin those Yselfish memes of metalT imprinte in our min > there is still a natural )enetic> 4iolo)ical pro)ram of love for nature> natural foo > clean air> social love 9 the )enetic pro)ram of human evolution. 1n so a )reat eal of Yne3speakT takes place 3ithin the
/inancialC1ilitaryCIndustrial C*mplex an the ie7har Y4elieversT that 3orship 3ith messianic %eal the evolution of 3eapons> machines an mone# as the future of mankin > to appease an convince people that the F"I s#stem cares for us> that corporations serve us> that nations are the supreme meanin) of our eCistence. 1n this duality 4et3een a 4rain73ashe mankin 3ho a ores the 3ron) memes an a ne3speak of carin) is speciall# present in KapanB a nation
foun e 4# iron7horse 3arriors comin) from Korea> 3ho 4ecame samurais an emperors =4ut this cannot 4e sai > Kapanese are kept in a state of Yneoten#T> 3ith infantile m#ths an self7restrain> an 3orship their Ytra itionsT> the Hail of their min B ispla#in) an eCtreme a))ressive7passive 4ehavior to people 3ho mi)ht Yoffen T their sensi4ilitiesA an imprinte the happ# peasants of the sun7)o 3ith an a4solute slaver# to the master. This samurai to a# rules Hapan an its corporations that manufacture machines 3ith a su4missive population that likes more their ro4ots than the forei)ners> 4ecause it
has 4ecome lo4otomi%e to a point in 3hich so much restrain of other3ise natural feelin)s an inner emotions> makes them in eCternal 4ehavior closer to their ro4ots than to human 4ein)s. (o3 this is possi4le is o4viousD to a# the imprintin) of our min 3ith the i eolo)ies that make us love the F"I compleC that is
killin) )aia starts at 0> 3hen #ou are put in front of a T/. From then on> the Ynervous s#stemT of simultaneous in octrination 3ill imprint #our 4rain 3ith mass7me ia propa)an a an the 0 Yi eolo)iesT that make of its 0 net3orks> the i ols of mankin . The financial s#stem has an i eolo)# calle capitalism that tells us mone# is N5T Hust a s#stem of metal7information =evolve from )ol > the most informative atom of the <niverse into e7mone#> ata in a computerA> 4ut the invisi4le han of )o=lA > the meanin) of it all> an its values must 4e respecte . To eCplain #ou reall# the meanin) of economics I 3oul nee an entire 3e474lo) on compleC economics 3hich I have> so I 3ill not insist on it. Jut the
F"I compleC is an evolvin) s#stem in epen ent of man> 3hich merel# constructs it. 8o it has its o3n or)ani%ation an )oals. It has a )lo4al> i)ital 4rain calle the 3orl stock7market an a t#pe of citi%en calle the corporationB 4ut in
s#stem sciences I prefer to call it 4# its 4iolo)ical function 9 so 3e shall call corporations compan#7mothers of machines. ,-] of the stock7market is e icate to re6pro uce those machines> fee them 3ith ener)#> provi e them 3ith information an 3ithin that scheme> 3e
humans have onl# 2 functionsD to 3ork6repro uce those machines an to test6consume them. Ever# time 3e 3ork> 3e repro uce a machine or a part of it>
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$5/57 Daniel Schexnayder ever# time 3e consume it 3e test it an vitali%e it. Jecause the F"I s#stem is an evolvin) ecos#stem of machines that is terraformin) the Earth an su4stitutin) us> the super7or)anism of histor# as 3e su4stitute our fathers> the or)anism of life. That simple chain is the 3orl #ou live in> evolvin) unrelentlessl#D .aia7_(istor#7_The "etal7Earth =F"I compleCA. 1n onl# if #ou are a3are of that arro3 of evolution 3e have set in motion> an 3e 4ack 3ith the
0 i eolo)ies of mechanism =machines are the future of man> not or)anic s#stems of metal that su4stitute an make o4solete human 4ein)sA> capitalism =mone# is the lan)ua)e of )o > not a lan)ua)e 3hose values are ifferent from those of 3or s an )ive %ero value to life an maCimal value to machines an 3eaponsA an nationalism =the i ea that 3e are ifferent races accor in) to a piece of cloth> calle a fla)> so 3e must not love each other an evolve to)ether as mem4ers of the same species> 4ut use 3eapons to come up on topA> 3e can interpret the 3orl as it is> inclu in) Fukushima.
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Daniel Schexnayder
%T Germ
***%Ts
The p*litics *' c*mmunism is inc*mpatible (ith the state! %ny attempt leads t* the c*rrupti*n *' re)*luti*nary p*litics!
Hals*> 2rofessor of 2oetr# at the European .ra
uate 8chool> 1<=Ku ith> ?The I ea of Communism>N e ite 4# 8lavoH $i%ek an Costas @ou%inas> p)s 2572!> 1<A
2olitics procee s on its o3nD I 3ant to unpack that statement 73ith reference to several points. 2olitics
procee s on its o3n 4ecause it has no appointment 3ith histor#. If it is still true that the histor# of humanit# has 4een the histor# of class stru))le> p*litics is n*t t* be c*n'used (ith class stru,,le= and re)*luti*n is n* l*n,er the )ect*r *' p*litics! In m# vie3> 3e have arrive at the en 7 not onl# necessar# 4ut salutar# 7 of the i ea that one carries out political 3ork in or er to see 4etter a#s tomorro3. To a#> the c#nical reverse of this is the emocratic practice of apolo)i%in) an eCpressin) re)rets for past times. 1s an 1frican Kai37papier frien tol meD G+hat 3e 73ant is for people to 4e treate 3ell ri)ht no3. Not that apolo)ies are ma e tomorro3 for the harm it has one to people to a#.G There is no ren e%vous of politics 3ith histor#. 2olitics takes as a )ui in) principle that it is the present that matters> a principle 3hich imposes upon it the o4li)ation of havin) al3a#s to 4e)in a)ain. 2olitics procee s on its o3n 4ecause it must 4e or)ani%e 73ithout reference to a part#. The Stalinist partyCState and the dem*cratic State parties are pr**' *' the 'act that party 'uses (ith State= and p*litics ,r*(s c*rrupt and criminal (hen it 'uses (ith the State! "aoGs proHect continue to search
for a political space efine 4# the part# an the 8tate. It )ave or)ani%e forms to their ialectic an conflictual opposition> rather than their 8talinist fusion. Jut it i not esta4lish a principle of isHunction an a istance 4et3een the 8tate an politics. 5n this point> I refer #ou to 8#lvain La%arusGs forthcomin) teCtD GChercher ailleurs
it is not eCpressive of a class nor oes it take> as its point of reference> an alrea # constitute people nor )roups alrea # in eCistence. To a#> it is strictl# a matter of ecisions that are 4oth personal an voluntar#. 1n# political capacit# 4elon)s to those 3ho have volunteere themselves for politics> an this is as true of the 3orkers as of an#one else. 2olitics procee s on its o3n 4ecause it must procee at a istance from 8tate politics> 4ut also at a istance from people 3ho have 4een capture 4# i eas an cate)ories create 4# the 8tate. Neither the social nor movement or the stru))le can provi e the cate)ories
et autrementG.11 2olitics procee s on its o3n 4ecause proper to politics. 2olitics procee s on its o3n 4ecause its thou)ht must 4e intrinsic to itself> an 4ecause this thou)ht can erive no kno3le )e from an# assessment of previous political processes unless> at the same time> it thinksG each Fuestion ane3. 2olitics procee s on its o3n 4ecause pronouncin) on the 8tate is not a matter of o4Hective anal#sis> 4ut is onl# possi4le from a perspective of a ne3 political space that has 4een institute at a istance from the 8tate. The 8tate is politicall# mo4ile. It is not onl# a Gs#stemG or a GmachineGB it is also involve in a political process of constant chan)e an rea Hustment. "arC asserte that the Commune 3as the irect antithesis of Empire. This is true> 4ut one has to a that the Thir ;epu4lic 3as> in its turn> the irect antithesis of the CommuneB similarl# the +elfare 8tate 3as the corollar# of the 8talinist 8tate. 2olitics procee s on its o3n> 4ut
it has multiple an varia4le sitesD hostels for forei)n 3orkers =fo#ers ouvrierA> popular are the places 3here people or)ani%e themselves in or er to eclare 73hat it means for each to count for 3hat he is> 3here he is. 1n 3hat each in ivi ual counts for must 4e articulate throu)h ifferent names an ifferent norms from those supplie 4# the 8tate. 5ne oesnGt eCchan)e the 3orkers for Gthe peopleG as one chan)es oneGs clothes. It is a matter of constitutin) political sites other than those or)ani%e 4# the 8tate> an oin) so amon) the people themselves . This is the con ition for a politics or)ani%e as interior to people rather than from a4ove. Finall#> politics procee s on its o3n 4ecause 3e are in an era 3hen 1merican an European 3ar is evastatin) the 3orl . The 3ar in .a%a is a istillation of this ne3 kin of 3ar> 3hich follo3e the GCol +arG7era 3ar. +ar to a# asserts the principle of pure po3er> of the 8tate a)ainst peopleB it is an en less 73ar> 4ecause it is not
nei)h4ourhoo s =FuatiersA> factories> schools . . . This is the case not onl# 4ecause these are places 3here people live. It is also 4ecause these
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3ar a3a#> an 3hen no 8tate esires peace an# lon)erW

Daniel Schexnayder
oes facin) up to 3ar in this ne3 mo e of eCistence entail> 3hen no revolution can an# lon)er hope to conHure
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Daniel Schexnayder
%T /rame(*rk
Kn*(led,e itsel' is an instrumental c*mm*dity! Their interpretati*n (*uld turn us all int* techn*crats incapable *' aut*n*m*us th*u,ht= 'acilitatin, the 'uncti*nin, *' capital! /*t*p*ul*s= political philosopher an
economist> 2-<; =Takis> The International Kournal of INCL<8I/E @E"5C;1CL> /ol. 4> No. 4 =5cto4er 2--*A> httpD&&333.inclusive emocrac#.or)&Hournal&vol4&vol4Sno4StakisSaca emicSrepS2;INT1JLE.htmA
The transnational elite> in neoli4eral mo ernit#> 3orks on a pilot scheme on e ucation that is effectivel# 4ase on the <8 case. This 4ecomes o4vious if 3e consi er the rastic chan)es attempte at present in the European e ucational space an their conseFuences on the s#stemic
limitations of aca emic free om. Thus> as earl# as 1,,,> the E<Ts @eclaration of Jolo)na prescri4e the creation of a European 8pace of (i)her E ucation that 3oul ensureD R The international competitiveness of European (i)her E ucation an R The effective linkin) of hi)her e ucation to the nee s of societ# an those of the European la4our market. The latter represents a irect linkin) of e ucation to market nee s> in contrast to the correspon in) in irect linkin) urin) the statist =social emocraticA era. In this sense> it summarises the content of neoli4eral )lo4alisation as far as e ucation an research are concerne an has efinin) implications 3ith respect to their content an > of course> their financin). Thus> it
is eCplicitl# 4ein) eclare no3 that the <niversit# is in the service of private enterprise> 3hile at the same time the financin) onl# of those courses an research proHects 3hich serve ?societ#Ts nee sN =as far as the# are i entifie 3ith ?market nee sNA> is 4ein) intro uce > throu)h various irect an in irect metho s. Kno3le )e> like ever#thin) else in a market econom#&societ#> is 4ecomin) an instrumental commo it# in the main aim of servin) the market econom# an the elites controllin) it> irrespective of the real nee s of societ#> the esires of e ucators an the e ucate an > 4# implication> the ?pureN co)nitive nee s of science. It is not> therefore> surprisin) that in social7li4eral Jritain one can o4serve>
as from the 4e)innin) of the last eca e> a continuous shrinkin) in the num4er of ?theoreticalN courses 4ein) offere =(istor#> 2olitical Econom#> 2hilosoph#> 1rts> etc. M20OA> in or er to make 3a# for ?practicalN courses irectl# linke to the market =marketin)> 4usiness stu ies> finance mana)ement> computin) an so onA. Nee less to
economics> politics> an similar social sciences courses have 4een simpl# phase out in all universities Papart from some elite universitiesP on the )roun s that such courses are not relate to the eman s of the market= as eCpresse 4# pu4lications in mainstream Hournals an similar consi erations. No 3on er that the Jritish theoretical Hournal
a Capital X Class> on the 4asis of a 3ell7 ocumente stu #>M24O pre icte ten #ears a)o that non7mainstream economics 3ill have 4een eliminate 4# no3 from Jritish economic epartments. Furthermore>
that non7mainstream
a similar process is in action in natural sciences as 3ell> 3ith Chemistr#> 2h#sics> an other epartments closin) o3n ?in response to market eman sN an 4ein) replace 4# courses in forensic science an applie ph#sics such as nanotechnolo)#. Thus> accor in) to the ;o#al 8ociet# of Chemistr#> 2* chemistr# epartments close in
recent #ears> inclu in) the famous Kin)s Colle)e Lon on epartment 3here the ou4le heliC structure of @N1 3as investi)ate `M25O 1ll this 3as not the result of a satanic plot 4# the elites> 4ut the inevita4le outcome of neoli4eral )lo4alisation policies> 3hich prescri4e rastic cuts in taC rates =corporation taC> personal income taC> etc.A for the 4enefit of the privile)e social strataPal3a#s for the sake of competitivenessPfinance throu)h correspon in) cuts in pu4lic spen in) in )eneral an social spen in) =inclu in) spen in) on e ucationA in particular. This
has inevita4l# le to the creation of an ?internal market>N in the e ucation sector an to an in irect privati%ation of stu # an research ?from 4elo3T. Thus> R 5n the eman si e>
universit# applicants> facin) to a#Ts risin) unemplo#ment an un eremplo#ment> select o4Hects of stu # 3hich are ?in eman N in the Ho4 market> an therefore choose the correspon in) e)ree courses> in irectl# helpin) the channellin) of more pu4lic fun s to3ar s them. 1lso> R 5n the suppl# si e> such ?practicalN courses easil# secure sponsorship an private financin) in )eneral> 4oth of 3hich complement the 3in lin) pu4lic financin) of e ucation impose 4# neoli4eral )lo4alisation. No 3on er that this
process has alrea # le to the mass pro uction of pure technocrats> 3ith superficial )eneral kno3le )e an > of course> 3ithout an# capa4ilit# of autonomous thou)ht 4e#on the narro3 an speciali%e contours of their iscipline. This is consistent 3ith the fun amental aim of e ucation in neoli4eral mo ernit#> 3hich is the ?pro uctionN of similar narro37
min e ?scientistsN> 3ho are calle upon to solve the technical pro4lems face 4# private enterprise in a 3a# that 3ill maCimise economic efficienc#. Naturall#> this kin of mass pro uction of similar ?scientistsN 4# no means implies that scientific rationalism has finall# prevaile in thou)ht. In the <8> for instance> 3here this s#stem
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"</57
of e ucation has al3a#s 4een ominant> 3ell7kno3n

Daniel Schexnayder
scientists 3ithin their o3n isciplines =even in the natural sciences`A are reli)ious> or a opt various irrational s#stems of thou)ht 3hose central i eas have 4een ra3n not throu)h rational metho s =reason an &or empirical evi enceA 4ut throu)h intuition> instinct> feelin)s> m#stical eCperiences> revelation> etc. The outcome of this is a Kek#ll7an 7(# e scientist 3ho is compelle to use the rational metho olo)# of scientific research
3hile 3earin) his&her scientific hat> #et 3ho 4ecomes an irrationalist of the 3orse kin once this hat is remove . This 3as a relativel# rare phenomenon in Europe 4efore neoli4eral mo ernit#> 4ut the
present irect or in irect privati%ation of European universities is makin) such schi%ophrenic i entities increasin)l# freFuent.
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"1/57

Daniel Schexnayder
%T Cap M**d 2n)ir*nment

The capitalist dri)e t*(ards pr*'its is the r**t cause *' en)ir*nmental destructi*n!
/*ster -1 =Kohn Jellam#> 2rofessor of 8ociolo)# at <niversit# of 5re)on> Ecolo)# 1)ainst Capitalism 7 8tatistical @ata
Inclu e A
9a"italist economies are geared first and foremost to the growth of "rofits, and hence to economic growth at virtually any cost,,including the e&"loitation and misery of the vast ma/ority of the world:s "o"ulation. This rush to grow generally means ra"id absor"tion of energy and materials and the dum"ing of more and more wastes into the environment,,hence widening environmental degradation. ;ust as significant as ca"italism:s em"hasis on unending e&"ansion
is its short,term time horizon in determining investments. In evaluating any investment "ros"ect, owners of ca"ital figure on getting their investment back in a calculable "eriod )usually !uite short* and "rofits forever after. It is true that a longer,term "ers"ective is commonly ado"ted by investors in mines, oil wells, and other natural resources. In these areas the
dominant motives are obviously to secure a su""ly of materials for the manufacture of a final "roduct, and to obtain a rate of return that over the long run is e&ce"tionally high. But even in these cases the time horizon rarely e&ceeds ten to fifteen years,a far cry from the fifty to one hundred year )or even more* "ers"ective needed to "rotect the bios"here. With res"ect to those environmental conditions that bear most directly on human society, economic develo"ment needs to be "lanned so as to include such factors as water resources and their distribution, availability of clean water, rationing and conservation of non,renewable resources, dis"osal of wastes, and effects on "o"ulation and the environment associated with the s"ecific locations chosen for industrial "ro/ects. These all re"resent issues of sustainability, i.e., raising !uestions of intergenerational environmental e!uity,
and cannot be incor"orated within the short,term time horizon of non"hilanthro"ic ca"ital, which needs to recou" its investment in the foreseeable future, "lus secure a flow of "rofits to warrant the risk and to do better than alternative investment o""ortunities. Big investors need to "ay attention to the stock market, which is a source of ca"ital for e&"ansion and a facilitator of mergers and ac!uisitions. 9or"orations are e&"ected to maintain the value of their stockholder:s e!uity and to "rovide regular dividends. $ significant "art of the wealth of to" cor"orate e&ecutives de"ends on the growth in the stock market "rices of the stock o"tions they hold. Moreover, the huge bonuses received by to" cor"orate e&ecutives are influenced not only by the growth in "rofits but often as well by the rise in the "rices of com"any stock. $ long,run "oint of view is com"letely irrelevant in the fluctuating stock market. The "ers"ective in stock market 0valuation0 is the rate of "rofit gains or losses in recent years or "ros"ects for ne&t year:s "rofits. ven the much, trum"eted flood of money going into the <ew conomy with future "ros"ects in mind, able momentarily to overlook com"any losses, has already had its comeu""ance. ("eculative investors looking to rea" rich rewards via the stock market or venture ca"ital may have some "atience for a year or so, but "atience eva"orates very !uickly if the com"anies invested in kee" having losses. Besides investing their own sur"lus funds, cor"orations also borrow via long,term bonds. For this, they have to make enough money to "ay interest and to set aside a sinking fund for future re"ayment of bonds. The short,term time horizon endemic to ca"italist investment decisions thus becomes a critical factor in determining its overall environmental effects. 9ontrolling emissions of some of the worst "ollutants )usually through end,of,"i"e methods* can have a "ositive and almost immediate effect on "eo"le:s lives. =owever, the real "rotection of the environment re!uires a view of the needs of generations to come. $ good deal of environmental long,term "olicy for "romoting sustainable develo"ment has to do with the
third world. This is e&actly the "lace where ca"ital, based in the rich countries, re!uires the fastest return on its investments, often demanding that it get its initial investment back in a year or two. The time horizon that governs investment decisions in these as in other cases is not a !uestion of 0good0 ca"italists who are willing to give u" "rofits for the sake of society and future generations,or 0bad0 ca"italists who are not,but sim"ly of how the system works. ven those industries that ty"ically look ahead must sooner or later satisfy the demands of investors, bondholders, and banks. The foregoing defects in ca"italism:s relation to the environment are evident today in all areas of what we now commonly call 0the environmental crisis,0 which encom"asses "roblems as diverse as> global warming, destruction of the ozone layer, removal of tro"ical forests, elimination of coral reefs, overfishing, e&tinction of s"ecies, loss of genetic diversity, the increasing to&icity of our environment and our food, desertification, shrinking water su""lies, lack of clean water, and radioactive contamination,to name /ust a few. The list is very long and ra"idly getting longer, and the s"atial scales on which these "roblems manifest themselves are increasing. In order to understand how the conflict
Cap K NSDI
"$/57 Daniel Schexnayder between ecology and ca"italism actually "lays out at a concrete level related to s"ecific ecological "roblems, it is useful to look at what many today consider to be the most "ressing global ecological issue> that of global warming, associated with the 0greenhouse effect0 engendered when carbon dio&ide and other 0greenhouse gases0 are emitted, tra""ing heat within the atmos"here. There is now a worldwide scientific consensus that to fail to sto" the "resent global warming trend will be to invite ecological and social catastro"he on a "lanetary scale over the course of the "resent century. But little has been achieved thus far to address this "roblem, which mainly has to do with the emission of fossil fuels.
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""/57

Daniel Schexnayder
%T Cap M**d G*)erty

K*u are simply *n the (r*n, side *' hist*ry! %ll *' the *b6ecti)e and recent data p*ints unmistakeably t* the c*nclusi*n that capitalism creates ,r*sser and m*re )i*lent ine-ualities= y*ur ar,uments t* the c*ntrary are ide*l*,ically *btuse!
Christian /uchs> <nifie Theor# of Information ;esearch .roup> <niversit# of 8al%4ur)> ?Critical .lo4ali%ation 8tu iesD 1n Empirical an Theoretical 1nal#sis of the Ne3 Imperialism>N 8 mce X 8ociet#> /ol. '4. No. 2> 1pril $<1<> 215724
These efinitions have in common not onl# emphasis on the increasin) Ftianlit#. scale> an spee of social interactions> 4ut also characteri%ation of )lo4ali%ation as a )eneral p4enomenon. If> for eCample> one consi ers 3orl reli)ions> the ;oman empire> t4e empire of (an C4ina> t4e Jritish Empire> t4e 3orl market> colonialism> mi)ration (o3s that resulte from t4e Iris4 potato 4li)4t> the s#stem of su4marine ca4les esta4lishe in t4e mi le of the 1,t4 centur# that forme t4e first )lo4al .s#stem of communication> or the Internet> t4en it 4ecomes clear ihat )lo4ali%ation
in ee seems to have )eneral aspects. (o3ever> )eneral efinitions pose the threat of constructin) m#tholo)ies that see onl# positive si es of )lo4ali%ation an i)nore the ne)ative conseFuences of contemporar# )lo4ali%ation processes . This can create the impression that societ# neither nee s chan)e nor can 4e altere 4# collective political action. It is therefore no 3on er that some of t4e a4ovementione authors are fairl# optimistic a4out t4e
effects of contemporar# )lo4ali%ation. T4e# speak of )lo4ali%ation resultin) in the acceleration of tlie Qconsciousness of t4e )lo4al 3hole in the t3entieth centur#. . . . t4e intensification of consciousne.ss of the 3orl as a 3holeQ =;o4ertson> 1,,2> *A> Qemer)ent fonns of 3orl inter epen ence an planetar# consciousnessQ =.i ens> 1,,->1'5A> t4e creation ol Qa)ro3in) collective a3areness or consciousness of the 3orl as a share social spaceQ =(el an "c.re3> 2--'> 0A> or ar)ue that Qhtiman 4ein)s assume o4li)ations to3ar s t4e 3orl as a 3holeQ =1l4ro3> 1,,'> *0A. 8uch
formulations impl# that contemporar# )lo4ali%ation is 4rin)in) a4out increasin) free om an eFualit#> espite t4e fact that 3e live in a 3orl of )lo4al ineFualit# . 5ne compellin) eCample is the ratio of the avera)e salar# of C4ief ECecutive 5IFicers =CE5sA of lar)e <. 8. corporations to that of an avera)e <. 8. 3orker> 3hich currentl# stan s at 245 to 1 =8utcliffe> 2--'A. The evelope 3orl accounts for approCimatel# 25] of the 3orl Gs population> 4ut has accounte for more than '-] of the 3orl Gs 3ealth on a continuous 4asis since 1,'- =Fuchs> 2--*A. The least evelope countriesG share of 3ealth has roppe from a4ove 0] to Hust over 1] since 1,*=Fuchs> 2--*A. In 2--*> the total sales of the ten top7sellin) 3orl 3i e companies =<8a2500.5 4illionA 3ere 2.0 times as lar)e as the total )ross omestic pro uct =.@2A of the 22 least evelope countries =<8a1bA*1.( 4illionA =Fuchs> 2--*A. These ata in icate that 3e live in a (*rld *' persistin) ineFualit# that is a )lo4al phetiomenon> an that therefore people are not movin) closer to)ether> 4ut ten to 4e more separate . Class ivisions have 4een 3i enin)> not closin). +ealth an its istri4tition are o4Hective foun ations of )lo4al consciotisness. If there are 3i enin) class ivisions> then focusin) on positive concepts such as )lo4al consciottsness for escri4in) the contemporain 3orl turns into an i eolo)#. 5ne can therefore conclu e that uncritical optimism re)ar in) )lo4ali%ation can easil# turn into m#tholo)i%in) . To refer to
an to reloa Lenin for eCplainin) contemporar# )lo4ali%ation is a em#tholo)i%in) move that cotinters the )lo4ali%ation optimism a vance 4# 4our)eois thinkers. It furthermore serves the political task of repeatin) Qin the present )lo4al con itions> the GLeninianG )esture of reinventin) the revolutionar# proHect in the con itions of imperialism> colonialism> an 3orl 3arQ =Ju )en> Kouvelakis an $i2ek> 2--'> 0A.
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"&/57

Daniel Schexnayder
%T Cap M**d 9ar

Ml*bal capitalism necessitates a ne( and m*re intense '*rm *' imperialism! Ira- and %',hanistan pr*)e that ,l*bal p*(er (ars are principally ab*ut the expansi*n *' capital!
Christian /uchs> <nifie Theor# of Information ;esearch .roup> <niversit# of 8al%4ur)> ?Critical .lo4ali%ation 8tu iesD 1n Empirical an Theoretical 1nal#sis of the Ne3 Imperialism>N 8 mce X 8ociet#> /ol. '4. No. 2> 1pril $<1<> 215724
Lenin efine the fifth characteristic of imperialism as the Qmonopolistic possession of the territories of the 3orl 3hich have 4een completel# ivi e upQ =Lenin> 1,1'> 20'A. Each ominant state eCploits an ra3s super7profits from a part of the 3orl . QEach of them> 4# means of trusts> cartels> finance capital> an e4tor an cre itor relations> occupies a monopol# position on the 3orl marketQ =250A. Lenin ar)ues that un er imperialism> all territories on the )lo4e have come un er the influence of capitalist countries . 1 re7 ivision 3oul 4e possi4le at an# time> 4ut not a ne3 sei%ure. In imperialism> there are not Hust simpl# colonies an colon#7o3nin) countries> 4ut also semi7colonies> politicall# in epen ent countries> 3hich are Qenmeshe in the net of financial an iplomatic epen ence Q =204A. Normal epen ence un er imperialism 4ecomes Qa link in the chain of operations of 3orl finance capital Q =205A.
In icators that Lenin uses for the fifth characteristic inclu eD the evelopment of the percenta)e of territories that 4elon) to the European colonial po3ers> an the area an population un er the control of certain colonial po3ers. 2anitch an .in in =2--4> 2--5A ar)ue that the failure of classical theories of imperialism 3as their focus on inter7imperial rivalr# an a re uction of state po3er to the econom# =a similar critiFue of Lenin is ma e 4# 1hma > 2--4A. Lenin never spoke of Qinter7imperialist rivalr#Q as a characteristic feature of imperialism> 4ut he i sa# that the ivision of the 3orl has come to an en un er imperialism =22!fA. This means that there
is a )lo4al rule of capitalist structures. +hether one> t3o> or more countries ominate> 3hether the# enter militar# conflict or economic confiict P these circumstances can all 4e eCplaine as specific historical eCpressions of this characteristic . Lenin
stresse the #namic character of this ivision an therefore .speaks of possi4le re7 ivisions =Lenin> 1,1'> 22'A. The onl# time Lenin mentione rivalr# in chapter /I of Imperialism 3as 3hen he sai that capitalist corporations tr# to Qmake it impossi4le for their rivals to competeQ =202A. (e 3rote that finance capital is the rivin) force of territorial conflictsD QFinance capital strives to sei%e the lar)est possi4le amount of lan of all kin s an in an# place it canQ =200A. This oes not mean that there is necessaril# an inter7imperialist militar# rivah# 4et3een countries. Jut it
is 3ron) to conclu e that there is no rivalr#A7 to a#. 8o for eCample the European <nion sees the <nite 8tates as its 4i))est economic competitor an has therefore set itself the )oal to 4ecome Qthe most competitive an #namic kno3le )e74ase econom# in the 3ori Q until 2-1- =Lis4on 1)en aA. There certainl# is economic rivalr#> althou)h no maHor militar# rivalries 4et3een the maHor countries are present to a# . (o3ever> militar# interventions such as in 1f)hanistan an IraF on the one han an )lo4al terrorism on the other han sho3 that to a# there is militai# rivalr# amon) )reat po3ers concernin) 3orl influence an in certain parts of the )lo4e. Joth economic rivalr# an militar# conflicts are in icative of 3hat Lenin escri4e as conflicts for he)emon# 4et3een )reat po3ers =3hich must not
necessaril# 4e nation7states 4ecause Q)reat po3ersQ are po3erful actors> 3hich can also 4e corporations> not onl# nationstatesA that constitute Qan essential feature of imperialismQD Qrivalr# 4et3een a num4er of )reat po3ers in the strivin) for he)emon#> i.e., for the conFuest of territor#> not so much irectl# for themselves> as to 3eaken the a versar# an un ermine his he)emon#Q =20,A. T4e
<nite 8tates certainl# is the ominant )lo4al militar# po3er to a# an has 4een successful in imposin) its 3ill 4# militar# means 3ithout much resistance 4# Europe> ;vissia> =Ihina> or other countries. The ifference in militar# po3er can 4e )au)e > for eCample> 4# )overnment eCpen itures . In 2--!> t4e E<2.Gi countries evote 1-.*] of
their total )overnment eCpen itures to efen.se> 12.,] to e ucation> an 1*.*] to health. J# contrast> t4e correspon in) shares for the LKnite 8tates in 2--* 3ere 1'.1] on efense> 0.2] on e ucation> an 11.2] on health. That
the <nite 8tates is a ominant )lo4al militar# po3er means onl# that it 4as 4een successful in 4ein) he)emonic> 3hich oes not mean that it 3ill never a)ain 4e challen)e 4# others 3it4 militar# means. , Finance capital to a# is the ominant form of capital. If there 3ere reall# a full# 1merican Empire> as 2anitch an .in in sa#. then finance
capital 3oul have to 4e full# ominate 4# <. 8. institutions. (o3ever> of 4,5 companies that are liste un er the cate)ories 4ankin) an iversifie financicis in the Forbes 2 !"!"##$,i of the 3orl Gs 4i))est companies in 2--*> 1-- =2-.2]A are from the <nite 8tates> 114 from the European <nion =20.-]A> an 1'* =0!.-]A from countries in East 1sia&8outheast 1sia&8outh 1sia =China. (on) Kon)> In ia> In onesia> Kapan> "ala#sia> 8in)apore> 8outh Korea> Tai3an> Thailan A. This sho3s that
there is not an 1merican finance empire> as claime
4# 2anitch an .in in =2--5A> 4ut that <.
8. capital stan s in fierce competition
Cap K NSDI
"5/57 Daniel Schexnayder 3ith European an 1sian capita`. There are several competin) eCplanations for the <. 8. invasion of 1f)hanistan an IraF =see
Callinicos> 2--0a> 2--5> 2--'B (arve#> 2--5. 2--!B 2anitch an .in in> 2--4> 2--5B +oo > 2--04AD securin) access to oil as economic resource> securin) 3orl 3i e )eopolitical he)emon#> the eCpansion of <. 8. economic po3er in t4e face of eterioration of the <. 8. position in eCport of capital an commo ities an the stron) position of Europe an China> the conFuest of strate)ic countries in the "i le East iu or er ttA 4e 4etter eFuippe for limitin) the infiuence of Islamic nations an )roups that challen)e +estern 3orl ominance> or the stru))le for the eCtension of ueoli4eral capitalism all over the 3orl . It is ima)ina4le that the these 3ars are cause 4# a com4ination of some or all of these elements. No
matter 3hich factors one consi ers important> the 3ar a)ainst 1f)hanistan an IraF> )lo4al terrorism> an potential future 3ars a)ainst countries like Iran> 2akistan. 8#ria> Le4anon> /ene%uela> or Jolivia> sho3s that 3ar for securin) )eopolitical an economic infiuence an he)emon# is an inherent feature of the ne3 imperialism an of imperialism in )eneral. 1lthou)h investment> tra e> concentration> transnationali%ation> neoh4erali%ation> structural a Hustment> an financiali%ation are economic strate)ies of imperialism that o not resort to militai# means> it is likel# that not all territories can 4e controlle 4# imperialist po3ers an that some resistance emer)es. In or er to contain these counter7 movements> overcome crises> an secure economic infiuence for capital> in the last instance 3arfare is the ultimate outcome> a continuation of imperialism 4# non7economic means in or er to foster economic en s. 8tatistical ata sho3 that economic en s can 4e important influencin) factors for the 3ars in IraF an 1f)hanistan . Ta4le 5 sho3s that forei)n investments have 4oome in 1f)hanistan since 2--2 an in IraF since 2--0 . 5il is the main economic resource in IraF. In 2--2> ,,.0] of all eCports from IraF 3ere fuels. In 2--!> this level remaine ata hi)h level of ,0.,] =<N.T1@A. In 2--!. the value of annual IraF oil eCports 3as 2.0 times the 2--2 value. Ta4le ! sho3s the increase of IraF fuel eCports in a4solute terms. In the same perio =2--272--!A> as fuel eCports from IraF clim4e > the value of oil imports 4# the <8 increase 4# a factor of 2.* an the value of oil imports 4# the <K 4# a factor of 0.* =Ta4le 'A. These ata su))est that investment opportunities an resotirce access are important> 4ut certainl# not the onl# factors in the invasions of IraF an 1f)hanistan 4# the <8 an the <K. In 1,**> the annual militar# eCpenses of the <nite 8tates 3ere a4*4 4illion. There 3as a rop in spen in) after the en of the Col +ar =1,,*D a02, 4illionA. The ne3 3ars in 1f)hanistan an IraF resulte in a rise to a441 4illion in 2--0 an a54' 4illion in 2--' =all valties in constant <8aA =8I2;I "ilitar# ECpen iture @ata4aseA. In 2--'> the <nite 8tates accotmte for the
lar)est share of 3orl militar# spen in) =45]A> follo3e 4# the <K an .hina =each 5]A %&I'() *earbook 2 +". .omparin) annual <. 8. militar# spen in) for the #ears 2--1 an 2--! sho3s a )ro3th of 0-] for overall eCpen iture> 4'] for militar# operations an maintenance> an 5*] for research> evelopment> test an
2--! 41 <. 8. companies accounte for !0] of the sales of t4e top 1-- arms7pro ucin) companies in the 3orl !ibid.". In the perio 1,,*7 2--'> annual 3orl militar# eCpen itures increase 4# 45]. These ata sho3 that the ne3 imperialism is 4ase on -. 8. militar# he)emon# in militar# outla#s an activities. The <. 8.7le 3ar in IraF an 71f)hanistan is t4e practical vali ation of the presence of the fifth characteristic of imperialism to a# . "ilitar# conflicts that aim at territorial control an )lo4al he)emon# an counter7he)emon# are immanent features of the ne3 imperialism. Lenin =1,1'> 2!4A ar)ues t4at imperialism is lea in) to anneCation an increase oppression an conseFuentl# also to increase resistance. ,&11 an the rise of )lo4al terrorism can 4e interprete as a reaction to )lo4al <. 8. economic> political> an cultural influence. This has resulte in a vicious c#cle of )lo4al 3ar that creates an secures spheres of +estern infiuence an )lo4al terrorism that tries to estro# +estern lifest#Ies an +estern ominance. 1t the time of Lenin> there 3as an or)ani%e la4or
evaluation %&I'(I *earbook 2 movement that resiste imperialism an culminate in the 5cto4er ;evolution. <n er the ne3 imperialism> the political left is mar)inal an har l# influences 3ori pohtics> 3hich are ominate 4# +estern imperialists an Islamic har liners. Therefore to a# there seem to 4e much less political )roun s for emancipator# transformations than at the time of Lenin. In the earl# 21st centur#> the formula no lon)er is Qsocialism or 4ar4arism>Q 4ut rather Q4ar4arism or 4ar4arism
,, 2'!A. In
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"5/57

Daniel Schexnayder
%T Cap Ine)itable
The ar,ument that (e cann*t *)erc*me capitalism saps the critical ener,y 'r*m re)*luti*n > the system is *nly str*n, because (e think it is Ai@ek in 1##5 Sla)*6= Ide*l*,y Het(een /icti*n and /antasy= Card*@* a( 0e)ie(= pa,e lexis
The pro4lematic of QmulticulturalismQ that imposes itself to a# is therefore the form of appearance of its opposite> of the
massive presence of Capitalism as universal 3orl s#stemD it 4ears 3itness to the unprece ente homo)eni%ation of to a#Gs 3orl . It is effectivel# as if> since the hori%on of social ima)ination no lon)er allo3s us to entertain the i ea of an eventual emise of Capitalism 7 since> as 3e mi)ht put it> ever#4o # seems to accept that Capitalism is here to sta# 7 the critical ener)# foun a su4stitute outlet in fi)htin) for cultural ifferences 3hich leave the 4asic homo)eneit# of the capitalist 3orl 7s#stem intact. 8o 3e are fi)htin) our 2C 4attles for the ri)ht of ethnic minorities> of )a#s an les4ians > of ifferent Qlife7st#les>Q etc.> 3hile Capitalism pursues its triumphant march 7 an to a#Gs critical theor#> in the )uise of Qcultural stu ies>Q is oin) the ultimate service to the unrestraine evelopment of Capitalism 4# activel# contri4utin) in the i eolo)ical effort to ren er its massive presence invisi4leD in a t#pical postmo ern Qcultural critiFue>Q the ver# mention of Capitalism as 3orl s#stem ten s to )ive rise to the accusation of Qessentialism>Q Qfun amentalism>Q etc.
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"7/57

Daniel Schexnayder
%T Mibs*n Mraham
Mibs*nCMraham.s ar,ument is n*thin, m*re than an appeal t* liberal re'*rms (ithin capitalism+this sh*rt circuits the necessity *' re)*luti*ns and is mere ap*l*,ist '*r capitalism! G*ite)in= GhD Cand S*ci*l N BCCDa)is= $<<1 =;ene Francisco> ?The en of anti7capitalism as 3e kne3 itD ;eflections on postmo ern "arCismN>
The 8ocialist ;evie3> httpD&&333.fin articles.com&p&articles&miSFa0,52&isS2--1-1&aiSn*,02*,1A
Jut 4# far the most anticlimactic an isappointin) outcome of the postmo ern "arCist approach is that in its esire to )et ri of Qcapitalocentrism>Q44 the# en up actuall# reconfi)urin) the ver# 4east the# seek to eliminate 4# is)uisin) li4eral reform as Qnoncapitalism.Q No3here is this more o4vious than in K.K. .i4son7.rahamGs cele4rator# rea in)
of The Full "ont#> a film a4out a )roup of Jritish steel3orkers 3ho lose their Ho4s ue to ein ustriali%ation> an en up refashionin) themselves as strippers as a 3a# to reclaim their economic a)enc#.45 The movie sho3s ho3 the tra)ic loss of the to3nGs steel mill creates a casca e effect that en s up reconfi)urin) the social fa4ric of that communit#. J# the en of the movie> the eC7steel3orkers are force to rethink an rene)otiate man# t#pes of relationships an i entities> from constructions of masculinit# an )en er roles to economic i entities even their 3ives have to )et service Ho4s to make en s meet. 5f particular interest for K.K. .i4son7.raham are the 3a#s in 3hich the movie overlaps 3ith some of the themes of The En of Capitalism =1s +e Kne3 ItA> especiall# 3ith the 3a#s in 3hich The Full "ont# Qhinte at ifferent narratives of class transformation> ne3 a3areness of class politics an an eCpan e ran)e of class emotions.Q4! The# also 3elcome the 3a# in 3hich the unemplo#e men Qare una4le to ra3 sustenance from ol mo els of resistance7st#le politicsQ =i.e.> the# cannot use the Qol Q la4or&capital class stru))le thin)A an the 3a# in 3hich the characters in the film pursue 3hat K.K. .i4son7.raham call Qnon77 capitalist economic relations.Q Never min that ol pre icta4le Qfeelin) of re)ret that the climactic one7ni)ht7stan striptease is so economicall# inconseFuentialQ to the 3ell74ein) of the eC7steel3orker strippers> their families> an the communit#. Even thou)h the eC7steel3orkers are still poor at the en of the movie> 3hat matters> accor in) to K.K. .i4son7.raham> is that there 3as a process of Q4ecomin)Q that allo3e the communit# to come to)ether> not as eC73orkers an eC7mana)ers> or as hus4an s an 3ives> 4ut as a Qcommunal economic i entit# 4ase upon self7value an i entification across ifference.Q4' This is important 4ecause it is the Qcommunal economic i entit#Q of the successful striptease venture that constitutes the precon ition for ima)inin) an en)a)in) in Qnoncapitalist commo it# pro uction>Q such as 3orker collectives or self7emplo#e 3orkers. 1 ke# part of the eC7 steel3orkersG success> an an important strate)# in postmo ern "arCist politics> is that the eC7steel3orkers o not pursue the Qortho oCQ line of 3orkerGs challen)in) capitalist control of in ustrial propert#> nor o the# seem to care a4out circuits of capital or structural nee s of accumulation. The pro4lem 3ith K.K. .i4son7.rahamGs cele4rator# rea in) of The Full "ont# is that re)ar less of ho3 soun the process of Q4ecomin)Q mi)ht 4e for that communit#> an re)ar less of ho3 3ell the# mi)ht mana)e to )et alon) after3ar s> callin) their striptease enterprise a Qnoncapitalist commo it# pro uctionQ that is Qfull of potential an possi4ilitiesQ is 3ishful thinkin) at 4est an totall# lu icrous at 3orst. 1m I the onl# one 3ho reali%es that 3hat KK. .i4son7.raham refer to as Qnoncapitalist commo it# pro uctionQ is actuall# seC 3orkW +oul KK. .i4son7.raham still em4race as Qnoncapitalist economic relationsQ eC7maFuila 3orkers alon) the <.8.7"eCican 4or er eci in) to o seC 3ork a la The Full "ont# as lon) as it 4rin)s the communit# to)etherW Is prostitution 5K as lon) as the prostituteGs surplus is not 4ein) appropriate 4# someone elseW "# main
in K.K. .i4son7.rahamGs revie3 of the film as 3ell 7 propert# relations are never Fuestione or challen)e . In the postmo ern&post7"arCist QnoncapitalistQ 3orl > corporations )et to keep o3nership of the means of pro uction an their profits> 3hile 3orkin) class communities continue to lap ance their 3a# throu)h Qi entification across ifferenceQ rather than oin) union or)ani%in). That this kin of ar)ument can 4e
point here is that throu)hout The Full "ont# 7 an presente not onl# as QnoncapitalistQ 4ut also as "arCist thinkin) shoul 4e enou)h to emonstrate the political 4ankruptc# of this para i)m. It is also interestin) that KK .i4son7.raham maintain that challen)in) their anal#sis of The Full "ont#> or not en orsin) the politics of the film> Qis inherentl# conservative an capitalocentric.Q4* I isa)ree stron)l#. The
politics a vocate 4# K.K. .i4son7.raham throu)h their rea in) of The Full "ont# is nothin) 4ut li4eral politics 3ith post7structuralist elusions of )ran eur. It is one thin) to sa# that 3e are at a political conHuncture in 3hich the thin) to o is to 3ork har for reform> not Qrevolution.Q Jut it is another thin) to ar)ue that revolutionar# practice cannot happen on epistemolo)ical )roun s> an that all 3e can o is make capitalism as user frien l# as possi4le 3hile o4scurin) an co7optin) the "arCist tra ition. K.K. .i4son7.rahamGs rea in) of The Full "ont# is 4oth li4eral an reactionar#. +hat the postmo ern "arCistGs rea in) of The Full "ont# emonstrates is that in their esire to )et ri of QcapitalocentrismQ 7 the alle)e o4session of "arCists 3ith seein) QcapitalismQ ever#3here 7 the# en up reconfi)urin) an consoli atin) capitalism 4ack in. In their unreflective romantici%in) of reform> an in their hau)ht# contempt for revolutionar# thinkin) an politics> K.K7..i4son7.rahamGs st#le of postmo ern&post7
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Daniel Schexnayder
"arCism elivers 3hat 4oils o3n to )oo ol 7fashione li4eralismD a mil > state7a ministere Qeconomic HusticeQ platform centere aroun in ivi ual private li4erties> neatl# packa)e in postmo ern )ift 3rappin). The 4ottom line is thisD +hen one looks closel# at 3hat postmo ern&post7"arCist theor# actuall# offers> an after it is one Qrepresentin) capitalism throu)h the lens of over etermination>Q4, all one can strate)i%e a4out is ho3 to make capitalism more Quser frien l#.Q .one is the proHect of )ettin) ri of it. 8tran)el# enou)h> postmo ern& post7"arCists o not re)ar these positions as a
surren er of the "arCist proHect at all> 4ut rather> as the eCact fulfillment of that commitment.5-
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Daniel Schexnayder
%T Case 7ut(ei,hs
The a''.s ele)ati*n *' is*lated examples *' )i*lence is a m*de *' blackmail meant t* c*mpel y*u t* take immediate acti*n rather than in)esti,ate the system *' structural )i*lence that sustains s*cial relati*ns *' the status -u*! The result *' all their tryin, t* super'icially chan,e thin,s is that e)erythin, remains the same!
Ai@ek $<<; 8lavoH /iolence p 11712
There is an ol Hoke a4out a hus4an 3ho returns home earlier than usual from 3ork an fin s his 3ife in 4e 3ith another man. The surprise 3ife eCclaimsD ?+h# have #ou come 4ack earl#WN The hus4an furiousl# snaps 4ackD ?+hat are #ou oin) in 4e 3ith another manWN The 3ife calml# repliesD ?I aske #ou a Fuestion firstP
violenceD the task is precisel# to chan)e the topic> to move from the esperate humanitarian 858 call to stop violence to the anal#sis of that other 858> the compleC interaction of the three mo es of violenceD su4Hective> o4Hective> an s#m4olic. The lesson is thus that one shoul resist the fascination of su4Hective violence> of violence enacte 4# social a)ents> evil in ivi uals> iscipline repressive apparatuses> fanatical cro3 sD su4Hective violence is Hust the most visi4le of the three. The notion of o4Hective violence nee s to 4e thorou)hl# historicise D it took on a ne3 shape 3ith capitalism . "arC escri4e the ma > self7enhancin) circulation of capital> 3hose solipsistic path of partheno)enesis reaches its apo)ee in to a#Ts meta7refleCive speculations on futures. It is far too simplistic to claim that the spectre of this self7 en)en erin) monster that pursues its path isre)ar in) an# human or environmental concern is an i eolo)ical a4straction
an that 4ehin this a4straction there are real people an natural o4Hects on 3hose pro uctive capacities an resources capitalTs circulation is 4ase an on 3hich it fee s like a )i)antic parasite. The
onTt tr# to sFuee%e out of it 4# chan)in) the topic`N The same )oes for
pro4lem is that this ?a4stractionN is not onl# in our financial speculatorsT misperception of social realit#> 4ut that it is ?realN in the precise sense of eterminin) the structure of the material social processesD the fate of 3hole strata of the population an sometimes of 3hole countries can 4e eci e 4# the ?solipsisticN speculative ance of capital> 3hich pursues its )oal of profita4ilit# in 4lesse in ifference to ho3 its movement 3ill affect social realit#. 8o "arCTs point is not
primaril# to re uce this secon imension to the first one> that is> to emonstrate ho3 the theolo)ical ma ance of commo ities arises out of the anta)onisms of ?real life.N ;ather his point is that one
cannot properl# )rasp the first =the social realit# of material pro uction an social interactionA 3ithout the secon D it is the self7propellin) metaph#sical ance of capital that runs the sho3> that provi es the ke# to real7 life evelopments an catastrophes. Therein resi es the fun amental s#stemic violence of capitalism > much more uncann# than an# irect pre capitalist socio7i eolo)ical violenceD this violence is no lon)er attri4uta4le to concrete in ivi uals an their ?evilN intentions> 4ut is purel# ?o4Hective>N s#stemic> anon#mous. (ere 3e encounter the Lacanian ifference 4et3een realit# an the ;ealD ?realit#N is the social realit# of the actual people involve in interaction an in the pro uctive processes> 3hile the ;eal is the ineCora4le ?a4stract>N spectral lo)ic of capital that etermines 3hat )oes on in social realit#. 5ne can eCperience this )ap in a palpa4le 3a# 3hen one visits a countr# 3here life is o4viousl# in sham4les. +e see a lot of ecolo)ical eca# an human miser#. (o3ever> the economistTs report that one rea s after3ar s informs us that the countr#Ts economic situation is ?financiall# soun NPrealit# oesnTt matter> 3hat matters is the situation of capital...
D* n*t ,i)e in t* the impulse t* pri*riti@e sur)i)al *)er meanin,'ul s*cial chan,e! Capitalism has hist*rically expl*ited this c*mpulsi*n in a (ay that auth*ri@es the m*st )ici*us and unspeakable )i*lence
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Daniel Schexnayder
ima,inable! Ir*nically= it is 6ust the ur,e t* pursue sur)i)al in the 'ace *' e)erythin, decent that puts all li'e *n earth *n the brink *' extincti*n!
C**k= 2rof. of 2hil. <niv. +in sor> $<<5 M@e4orah> ?8T1LIN. 1LI/ED 1@5;N5 1N@ (1JE;"18 5N 8ELF72;E8E;/1TI5N <N@E;
L1TE C12IT1LI8">N (ethi.ki.g Marxism> 1*=0AD400744'O
In the passa)e in Ne)ative @ialectics 3here he 3arns a)ainst self7preservation )one 3il > 1 orno states that it is ?onl# as reflection upon Z self7preservation that reason 3oul 4e a4ove natureN =1,'0> 2*,A. To rise a4ove nature> then> reason must 4ecome ?co)ni%ant of its o3n natural essenceN =1,,*4> 10*A. To 4e more full# rational> 3e must reflect on 3hat (orkheimer an 1 orno once calle our un er)roun histor# =1,'2> 201A. In other 3or s> 3e must reco)ni%e that our 4ehavior is motivate an shape 4# instincts> inclu in) the instinct for self7preservation =1 orno 1,,*a> 150A. In his lectures on Kant> 1 orno makes similar remarks 3hen he summari%es his solution to the pro4lem of self7preservation )one 3il . To reme # this pro4lem> nature must first 4ecome conscious of itself =1 orno 2---> 1-4A. 1 optin) the Freu ian )oal of makin) the unconscious conscious> 1 orno also insists that this critical
self7un erstan in) 4e accompanie 4# ra ical social> political> an economic chan)es that 3oul 4rin) to a halt the self7immolatin) omination of nature. This is 3h#
min fulness of nature is necessar# 4ut not sufficient to reme # un4ri le self7preservation. In the final anal#sis> societ# must 4e fun amentall# transforme in or er rationall# to accommo ate instincts that no3 run 3il o3in) to our for)etfulness of nature in ourselves. J# insistin) on min fulness of nature in the self> 1 orno champions a form of rationalit# that 3oul tame self7preservation> 4ut in contrast to (a4ermas> he thinks that the
tamin) of self7preservation is a normative task rather than an accomplishe fact. Jecause self7preservation remains irrational> 3e no3 encounter serious environmental pro4lems like those connecte 3ith )lo4al 3armin) an the )reenhouse effect> the epletion of natural resources> an the eath of more than one hun re re)ions in our oceans. 53in) to self7 preservation )one 3il > 3e have coloni%e an esta4ili%e lar)e parts of the 3orl > a versel# affectin) the lives of millions> 3hen 3e have not simpl# enslave or mur ere their inha4itants outri)ht . Famine an isease are often the result of rava)in) the lan in the name of survival imperatives. +ars are 3a)e in the name of self7preservationD 3ith his no3 notoriousl# invisi4le 3eapons of mass estruction> 8a am (ussein 3as sai to represent a serious threat to the lives of citi%ens in the +est. The 3ar a)ainst terrorism> 3a)e in the name of self7preservation> has seriousl# un ermine human ri)hts an civil li4ertiesB it has also 4een use to Hustif# the mur er> rape> an torture of thousan s 1s it no3 stan s> the o3ners of the means of pro uction ensure our survival throu)h profits that> at 4est> onl# trickle o3n to the poorest mem4ers of societ#. Taken in char)e 4# the capitalist econom#> self7preservation no3 ictates that profits increase eCponentiall# to the etriment of social pro)rams like 3elfare an health care. In a ition> self7 preservation has )one 3il 4ecause our instincts an nee s are no3 firml# harnesse to commo ifie offers of satisfaction that eflect an istort them. (avin) surren ere the task of self7 preservation to the economic an political s#stems> 3e remain in thrall to untame survival instincts that coul 3ell en up estro#in) not Hust the entire species> 4ut all life on the planet.
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%T %ltOJi*lence
This is pr*pa,anda that *bscures the h*rri'ic )i*lence naturali@ed by capitalism!
Hadi*u> former Chair of 2hilosoph# at dcole normale superieure> $<1<. MThe I ea of Communism pp. 274O
For various reasons> this propa)an a machine is no3 o4solete> mainl# 4ecause there is no lon)er a sin)le po3erful state claimin) to 4e communist> or even socialist. "an# rhetorical evices have of eourse 4een rec#cle in the G3ar a)ainst terrorG 3hich> in France> has taken on the )uise of an anti7Islamist crusa e. 1n #et no one can seriousl# 4elieve that a particularist reli)ious i eolo)# that is 4ack3ar 7lookin) in terms of its social vision> an fascistic in 4oth its conception of action an its outcome> can replace a promise of universal emancipation supporte 4# three centuries of critical> international an secular philosoph# that eCploite the resources of science an mo4ili%e > at the ver# heart of the in ustrial metropolises> the enthusiasm of 4oth 3orkers an intellectuals. Lumpin)
to)ether 8talin an (itler 3as alrea # a si)n of eCtreme intellectual povert#D the norm 4# 3hich an# collective un ertakin) has to 4e Hu )e i s> it 3as ar)ue > the num4er of eaths it causes. If that 3ere reall# the case> the hu)e colonial )enoci es an massacres> the millions of eaths in the civil an 3orl 3ars throu)h 3hich our +est for)e its mi)ht> shoul 4e enou)h to iscre it> even in the e#es of GphilosophersG 3ho eCtol their moralit#> the parliamentar# re)imes of Europe an 1merica. +hat 3oul 4e left for those 3ho scri44le a4out ;i)htsW (o3 coul the# )o on sin)in) the praises of 4our)eois emocrac# as the onl# form of relative .oo an makin) pompous pre ictions a4out totalitarianism 3hen the# are stan in) on top of heaps of victimsW Lumpin) to)ether (itler> 8talin an Jin La en no3 looks like a 4lack farce. It in icates that our emocratic +est is none too fuss# a4out the nature of the historic fuel it uses to keep its propa)an a machine runnin) . It is true that > these a#s> it has other fish to fr#. 1fter t3o short eca es of c#nicall# uneFual prosperit#> it is in the )rip of a trul# historical crisis an has to fall 4ack on its G emocraticG pretensions> as it appears to have 4een oin) for some time> 3ith the help of 3alls an 4ar4e 7 3ire fe nces to keep out forei)ners> a corrupt an servile me ia> overcro3 e prisons an iniFuitous le)islation. The pro4lem is that it is less an less capa4le of corruptin) its local clientele an 4u#in) off the fero cious fore i)n re)imes of the "u4araks an "usharrafs 3ho are responsi4le for keepin) 3atch on the flocks of the poor.
7' c*urse they.ll say that the alternati)e is ut*pian and risks t*talitarianism! The same threat has been used since time immem*rial t* keep capitalism 'uncti*nin,! In reality= it is their dream *' a humane capitalism that is ut*pian! In the 'ace *' this= y*u sh*uld p*litici@e the imp*ssibility *' breakin, 'ree! Take the risk!
PIP2K= $<<< M8L1/5K>C5NTIN.ENCL>(E.E"5NL><NI/E;81LITL>2.024702!O
The first thin) to note a4out this neoli4eral cliche is that the neutral reference to the necessities of the market econom#> usuall# invoke in or er to cate)ori%e )ran i eolo)ical proHects as unrealistic utopias> is itself to 4e inserte into the )reat mo ern utopian proHects. That is to sa# 9 as Fre ric Kameson has pointe out 9 3hat characteri%es utopia is not a 4elief in the essential )oo ness of human
nature> or some similar naive notion> 4ut> rather> 4elief in some )lo4al mechanism 3hich> applie to the 3hole of societ#> 3ill automaticall# 4rin) out the 4alance state of pro)ress an happiness one is lon)in) for 9 an > in this precise sense> is
not the market precisel# the name for such a mechanism 3hich> properl# applie > 3ill 4rin) a4out the optimal state of societ# W 8o> a)ain> the first ans3er of the Left to those 9 Leftists themselves 9 3ho 4emoan the loss of the utopian impetus in our societies shoul 4e that this impetus is alive an 3ell 9 not onl# in the ;i)htist Gfun amentalistG populism 3hich a vocates the return to )rass7roots emocrac#> 4ut a4ove all amon) the a vocates of the market econom# themselves.12 The secon ans3er shoul 4e a clear line of istinction 4et3een utopia an i eolo)#D i eolo)# is not onl# a utopian proHect of social transformation
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3ith no realistic chance of actuali%ationB no
Daniel Schexnayder less i eolo)ical is the anti7utopian stance of those 3ho Erealisticall#G evalue ever# )lo4al proHect of social transformation as Eutopian>G that is> as unrealistic reamin) an &or har4ourin) GtotalitarianG potential 9 to a#Gs pre ominant form of i eolo)ical GclosureG takes the precise form of mental 4lock 3hich prevents us from ima)inin) a fun amental social chan)e> in the interests of an alle)e l# YrealisticT an YmatureT attitu e . In his 8eminar on the Ethics of 2s#choanal#sis>10Lacan evelope an opposition 4et3een GknaveG an GfoolG as the t3o intellectual attitu esD the ri)ht 3in) intellectual is a knave> a conformist 3ho consi ers the mere eCistence of the )iven or er as an ar)ument for it> an mocks the Left for its GutopianG plans> 3hich necessaril# lea to catastrophe B 3hile the left73in) intellectual is a fool> a court Hester 3ho pu4licl# ispla#s the lie of the
eCistin) or er> 4ut in a 3a# 3hich suspen s the performative efficienc# of this speech. In the #ears imme iatel# after the fall of 8ocialism> the knave 3as a neoconservative a vocate of the free market 3ho cruell# reHecte all forms of social soli arit# as counterpro uctive sentimentalismB 3hile the fool 3as a econstructionist cultural critic 3ho> 4# means of his lu ic proce ures estine to Gsu4vertG the eCistin) or er> actuall# serve as its supplement. To a#> ho3ever> the relationship 4et3een the couple knave9fool an the political opposition ;i)ht&Left is more an more the inversion of the stan ar fi)ures of ;i)htist knave an Leftist foolD are
not the Thir +a# theoreticians ultimatel# to a#Gs knaves> fi)ures 3ho preach c#nical resi)nation> that is> the necessar# failure of ever# attempt actuall# to chan)e somethin) in the 4asic functionin) of )lo4al capitalismW 1n are not the
conservativefools 9 those conservatives 3hose ori)inal mo ern mo el is 2ascal an 3ho as it 3ere sho3 the hi en car s of the rulin) i eolo)#> 4rin)in)7to li)ht its un erl#in) mechanisms 3hich> in or er to remain operative> have to 4e represse 9 far more attractiveW To
a# in the face of this Leftist knaver# it is more important than ever to hol this utopian place of the )lo4al alternative open> even if it remains empt#> livin) on 4orro3e time> a3aitin) the content to fill it in. I full# a)ree 3ith Laclau that after the eChaustion of 4oth the social emocratic 3elfare state
ima)inar# an the Greall#7eCistin)78ocialistT ima)inar#> the Left oes nee a ne3 ima)inar# =a ne3 mo4ili%in) )lo4al visionA. To a#> ho3ever> theout ate ness of the 3elfare state an socialist ima)inaries is a cliche 9 the real ilemma is 3hat to o 3ith 9 ho3 the Left is to relate to 9 the pre ominant li4eral emocratic ima)inar# . It is m# contention that LaclauGs an "ouffeGs Gra ical emocrac#G comes all tooclose to merel# Gra icali%in)G this li4eral emocratic ima)inar#> 3hile remainin) 3ithin its hori%on. Laclau> of course> 3oul pro4a4l# claim that the point is to treat the emocratic ima)inar# as an Gempt# si)nifierG> an to en)a)e in the he)emonic 4attle 3ith the proponents of the )lo4al capitalist Ne3 +orl 5r er over 3hat its content 3ill 4e. (ere> ho3ever> I think that Jutler is ri)ht 3hen she emphasi%es that another 3a# is also openD it is notGnecessar# to occup# the ominant norm in or er to pro uce an internal su4version of its terms. 8ometimes it is important t refuse it terms to let the term itself 3ither> to starve it of its stren)thG =KJ> p. 1''A.
This means that the Left has a choice to a#D either it accepts the pre ominant li4eral emocratic hori%on = emocrac#> human ri)hts an free oms . . .A> an en)a)es in a he)emonic 4attle 3ithin it> or it risks the opposite )esture of refusin) its ver# terms> of flatl# reHectin) to a#Gs li4eral 4lackmail that courtin) an# prospect of ra ical chan)e paves the 3a# for totalitarianism . It is m# firm conviction> m# politico7eCistential premise that the ol G!* motto 8o#ons realistes eman ons lGimpossi4le` still hol sD it is the a vocates of chan)es an resi)nifications 3ithin the li4eral7 emocratic hori%on 3ho are the true utopians in their 4elief that their efforts 3ill amount to an#thin) more than cosmetic sur)er# that 3ill )ive us capitalism 3ith a human face. In her secon intervention> Jutler super4l# eplo#s the reversal that characteri%es the (e)elian ialectical processD the
a))ravate Gcontra ictionG in 3hich the ver# ifferential structure of meanin) is collapsin)> since ever# etermination imme iatel# turns into its opposite> this Gma anceG> is resolve 4# the su en emer)ence of a ne3 universal etermination. The 4est illustration is provi e 4# the passa)e from the G3orl of self7alienate 8piritG to the Terror of the French ;evolution in The 2henomenolo)# of 8piritD the pre7;evolutionar# Gma ness of the musician Q3ho heape up an miCe to)ether thirt# arias> Italian> French> tra)ic> comic> of ever# sortB no3 3ith a eep 4ass he escen e into hell> then> contractin) his throat> he rent the vaults of heaven 3ith a falsetto tone> frantic an soothe > imperious an mockin)> 4# turnsQ =@i erot> Nephe3 of ;ameauAG >14 su enl# turns into its ra ical oppositeD the revolutionar# stance pursuin) its )oal 3ith an ineCora4le firmness. 1n m# point> of course> is that to a#Gs Gma anceG> the #namic proliferation of multiple shiftin) i entities also a3aits its resolution in a ne3 form of Terror. The
onl# GrealisticG prospect is to )roun a ne3 political univeralist# 4# optin) for the impossi4le> full# assumin) the place of the eCception 3ith no ta4oos> no a priori norms =Ghuman ri)htsG> E emocrac#GA> respect for 3hich 3oul prevent us also from Gresi)nif#in)G terror> the ruthless eCercise of po3er> the spirit of sacrifice Z if this ra ical choice is ecrie 4# some 4lee in)7heart li4erals as fascist> so 4e it`
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Daniel Schexnayder
%lternati)e leads t* )i*lence

***%'' %ns(ers
%lternati)es t* Capitalism end in (ar and ,en*cide
0ummel & 9 prof. emeritus of political science at the <niversit# of (a3aii

;u olph> The Killin) "achine that is "arCism> 5nline
5f all reli)ions> secular an other3ise> that of "arCism has 4een 4# far the 4loo iest 9 4loo ier than the Catholic InFuisition> the various Catholic crusa es> an the Thirt# Lears +ar 4et3een Catholics an 2rotestants. In practice> "arCism has meant 4loo # terrorism> ea l# pur)es> lethal prison camps an mur erous force la4or> fatal eportations > man7ma e famines> eCtraHu icial eCecutions an frau ulent sho3 trials> outri)ht mass mur er an )enoci e . In total> "arCist re)imes mur ere nearl# 11- million people from 1,1' to 1,*'. For perspective on this incre i4le toll> note that all omestic an forei)n 3ars urin) the 2-th centur# kille aroun 05 million. That is> 3hen "arCists control states> "arCism is more ea l# then all the 3ars of the 2-th centur#> inclu in) +orl +ars I an II> an the Korean an /ietnam +ars . 1n 3hat i "arCism> this )reatest of human social eCperiments> achieve for its poor citi%ens> at this most 4loo # cost in livesW Nothin) positive. It left in its 3ake an economic> environmental> social an cultural isaster. The Khmer ;ou)e 9 =Cam4o ian communistsA 3ho rule Cam4o ia for four #ears 9 provi e insi)ht into 3h# "arCists 4elieve it necessar# an moral to massacre so man# of their fello3 humans. Their "arCism 3as marrie to a4solute po3er. The# 4elieve 3ithout a shre of ou4t that the# kne3 the truth> that the# 3oul 4rin) a4out the )reatest human 3elfare an happiness> an that to reali%e this utopia> the# ha to mercilessl# tear o3n the ol feu al or capitalist or er an Ju hist culture> an then totall# re4uil a communist societ#. Nothin) coul 4e allo3e to stan in the 3a# of this achievement. .overnment 9 the Communist
2art# 9 3as a4ove an# la3. 1ll other institutions> reli)ions> cultural norms> tra itions an sentiments 3ere eCpen a4le. The "arCists sa3 the construction of this utopia as a 3ar on povert#> eCploitation> imperialism an ineFualit# 9 an > as in a real 3ar> noncom4atants 3oul unfortunatel# )et cau)ht in the 4attle. There 3oul 4e necessar# enem# casualtiesD the cler)#> 4our)eoisie> capitalists> Q3reckers>Q intellectuals> counterrevolutionaries> ri)htists> t#rants> the rich an lan lor s. 1s in a 3ar> millions mi)ht ie> 4ut these eaths 3oul 4e Hustifie 4# the en > as in the efeat of (itler in +orl +ar II. To
the rulin) "arCists> the )oal of a communist utopia 3as enou)h to Hustif# all the eaths. The iron# is that in practice> even after eca es of total control> "arCism i not improve the lot of the avera)e person> 4ut usuall# ma e livin) con itions 3orse than 4efore the revolution. It is not 4# chance that the 3orl Gs )reatest famines have happene 3ithin the 8oviet <nion =a4out 5 million ea from 1,21720 an ' million from 1,0270> inclu in) 2 million outsi e <kraineA an communist China =a4out 0- million ea from 1,5,7!1A. 5verall> in the last
centur# almost 55 million people ie in various "arCist famines an associate epi emics 9 a little over 1- million of them 3ere intentionall# starve to eath> an the rest ie as an uninten e result of "arCist collectivi%ation an a)ricultural policies. +hat is astonishin) is that this
Qcurrenc#Q of eath 4# "arCism is not thousan s or even hun re s of thousan s> 4ut millions of eaths. This is almost incomprehensi4le 9 it is as thou)h the 3hole population of the 1merican Ne3 En)lan an "i le 1tlantic 8tates> or California an TeCas> ha 4een 3ipe out. 1n that aroun 05 million people escape "arCist countries as refu)ees 3as an uneFuale vote a)ainst "arCist utopian pretensions. Its eFuivalent 3oul 4e ever#one fleein) California> empt#in) it of all human 4ein)s. There is a supremel# important lesson for human life an 3elfare to 4e learne from this horren ous sacrifice to one i eolo)#D No one can 4e truste 3ith unlimite po3er. The more po3er a )overnment has to impose the 4eliefs of an i eolo)ical or reli)ious elite> or ecree the 3hims of a ictator> the more likel# human lives an 3elfare 3ill 4e sacrifice . 1s a )overnmentGs po3er is more unrestraine > as its po3er reaches into all corners of culture an societ#> the more likel# it is to kill its o3n citi%ens .
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&5/57

Daniel Schexnayder
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&5/57

Daniel Schexnayder
Mibs*nCMraham
K*u.re d*in, it (r*n,+representati*ns *' capitalism as he,em*nically d*minant preclude the reali@ati*n *' actual s*cial chan,e! Chan,in, this )ie( is a preCre-uisite t* the alt! Mibs*nCMraham <5 9 K.K.> pen name share
4# feminist economic )eo)raphers Kulie .raham an Katherine .i4son =?The En of Capitalism =1s +e Kne3 ItAD 1 Feminist CritiFue of 2olitical Econom#N> p) 275> I+renA
The 2nd *' Capitalism Q%s 9e Kne( ItR pr*blemati@es EcapitalismE as an ec*n*mic and s*cial descript*r !& Scrutini@in, (hat mi,ht be seen as thr*(a(ay uses *' the term C passin, re'erences= '*r example= t* the capitalist system *r t* ,l*bal capitalism C as (ell as systematic and deliberate
a (idespread understandin,I that capitalism is the he,em*nic= *r e)en the *nly= present '*rm *' ec*n*my and that it (ill c*ntinue t* be s* in the pr*ximate 'uture! It '*ll*(s 'r*m this pre)alent th*u,h n*t ubi-uit*us )ie( that n*ncapitalist ec*n*mic sites= i' they exist at all= must inhabit the s*cial mar,insS and= as a c*r*llary= that deliberate attempts t* de)el*p n*ncapitalist ec*n*mic practices and instituti*ns must take place in the s*cial interstices = in the realm *' experiment= *r in a )isi*nary space *' re)*luti*nary s*cial replacement! 0epresentati*ns *' capitalism are a p*tent c*nstituent *' the anticapitalist ima,inati*n= pr*)idin, ima,es *' (hat is t* be resisted and chan,ed as (ell as intimati*ns *' the strate,ies= techni-ues= and p*ssibilities *' chan,in, it! /*r this reas*n= depicti*ns *' Ecapitalist he,em*nyE deser)e a particularly skeptical readin,! /*r in the )icinity *' these representati*ns= the )ery idea *' a n*ncapitalist ec*n*my takes the shape *' an unlikelih**d *r e)en an imp*ssibility! It bec*mes di''icult t* entertain a )isi*n *' the pre)alence and )itality *' n*ncapitalist ec*n*mic '*rms= *r *' daily *r partial replacements *' capitalism by n*ncapitalist ec*n*mic practices= *r *' capitalist retreats and re)ersals ! In this sense= Ecapitalist he,em*nyE *perates n*t *nly as a c*nstituent *'= but als* as a brake up*n= the anticapitalist ima,inati*n !5 9hat di''erence mi,ht it make t* release that brake and all*( an anticapitalist ec*n*mic ima,inary t* de)el*p unrestrictedF5 I' (e (ere t* diss*l)e the ima,e that l**ms in the ec*n*mic '*re,r*und = (hat shad*(y ec*n*mic '*rms mi,ht c*me '*r(ard F In these -uesti*ns (e can identi'y the br*ad *utlines *' *ur pr*6ectI t* disc*)er *r
attempts t* represent capitalism as a central and *r,ani@in, 'eature *' m*dern s*cial experience= the b**k selecti)ely traces the discursi)e *ri,ins *' create a (*rld *' ec*n*mic di''erence= and t* p*pulate that (*rld (ith ex*tic creatures that bec*me= up*n inspecti*n= -uite l*cal and 'amiliar Qn*t t* menti*n 'amiliar bein,s that are n*t (hat they seemR! The
discursi)e arti'act (e call Ecapitalist he,em*nyE is a c*mplex e''ect *' a (ide )ariety *' discursi)e and n*ndiscursi)e c*nditi*ns!7 In this b**k (e '*cus *n the practices and pre*ccupati*ns *' disc*urse= tracin, s*me *' the di''erent= e)en inc*mpatible= representati*ns *' capitalism that can be c*llated (ithin this 'icti)e summary representati n! These depicti*ns ha)e their
*ri,ins in the di)erse traditi*ns *' 1arxism= classical and c*ntemp*rary p*litical ec*n*my= academic s*cial science= m*dern hist*ri*,raphy= p*pular ec*n*mic and s*cial th*u,ht= (estern phil*s*phy and metaphysics= indeed= in an endless array *' texts= traditi*ns and in'rastructures *' meanin,! In the chapters that '*ll*(= *nly a 'e( *' these are examined '*r the (ays in (hich they ha)e
sustained a )isi*n *' capitalism as the d*minant '*rm *' ec*n*my= *r ha)e c*ntributed t* the p*ssibility *r durability *' such a )isi*n! Hut the p*int sh*uld emer,e n*ne the less clearlyI the )irtually un-uesti*ned d*minance *' capitalism can be seen as a c*mplex pr*duct *' a )ariety *' discursi)e c*mmitments= includin, but n*t limited t* *r,anicist s*cial c*ncepti*ns= her*ic hist*rical narrati)es= e)*luti*nary scenari*s *' s*cial de)el*pment= and
essentialist= phall*centric= *r binary patterns *' thinkin,! It is thr*u,h these discursi)e 'i,urin,s and ali,nments that capitalism is c*nstituted as lar,e= p*(er'ul= persistent= acti)e= expansi)e= pr*,ressi)e= dynamic= trans'*rmati)eS embracin,= penetratin,= disciplinin,= c*l*ni@in,= c*nstrainin,S systemic= sel'C repr*ducin,= rati*nal= la('ul= sel'Crecti'yin,S *r,ani@ed and *r,ani@in,= centered and centerin,S *ri,inatin,= creati)e= pr*teanS )ict*ri*us and ascendantS sel'identical= sel'Cexpressi)e= 'ull= de'inite= real= p*siti)e= and capable *' c*n'errin, identity and meanin,!; The ar,ument re)isited I
it is the (ay capitalism has been Eth*u,htE that has made it s* di''icult '*r pe*ple t* ima,ine its supersessi*n !# It is there'*re the (ays
in (hich capitalism is kn*(n that (e (ish t* dele,itimi@e and displace! The pr*cess is *ne *' unearthin,= *' brin,in, t* li,ht ima,es and habits *' understandin, that c*nstitute Ehe,em*nic capitalismE at the intersecti*n *' a set *' representati*ns! This (e see as a 'irst step t*(ard the*ri@in, capitalism (ith*ut representin, d*minance as a natural and ine)itable 'eature *' its bein,! %t the same time= (e h*pe t* '*ster c*nditi*ns under (hich the ec*n*my mi,ht bec*me less sub6ect t* de'initi*nal cl*sure! I'
it (ere p*ssible t* inhabit a heter*,ene*us and *penCended ec*n*mic space
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&7/57 Daniel Schexnayder (h*se identity (as n*t 'ixed *r sin,ular Qthe space p*tentially t* be )acated by a capitalism that is necessarily and naturally he,em*nicR then a )isi*n *' n*ncapitalist ec*n*mic practices as existin, and (idespread mi,ht be able t* be b*rnS and in the c*ntext *' such a )isi*n= a ne( anticapitalist p*litics mi,ht emer,e = a n*ncapitalist p*litics *' class Q(hate)er that may meanR mi,ht take r**t
and 'l*urish! % l*n, sh*t perhaps but *ne (*rth pursuin,!
0epresentin, capitalism as a b*unded= m*nistic entity precludes n*ncapital alternati)es and 'urthers he,em*nic= capital*centric m*des *' th*u,ht Mibs*nCMraham <5 9 K.K.> pen name share
4# feminist economic )eo)raphers Kulie .raham an Katherine .i4son
=?The En of Capitalism =1s +e Kne3 ItAD 1 Feminist CritiFue of 2olitical Econom#N> p) 40745> I+renA
3hat ma# account for the economic monism or he)emonism that accompanies most representations of capitalist societ# an evelopmentW (ere a partial ans3er ma# 4e foun in the metaph#sics of i entit# that 1lthusser sou)ht to un ermine. 5peratin) un er an Qimperative of unit#Q =(a%el 1,,4D 4A 3estern conceptions of i entit# entail 4oth the unit# of an o4Hect 3ith itself =its self7resem4lanceA an its one7to one relation 3ith the si)n 4# 3hich it is kno3nD one 3or 3ith one meanin)> correspon in) to one thin). To such an essentialist rea in) of i entit# QcapitalismQ esi)nates an un erl#in) commonalit# in the o4Hects to 3hich it refers. Thus 3e are not surprise to encounter a capitalism that is essentiall# the same in ifferent times an places = espite the fact that sameness as the precon ition of meanin) is eCactl# 3hat various structuralist an poststructuralist tra itions have sou)ht to un ermine.A J# virtue of their i entification as capitalist settin)s> ifferent societies 4ecome the sites of a resem4lance or a replication. CompleC processes of social evelopment 7 commo ification> in ustriali%ation> proletariani%ation> internationali%ation 7 4ecome le)i4le as the si)natures of capitalism rather than as uniFue an ecentere eterminations. +hen capitalism eCists as a sameness> noncapitalism can onl# 4e su4or inate or ren ere invisi4le =like tra itional or omestic economic formsA. Noncapitalism is to capitalism as 3oman to manD an insufficienc# until an unless it is release from the 4inar# metaph#sics of i entit# =3here 1 is a unifie self7i entical 4ein) that eCclu es 3hat it is notA.04 If capitalism&man can 4e un erstoo as multiple an specific B if it is not a unit# 4ut a hetero)eneit#> not a sameness 4ut a ifferenceB if it is al3a#s 4ecomin) 3hat it is notB if it incorporates ifference 3ithin its ecentere 4ein)B then noncapitalism&3oman is release from its sin)ular an su4or inate status. There is no sin)ularit# of Form to constitute noncapitalism&3oman as a simple ne)ation or as the recessive )roun a)ainst 3hich the positive fi)ure of capitalism&man is efine . To conceptuali%e capitalism&man as multiple an ifferent is thus a con ition of theori%in) noncapitalism&3oman as a set of specific> efinite forms of 4ein). It is eas# to appreciate the strate)ic effectiveness of rea in)
+hat interests me most here is the Fuestion of 3h# the economism of 3hich capitalism is the 4earer is so ifficult to mo erate or eCcise. 1n the teCts of capitalism econstructivel#> iscoverin) the surplus an contra ictor# meanin)s of the term> the places 3here capitalism is inha4ite an constitute 4# noncapitalism> 3here it escapes the lo)ic of sameness an is una4le to maintain its ostensi4le self7i entit# =see chapter 1-A. Jut over etermination can 4e use as an a itional anti7
essentialist theoretical strate)# to complement an supplement the strate)# of econstruction. Taken to)ether these strate)ies have the potential to un ermine capitalismGs iscursive Qhe)emon#Q an to reconceptuali%e its role in social etermination. ;epresentations of societ# an econom# cannot themselves 4e centere on a ecentere an formless entit# that is itself al3a#s ifferent from itself> an that o4tains its shiftin) an contra ictor# i entit# from the al3a#s chan)in) eCteriors that over etermine it. Kust as postmo ernism o4tains its po3er from mo ernism =its po3er to un ermine an esta4ili%e> to oppose an contra ictA>05 so can an over eterminist approach reali%e its po3er an strate)ic capacit# 4# virtue of its oppositional relation to the preeminent mo es of un erstan in) 4oth lan)ua)e cate)ories an i entit#&4ein). To the eCtent that 3e conceptuali%e entities as autonomous> 4oun e > an iscrete =constitute 4# the eCclusion of their outsi esA> an as the uniFue referents that )ive each si)n a sta4le an sin)ular meanin)> to that eCtent oes the strate)# of thinkin) over etermination have the po3er to esta4ili%e theoretical iscourse an reposition the concepts 3ithin it.0! Throu)h the lens of over etermination> i entities =like capitalismA can 4ecome visi4le as entirel# constitute 4# their QeCternalQ con itions. +ith an over eterminist strate)# 3e ma# empt# capitalism of its universal attri4utes an evacuate the essential an invariant lo)ics that allo3 it to he)emoni%e the
economic an social terrain. 5ver etermination ena4les us to rea the causalit# that is capitalism as coeCistin) 3ith an infinit# of other eterminants> none of 3hich can efinitivel# 4e sai to 4e less or more si)nificant> 3hile repositionin) capitalism itself as an effect. That the capitalist econom# often escapes reconceptuali%ation an so continues to function as an or)ani%in) moment > an an ori)in of meanin) an causation in social theor#> cannot 4e un erstoo as a simple theoretical omission. It is also a reassertion of the he)emonic conceptions of lan)ua)e an etermination that over etermination is uniFuel# positione to contra ict. It is a testimon# to the po3er of over etermination that it has allo3e certain post71lthusserian theorists to envision an Qeconom#Q that is not sin)ular> centere > or ere or selfconstitutin)> an that therefore is not capitalismGs eCclusive omain.0' Jut it
testifies to the of
resilience of the ominant conceptual conteCt =it shoul
perhaps 4e calle
a mo e of thou)htA in 3hich the o4Hects of thou)ht eCist allo3e capitalism to
in epen entl# of thou)ht an of each other that an autonomous econom# still eCists an operates in social representation. 5ne can sa# that representations
the capitalist econom# as an in epen ent entit# informe
4# lo)ics an eCclusive of its eCteriors have
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&;/57 he)emoni%e 4oth the economic an the social fiel

Daniel Schexnayder
. 5ne can also sa#> ho3ever> that over etermination is a iscursive strate)# that can potentiall# empt#> fra)ment> ecenter an open the econom#> li4eratin) iscourses of econom# an societ# from capitalismGs em4race. Jut that process> far from 4ein) over or even 3ell on its 3a#> has har l# 4e)un.
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Daniel Schexnayder
Cap Ine)itable
8uman nature kills transiti*n a(ay 'r*m capitalism 9ilkins*n 5 > 1% in Ghil*s*phy +ill +ilkinson> "1 in 2hilosoph#> former 1ca
emic Coor inator of the 8ocial Chan)e 2roHect an the .lo4al 2rosperit# Initiative at The "ercatus Center at .eor)e "ason <niversit#> ?Capitalism an (uman Nature>N 172--5> httpD&&333.cato.or)&research&articles&3ilkinson7 -5-2-1.html
Tra)icall#> human
nature isnGt at all as a vertise > an neither is pine nee le tea. 1ccor in) to the <.8. 8tate @epartment> at least one million North theor# of human nature> like Kim Kon) IlGs theor# of pine nee le tea> is a 4iolo)ical fantas#> an 3e have the corpses to prove it. +hich ma# rive us to 3on erD if communism is ea l# 4ecause it is contrar# to human nature > oes that impl# that capitalism> 3hich is contrar# to communism> is istinctivel# compati4le 3ith human natureW 1 )ro3in) scientific iscipline calle evolutionar# ps#cholo)# speciali%es in uncoverin) the truth a4out human nature > an it is alrea # illuminatin) 3hat 3e kno3 a4out the possi4ilities of
Koreans have ie of famine since 1,,5. "arCGs human social or)ani%ation. (o3 natural is capitalismW Evolutionar# 2s#cholo)# 1-1 Evolutionar# ps#cholo)# seeks to un erstan the uniFue nature of the human min 4# appl#in) the lo)ic an metho s of contemporar# evolutionar# 4iolo)# an co)nitive ps#cholo)#. The main 3orkin) assumption of evolutionar# ps#cholo)# is that the min is a varie)ate toolkit of speciali%e functions =think of a 83iss 1rm# knifeA that has evolve throu)h natural selection to solve specific pro4lems face 4# our fore4ears. @istinct mental functionsPe.).> perceptionB rea in) other peopleGs intentionsB respon in) emotionall# to potential matesPare un er3ritten 4# ifferent neurolo)ical QcircuitsQ or Qmo ules>Q 3hich can each 4e conceive as mini computer pro)rams selecte un er environmental pressure to solve specific pro4lems of survival an repro uction t#pical in the ori)inal settin) of human evolution> the Environment of Evolutionar# 1 apte ness> the QEE1.Q 8trictl# speakin)> the EE1 is a statistical composite of environmental pressures that account for the evolutionar# selection of our istinctivel# human traits. Loosel#> the EE1 3as the perio calle the 2leistocene urin) 3hich humans live as hunter7)atherers from a4out 1.! million #ears a)o up until the invention of a)riculture a4out 1->--- #ears a)o. 1ccor
in) to evolutionar# ps#cholo)ists> the 4asic constitution of the human min hasnGt chan)e apprecia4l# for a4out 5->--- #ears. Thus the evolutionar# ps#cholo)istGs slo)anD mo ern skulls house 8tone 1)e min s. 1s pioneers of
evolutionar# ps#cholo)# Le a Cosmi es an Kohn Too4# put itD The ke# to un erstan in) ho3 the mo ern min 3orks is to reali%e that its circuits 3ere not esi)ne to solve the a#7to7 a# pro4lems of a mo ern 1mericanPthe# 3ere esi)ne to solve the a#7to7 a# pro4lems of our hunter7)atherer ancestors. <n erstan in) the pro4lems face 4# mem4ers of human hunter7)atherer 4an s in the EE1 can therefore help us to un erstan a )reat eal a4out human nature> an the prospects an patholo)ies of mo ern social s#stems. First> a 3or of cautionD +e cannot eCpect to ra3 an# strai)htfor3ar positive political lessons from evolutionar# ps#cholo)#. It can tell us somethin) a4out the kin of societ# that 3ill ten not to 3ork> an 3h#. Jut it cannot tell us 3hich of the feasi4le forms of societ# 3e ou)ht to aspire to. +e cannot> it turns out> infer the naturalness of capitalism from the manifest failure of communism to accommo ate human nature. Nor shoul 3e 4e tempte to infer that natural is 4etter. Fora)in) half7nake for nuts an 4erries is natural> 3hile the Ne3 Lork 8tock ECchan)e an open7heart sur)er# 3oul 4o))le our ancestorsG min s. +hat evolutionar# ps#cholo)# reall# helps us to appreciate is Hust 3hat an unlikel# achievement compleC> li4eral> market74ase societies reall# are. It helps us to )et a 4etter )rip on 3h# relativel# free an fa4ulousl# 3ealth# societies like ours are so rare an > possi4l#> so fra)ile. Evolutionar# ps#cholo)# helps us to un erstan that successful market li4eral societies reFuire the cultivation of certain ps#cholo)ical ten encies that are 3eak in 8tone 1)e min s an the suppression or su4limation of other ten encies that are stron). Free> capitalist societies> 3here the# can 4e ma e to 3ork> 3ork 3ith human nature. Jut it turns out that human nature is not eas# material to 3ork 3ith. There is a rapi l# eCpan in) li4rar# of 4ooks that tr# to spell out the moral> political an economic implications of evolutionar# ps#cholo)#. =The 5ri)ins of /irtue 4# "att ;i le#> @ar3inian 2olitics 4# 2aul ;u4in> an The Compan# of 8tran)ers 4# 2aul 8ea4ri)ht are )oo onesA. Jelo3 is a short tour of Hust a fe3 features of human nature emphasi%e 4# evolutionar# ps#cholo)ists that hi)hli)ht the challen)es of evelopin) an sustainin) a mo ern market li4eral or er. +e are Coalitional The si%e of hunter7)ather 4an s in the EE1 ran)e from 25 to a4out 15- people. The small si%e of those )roups ensure that ever#one 3oul kno3 ever#one elseB that social interactions 3oul 4e con ucte face7to7faceB an that reputations for honest#> har 3ork> an relia4ilit# 3oul 4e common kno3le )e. Even to a#> peopleGs a ress 4ooks usuall# contain no more than 15- names. 1n militar# sFua rons )enerall# contain a4out as man# people as 2leistocene huntin) eCpe itions. ECperiments 4# ps#cholo)ists Le a Cosmi es an ;o4ert Kur%4an have sho3n that human 4ein)s have speciali%e a4ilities to track shiftin) alliances an coalitions> an are ea)er to efine others as insi e or outsi e their o3n )roups. Coalitional cate)ories can easil# lea to violence an 3ar 4et3een )roups. Think of (utus an Tutsis> 1l4anians an 8er4s> 8hiites an 8unnis> Crips an the Jloo s> an so on a nauseam. (o3ever> coalitional cate)ories are fairl# flui . <n er the ri)ht circumstances> 3e can learn to care more a4out someoneGs evotion to the ;e 8oC or Lankees than their skin color> reli)ion> or social class. +e cannot> ho3ever> consistentl# think of ourselves as mem4ers onl# of that one )ran coalitionD the Jrotherhoo of "ankin . 5ur
isposition to think in terms of QusQ versus QthemQ is irremediable an it has
una)*idable political implications. 2opulist an
racialist political rhetoric encoura)es people to i entif# themselves as primaril# rich or poor> 4lack or 3hite. It is important to avoi esi)nin) institutions> such as racial preference pro)rams> that reinforce coalitional cate)ories that have no 4asis in 4iolo)# an ma# hei)hten some of the tensions the# are meant to relaC. 1 )reat eal of the animosit# to3ar free tra e> to take a ifferent eCample> epen s on economicall# an morall# inappropriate coalitional istinctions 4et3een 3orkers in Jaltimore =usA an 3orkers in Jan)alore =themA. 2ositivel#> free tra e is lau a4le for the 3a# it encoura)es us to see to mem4ers of unfamiliar )roups as partners> not enemies. +e are (ierarchical Like man# animals an all primates> humans
form
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5</57 hierarchies of ominance. It is eas# to reco)ni%e social hierarchies in mo

Daniel Schexnayder
ern life. Corporations> )overnment> chess clu4s> an churches all have formal hierarchical structures of officers. Informal structures of ominance an status ma# 4e the lea in) cause of tears in Hunior hi)h stu ents. The #namics of ominance hierarchies in the EE1 3as compleC. (ierarchies pla# an important role in )ui in) collective efforts an istri4utin) scarce resources 3ithout havin) to resort to violence. @ail# affairs run more smoothl# if ever#one kno3s 3hat is eCpecte of him. (o3ever> space at the top of the hierarch# is scarce an a source of conflict an competition. Those 3ho comman hi)her status in social hierarchies have 4etter access to material resources an matin) opportunities. Thus> evolution favors the ps#cholo)# of males an females 3ho are a4le successfull# to compete for positions of ominance. Livin) at the 4ottom of the ominance heap is a ra3 eal> an 3e are not 4uilt to take it l#in) o3n. There is evi ence that lo3er status males naturall# form coalitions to check the po3er of more ominant males an to achieve relativel# e)alitarian istri4ution of resources. In his 4ook (ierarch# in the Forest> anthropolo)ist Christopher Joehm calls these coalitions a)ainst the po3erful Qreverse ominance hierarchies.Q Emor# professor of economics an la3 2aul ;u4in usefull# istin)uishes 4et3een Qpro uctiveQ an QallocativeQ hierarchies. 2ro uctive hierarchies are those that or)ani%e cooperative efforts to achieve other3ise unattaina4le mutuall# a vanta)eous )ains. Jusiness or)ani%ations are a prime eCample. 1llocative hierarchies> on the other han > eCist mainl# to transfer resources to the top. 1ristocracies an ictatorships are eCtreme eCamples. 1lthou)h the nation7state can perform pro uctive functions> there is the constant risk that it 4ecomes ominate 4# allocative hierarchies. ;u4in 3arns that our natural 3ariness of %ero7sum allocative hierarchies> 3hich helps us to )uar a)ainst the concentration of po3er in too fe3 han s> is often irecte at mo ern positive7sum pro uctive hierarchies> like corporations> there4# threatenin) the via4ilit# of enterprises that ten to make ever#one 4etter off. There
is no 3a# to stop ominance7seekin) 4ehavior. +e ma# hope onl# to channel it to non7harmful uses . 1 free societ# therefore reFuires that positions of ominance an status 4e 3i el# availa4le in a multitu e of pro uctive hierarchies> an that opportunities for )reater status an
ominance throu)h pre ation are limite 4# the constant vi)ilance of Qthe peopleQPthe ultimate reverse ominance hierarch#. 1 flourishin) civil societ# permits almost ever#one to 4e the lea er of somethin)> 3hether the local 8tar Trek fan clu4 or the cit# council> there4# some3hat satisf#in) the human taste for hierarchical status> 4ut to no oneGs serious etriment. +e
are Envious $ero7sum Thinkers 2erhaps the most epressin) lesson of evolutionar# ps#cholo)# for politics is foun in its account of the eep7seate human capacit# for env# an > relate > of our ifficult# in
un erstan in) the i ea of )ains from tra e an increases in pro uctivit#Pthe i ea of an ever7eCpan in) QpieQ of 3ealth. There is evi ence that )reater skill an initiative coul lea to hi)her status an 4i))er shares of resources for an in ivi ual in the EE1. Jut 4ecause of the social nature of huntin) an )atherin)> the fact that foo spoile Fuickl#> an the utter a4sence of privac#> the 4enefits of in ivi ual success in huntin) or fora)in) coul not 4e easil# internali%e 4# the in ivi ual> an 3ere eCpecte to 4e share . The EE1 3as for the most part a %ero7sum 3orl > 3here increases in total 3ealth throu)h invention> investment> an eCten e economic eCchan)e 3ere totall# unkno3n. "ore for #ou 3as less for me. Therefore> if an#one mana)e to acFuire a )reat eal more than an#one else> that 3as prett# )oo evi ence that theirs 3as a stash of ill7)otten )ains> acFuire 4# cheatin)> stealin)> ra3 force> or> at 4est> sheer luck. Env# of the isproportionatel# 3ealth# ma# have helpe to reinforce )enerall# a aptive norms of sharin) an to help those of lo3er status on the ominance hierarch# )uar a)ainst further pre ation 4# those a4le to amass po3er. 5ur %ero7sum mentalit# makes it har for us to un erstan ho3 tra e an investment can increase the amount of total 3ealth. +e are thus ill7eFuippe to easil# un erstan our o3n economic s#stem. These features of human naturePthat 3e are coalitional> hierarchical> an envious %ero7sum thinkersP3oul seem to make li4eral capitalism eCtremel# unlikel#. 1n it is. (o3ever> the 4enefits of a li4eral market or er can 4e seen in a fe3 further features of the human min an social or)ani%ation in the EE1. 2ropert# ;i)hts are Natural The pro4lem of istri4utin) scarce resources can 4e han le in part 4# implicitl# coercive allocative hierarchies. 1n alternative solution to the pro4lem of istri4ution is the reco)nition an enforcement of propert# ri)hts. 2ropert# ri)hts are prefi)ure in nature 4# the 3a# animals mark out territories for their eCclusive use in fora)in)> huntin)> an matin). ;eco)nition
of such ru imentar# claims to control an eCclu e minimi%es costl# conflict> 3hich 4# itself provi es a stron) evolutionar# reason to look for innate ten encies to reco)ni%e an respect norms of propert#. Ne3 scientific research provi es even stron)er evi ence for the eCistence of such propert# Qinstincts.Q For eCample> recent eCperimental 3ork 4# 5liver .oo enou)h> a le)al theorist> an
Christine 2rehn> a neuroscientist> su))ests that the human min evolve speciali%e mo ules for makin) Hu )ments a4out moral trans)ressions> an trans)ressions a)ainst propert# in particular. Evolutionar#
ps#cholo)# can help us to un erstan that propert# ri)hts are not create simpl# 4# strokes of the le)islatorGs pen. "utuall# Jeneficial ECchan)e is Natural Tra e an mutuall# 4eneficial eCchan)e are human universals> as is the
ivision of la4or. In their )roun 4reakin) paper> QCo)nitive 1 aptations for 8ocial ECchan)e>Q Cosmi es an Too4# point out that> contrar# to 3i esprea 4elief> hunter7)atherer life is not Qa kin of retro7utopiaQ of Qin iscriminate> e)alitarian cooperation an sharin).Q The archeolo)ical an ethno)raphic evi ence sho3s that hunter7)atherers 3ere involve in numerous forms of tra e an eCchan)e. 8ome forms of hunter7)atherer tra in) can involve Fuite compleC speciali%ation an the interaction of suppl# an eman . "ost impressive> Cosmi es an Too4# have sho3n throu)h a series of eCperiments that human 4ein)s are a4le easil# to solve compleC lo)ical pu%%les involvin) reciprocit#> the accountin) of costs an 4enefits> an the etection of people 3ho have cheate on a)reements. (o3ever> 3e are una4le to solve formall# i entical pu%%les that o not eal 3ith Fuestions of social eCchan)e. That> the# ar)ue> points to the eCistence of Qfunctionall# speciali%e > content7 epen ent co)nitive a aptations for social eCchan)e.Q In other 3or s> the human min is QbuiltE t* trade. Trust an (a#ekGs T3o 5r ers It is eas# to see a kin of in vitro capitalism in the evolve human propensit# to reco)ni%e propert# ri)hts> speciali%e in pro uctive en eavors> an en)a)e in fairl# compleC forms of social eCchan)e. (o3ever> the kin of free om an 3ealth 3e enHo# in the <nite 8tates remains a chimera to 4illions. +hile our evolve capacities are the scaffol in) upon 3hich a vance li4eral capitalism has 4een 4uilt> the# are> Fuite plainl#> not enou)h> as the hun re s of millions 3ho live on less than a ollar a a# can attest. The path from the EE1 to laptops an lattes reFuires a )reat cultural leap. In recent 3ork> No4el 2ri%e73innin) economists @ou)lass North an /ernon 8mith have stresse that the crucial Huncture is the transition from personal to impersonal eCchan)e. Economic life in the EE1 3as 4ase on repeate face7to7face interactions 3ith 3ell7kno3n mem4ers of the communit#. 1)reements 3ere police mainl# 4# pu4lic kno3le )e of reputation. If #ou cheate or shirke > #our stock of reputation 3oul ecline> an so 3oul #our prospects. 5ur evolutionar# en o3ment prepare us to navi)ate skillfull# throu)h that 3orl of personal eCchan)e. (o3ever> it i not prepare us to cooperate an tra e 3ith total stran)ers 3hom 3e ha never met an mi)ht never see a)ain. The roa to prosperit# must cross a chasm of uncertaint# an mistrust. The transition to eCten e > impersonal market or er reFuires the emer)ence of Qinstitutions that make human 4ein)s 3illin) to treat stran)ers as honorar# frien sQ as 2aul 8ea4ri)ht puts it. The eCcitin) stor# of the 3a# these institutions pi))#4acke on an evolve ps#cholo)# esi)ne to solve Fuite ifferent ecolo)ical pro4lems is the topic of 8ea4ri)htGs 4ook> The Compan# of 8tran)ers> as 3ell as an important part of forthcomin) 3orks 4# @ou)lass North an /ernon 8mith. 1s he so often i > F. 1. (a#ek anticipate contemporar# tren s. (a#ek un erstoo that our kin of econom# an societ#> 3hich he calle an eCten e or er> or Qmacro7cosmos>Q is in man# 3a#s alien to our 4asic ps#cholo)ical constitution> 3hich
Cap K NSDI
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Daniel Schexnayder
is )eare to eal 3ith life in small )roups> the Qmicro7cosmos.Q +e live in t3o 3orl s> the face7to7face 3orl of the tri4e> famil#> school> an firm> an the impersonal> anon#mous 3orl of hu)e cities> h#per7speciali%ation> an trans73orl tra e. Each 3orl has its o3n set of rules> an 3e confuse them at our peril. 1s (a#ek 3rites in The Fatal ConceitD If 3e 3ere to appl# the unmo ifie > uncur4e > rules of the micro7cosmos =i.e.> of the small 4an or troop> or of> sa#> our familiesA to the macro7cosmos =our 3i er civili%ationA> as our instincts an sentimental #earnin)s often make us 3ish to o> 3e 3oul estro# it. Let if 3e 3ere al3a#s to appl# the rules of the eCten e or er to our more intimate )roupin)s> 3e 3oul crush them. 8o 3e must learn to live in t3o sorts of 3orl s at once. The 4alance is elicate. 5nce 3e appreciate the impro4a4ilit# an fra)ilit# of our 3ealth an free om> it 4ecomes clear Hust ho3 much respect an )ratitu e 3e o3e to the 4elief s#stems> social institutions> an personal virtues that allo3e for the emer)ence of our Q3i er civili%ationQ an that allo3 us to move 4et3een our t3o 3orl s 3ithout estro#in) or crushin) either. Evolutionar# 2s#cholo)# an 2olitical (umilit# The
ke# political lesson of evolutionar#
ps#cholo)# is simpl# that there is a universal human nature. The human min comprises man# istinct> speciali%e functions> an is not an all7 purpose learnin) machine that can 4e reformatte at 3ill to reali%e political reams. The shape of societ# is c*nstrained by *ur e)*l)ed nature. ;emakin) humanit# throu)h politics is a bi*l*,ical imp*ssibility on the or er of curin) cancer 3ith pine nee le tea. +e can>
ho3ever> 3ork 3ith human naturePan 3e have. +e have> throu)h culture> enhance those traits that facilitate trust an cooperation> channele our coalitional an status7seekin) instincts to3ar pro uctive uses> an 4uilt upon our natural suspicion of po3er to preserve our free om. +e can> of course> o 4etter. 1s Immanuel Kant famousl# remarke > Qfrom the crooke tim4er of humanit# no trul# strai)ht thin) can 4e ma e.Q Jut> in the 3or s of philosopher> @enis @utton> It is not . . . that no 4eautiful carvin) or piece of furniture can 4e pro uce from t3iste 3oo B it is rather that 3hatever is finall# create 3ill onl# en ure if it takes into account the )rain> teCture> natural Hoints> knotholes> stren)ths an 3eaknesses of the ori)inal material. Evolutionar#
ps#cholo)#> 4# helpin) us 4etter un erstan human nature> can ai us in cultivatin) social or ers that o not '**lishly attempt t* cut a,ainst the ,rain *' human nature. +e can learn ho3 4est to 3ork 3ith the material of humanit# to encoura)e an preserve societies> like o3n> that are not onl# 4eautiful> 4ut
3ill en ure.
Cap K NSDI
5$/57

Daniel Schexnayder
CapOSel' c*rrectin,
Capitalism is sel'Cc*rrectin,+it creates the c*nditi*ns '*r re'lexi)ity Cudd 1< 9 @ean of (umanities an
1nne Cu 2rofessor of 2hilosoph# : K<
> ?Capitalism for an 1)ainstD 1 Feminist @e4ate>N p). 124
Finall#> capitalism
promotes innovation> an as a path to technical innovation> science. 8cience offers a means for critical analysis *' belie's> an hence a 3a# to unc*)er and debunk 'alse c*nsci*usness.15 In the Fuest for a creative> innovative 3orkforce> i eal firms seek out hi)hl# e ucate in ivi uals an in ivi uals from 3i el# var#in) 4ack)roun s. If a societ# is to support such innovation> it 3ill nee to support the e ucation of in ivi uals from all 3alks of life in or er to maCimi%e the potential for fin in) the uniFuel# creative in ivi uals 3ho 3ill invent ne3 technolo)ies an ne3 forms of life. Jut a necessar# 4#pro uct of such 4roa l# istri4ute e ucation 3ill 4e the creation of critical thinkin) in ivi uals 3ho -uesti*n the 'etishes of the current )eneration. In this 3a#> capitalism creates the c*nditi*ns '*r trenchant criti-ues *' capitalist 'etishes!
Cap K NSDI
5"/57

Daniel Schexnayder
Cap M**d > G*)erty

The 'ree market s*l)es p*)erty+empirics pr*)e 9ilkins*n= <57 +ill +ilkinson is a polic# anal#st at the Cato Institute in +ashin)ton> @.C. =+ill +ilkinson> ?@epresse
market s#stemGs impact on Fualit# of lifeN @ecem4er 2--!> 2roFuestA @5E8 ;E8E1;C( on happiness prove markets are a 4ummerW 2olitical marketsW (appiness an free tra e.=free
scientist JenHamin ;a cliff of Notre @ame <niversit#> summin) up his recent stu ies in 8ocial Forces an the 1merican 2olitical 8cience ;evie3> sa#s surve# research sho3s that Qthe more 3e supplement the col efficienc# of the free market s#stem 3ith interventions that re uce povert#> insecurit# an ineFualit#> the more 3e improve the Fualit# of life.Q Jut contrar# to his eCpectations> the @utch sociolo)ist ;uut /eenhoven> e itor of the Kournal of (appiness
8tu ies> foun in a 2--- paper that a lar)er 3elfare state oes not create Qan# 3ell74ein) surplus. Q1 2--1 National Jureau of Economic ;esearch paper 4# the economists 1l4erto 1lesina> ;afael @i Tella> an ;o4ert "acCulloch in icate that ineFualit# has no ne)ative effect on happiness in the <.8.77unless #ouGre a rich leftist. "ore recentl#> a
2--! stu # 4# the <niversit# of ;e)inaGs Tomi 5vaska an the <niversit# of +est /ir)iniaGs ;#o Takashima> pu4lishe in the Kournal of 8ocio7Economics> sho3s that the varia4le most stron)l# correlate 3ith a nationGs avera)e self7reporte happiness is Qeconomic free omQ as measure 4# the Fraser InstituteGs Economic Free om of the +orl in eC. To 4e sure> the
e)alitarian 83e es arenGt sufferin)> 4ut neither are the more market7frien l# 1mericans. ;a cliff 3rites that QGemancipationG from the market ... is the principal political eterminant of su4Hective 3ell74ein).Q Jut 3hen 3elfare states 3ork relativel# 3ell> itGs 4ecause the# can ra3 on the 4i) 4ucks )enerate 4# reasona4l# free an 3ell7 functionin) markets.
G*)erty decreasin, > li'eCexpectancy increasin, > causally related t* spread *' capitalism 0ichards # 9 2h@ in 2hilosoph# : 2rinceton
Ka# ;ichar s> 2h@ 3ith honors in 2hilosoph# an Theolo)# from 2rinceton> ?"one#> .ree > an .o D +h# Capitalism Is the 8olution an Not the 2ro4lem>N p). ,2
In fact> the percenta)e of people livin) in a4solute povert# has roppe since 1,'-. In 1,'-> the 3orl population 3as 0.' 4illion> an 0* percent =1.4 4illionA live 4elo3 the a4solute povert# line =less than one ollar a a#A. J# 1,,-> 3ith a 3orl population of 5.0 4illion> those lan)uishin) in a4solute le)lummish reports to the contrar#> 3orl 3i e> statistics on infant mortalit#> life eCpectanc#> an povert# have all impr*)ed dramatically in the last fe3 eca es.1! Comparin) countries> there is one unmistaka4le tren D countries 3ith the rule of la3 an economic free om prosper over time. Countries 3ithout these virtues o not. The annual ?In eC of Economic Free omN rives this home. In 2--'> 4oomin) (on) Kon) toppe the list> 3hile starvin)> povert# roppe to 2! percent =still a4out 1.4 4illionA.15 In fact> espite pu 8talinist North Korea came in ea last.1' Those t3o facts tell #ou 3hat #ou nee to kno3. If ever# countr# ha free markets an the rule of la3> ever# circle on the .apmin er plot 3oul pro4a4l# 4e movin) up an to the ri)ht.
Cap K NSDI
5&/57

Daniel Schexnayder
Cap M**d > 2n)ir*nment

Capitalism is key t* preser)e the en)ir*nment Tayl*r $<<" =Kerr#> irector of natural resources stu ies at Cato> ?The ;eal 1Cis of Evil>N httpD&&333.cato.or)&pu4S
ispla#.phpWpu4Si 60-'0A
In ee > 3e
3oul nGt even have environmentalists in our mi st 3ere it not for capitalism. Environmental amenities> after all> are luCur# )oo s. 1merica77 like much of the Thir +orl to a# 77 ha no environmental movement to speak of until livin) stan ar s rose sufficientl#so that 3e coul turn our attention from simpl# provi in) for foo > shelter> an a reasona4le e ucation to hi)her QFualit# of lifeQ issues. The richer #ou are> the more likel# #ou are to 4e an environmentalist. 1n people 3oul nGt 4e rich 3ithout capitalism. +ealth not onl# 4ree s environmentalists> it 4e)ets environmental Fualit#. There are o%ens of stu ies sho3in) that> as per capita income initiall# rises from
su4sistence levels> air an 3ater pollution increases correspon in)l#. Jut once per capita income hits 4et3een a0>5-- an a15>--- = epen ent upon the pollutantA> the am4ient concentration of pollutants 4e)ins to ecline Hust as rapi l# as it ha previousl# increase . This relationship is foun for virtuall# ever# si)nificant pollutant in ever# sin)le re)ion of the planet. It is an iron la3. .iven that 3ealthier societies use more resources than poorer societies> such fin in)s are in ee counterintuitive. Jut the ata onGt lie. (o3 o 3e eCplain thisWThe o4vious ans3er 77 that 3ealthier
societies are 3illin) to tra e7off the economic costs of )overnment re)ulation for environmental improvements an that poorer societies are not 77 is onl# partiall# correct.In the <nite 8tates> pollution eclines )enerall# pre ate the passa)e of la3s man atin) pollution controls. In fact> for most pollutants>
eclines 3ere )reater 4efore the fe eral )overnment passe its panopl# of environmental re)ulations than after the E21 came upon the scene."uch of this ha to o 3ith in ivi ual eman s for environmental Fualit#. 2eople 3ho coul affor cleaner74urnin) furnaces> for instance> 4ou)ht them. 2eople 3ho 3ante recreational services spent their mone# accor in)l#> creatin) profit opportunities for the provision of untrammele nature. 2ropert#
values rose in cleaner areas an ecline in more pollute areas> shiftin) capital from Jro3n to .reen investments. "arket a)ents 3ill suppl# 3hatever it is that people are 3illin) to spen mone# on. 1n 3hen people are 3illin) to spen mone# on environmental Fualit#> the market 3ill provi e it."ean3hile> capitalism re3ar s efficienc# an punishes 3aste. 2rofit7hun)r# companies foun in)enious 3a#s to re uce the natural resource inputs necessar# to pro uce all kin s of )oo s> 3hich in turn re uce environmental eman s on the lan an the amount of 3aste that flo3e throu)h smokestacks an 3ater pipes . 1s 3e learne
to o more an more 3ith a )iven unit of resources> the 3aste involve =3hich manifests itself in the form of pollutionA shrank. This tren 3as ma)nifie 4# the shift a3a# from manufacturin) to service in ustries> 3hich characteri%es 3ealth#> )ro3in) economies. The latter are far less pollution7intensive than the former. Jut the
former are necessar# prereFuisites for the latter. 2ropert# ri)hts 77 a necessar# prereFuisite for free market economies 77 also provi e stron) incentives to invest in resource health. +ithout them> no one cares a4out future returns 4ecause no one can 4e sure the#Gll 4e aroun to reap the )ains. 2ropert# ri)hts are also important means 4# 3hich private esires for resource conservation an preservation can 4e reali%e .+hen the )overnment> on the other han > hol s a monopol# on such ecisions> minorit# preferences in evelopin) societies are
overrule =see the ol 8oviet 4lock for etailsA. Furthermore> onl# 3ealth# societies can affor the investments necessar# to secure 4asic environmental improvements> such as se3a)e treatment an electrification. <nsanitar# 3ater an the in oor air pollution =cause primaril# 4# 4urnin) or)anic fuels in the home for heatin) an cookin) nee sA are irectl# responsi4le for a4out 1- million eaths a #ear in the Thir +orl > makin) povert# the num4er one environmental killer on the planet to a#.
Capitalism can save more lives threatene 4# environmental pollution than all the environmental or)ani%ations com4ine .Finall#> the technolo)ical a vances that are part an parcel of )ro3in) economies create more natural resources than the# consume.ThatGs 4ecause 3hat is or is not a Qnatural resourceQ is epen ent upon our a4ilit# to harness the resource in Fuestion for human 4enefit.
;esources are therefore a function of human kno3le )e. Jecause the stock of human kno3le )e increases faster in free economies than it oes in socialist economies> it shoul 4e no surprise that most natural resources in the 3estern 3orl are more a4un ant to a# than ever 4efore no matter 3hich measure one uses.
Cap K NSDI
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Daniel Schexnayder
Cap M**d > J$

Capitalism best ensures )alue t* li'e
Tracinski ; 9 e itor of the Intellectual 1ctivist

;o4ert> The "oral an the 2ractical> httpD&&333.moral efense.com&2hilosoph#&Essa#s&TheS"oralSan StheS2ractical.htm
8tate in more fun amental terms> capitalism is practical 4ecause it relies on the ineChausti4le motive7po3er of self7interest. <n
er capitalism> people are riven 4# lo#alt# to their o3n )oals an 4# the am4ition to improve their lives. The# are riven 4# the i ea that oneGs o3n life is an irreplacea4le value not to 4e sacrifice or 3aste . Jut this is also a crucial moral principleD the principle that each man is an en in himself> not a mere co) in the collective machine to 4e eCploite for the en s of others . "ost of to a#Gs intellectuals refleCivel# con emn self7interestB #et this is the same Fualit# enshrine 4# our nationGs foun ers 3hen the# proclaime the in ivi ualGs ri)ht to Qthe pursuit of happiness.Q It is onl# capitalism that reco)ni%es this ri)ht. The fun amental characteristics that make capitalism practicalPits respect for the free om of the min an for the sanctit# of the in ivi ualPare also profoun moral i eals. This is the ans3er to the ilemma of the moral vs. the practical. The ans3er is that capitalism is a s#stem of virtuePthe virtues of rational thou)ht>
pro uctive 3ork> an pri e in the value of oneGs o3n person. The re3ar for these virtuesPan for the political s#stem that protects an encoura)es themPis an ever7 increasin) 3ealth an prosperit#.
Cap K NSDI
55/57

Daniel Schexnayder
Cap M**d > 9ar

The spread *' capitalism al*ne s*l)es (ars and c*n'licts Hand*( 57 Former assistant to presi
ent ;e)an> 8enior fello3 : the Cato institute
=@ou)> ?8prea in) Capitalism is )oo for 2eace>N 11&1-&-5> httpD&&333.cato.or)&pu4S ispla#.phpWpu4Si 651,0&A 2ositive economic tren s are not enou)h to prevent 3ar> 4ut then> neither is emocrac#. It lon) has 4een o4vious that
emocracies are 3illin) to fi)ht> Hust
usuall# not each other. Conten
s .art%ke> Qli4eral political s#stems> in an of themselves> have no impact on 3hether states fi)ht.Q In particular> poorer emocracies perform like non7 emocracies. (e eCplainsD Q@emocrac# oes not have a measura4le impact> 3hile nations 3ith ver# lo3 levels of economic free om are 14 times more prone to conflict than those 3ith ver# hi)h levels.Q .art%ke consi ers other varia4les> inclu in) alliance mem4erships> nuclear eterrence> an re)ional ifferences. 1lthou)h the causes of conflict var#> the relationship 4et3een economic li4ert# an peace remains . (is conclusion hasnGt )one unchallen)e . 1uthor ;.K. ;ummel> an avi proponent of the emocratic peace theor#> challen)es .art%keGs metho olo)# an 3orries that it Qma# 3ell lea intelli)ent an polic#73ise anal#sts an commentators to ra3 the 3ron) conclusions a4out the importance of emocrati%ation.Q .art%ke respon s in etail> notin) that he relie on the same ata as most emocratic peace theorists. If it is true that emocratic states onGt )o to 3ar> then it also is true that Q states
3ith a vance
free market economies never )o to 3ar 3ith each other > either.Q The point is not that
emocrac# is valueless. Free political s#stems naturall# entail
free elections an are more likel# to protect other forms of li4ert# 7 civil an economic> for instance. (o3ever>
emocrac# alone oesnGt #iel peace. To
4elieve is oes is an)erousD ThereGs no panacea for creatin) a conflict7free 3orl . That oesnGt mean that nothin) can 4e one. Jut promotin) open international markets 7 that is> sprea in) capitalism 7 is the 4est means to encoura)e peace as 3ell as prosperit# .
Capitalism pre)ents c*n'lict thr*u,h in'*rmati*n Mart@ke 77 2h@7 associate professor of political science at <C 8an @ie)o
=Erik> ?The Capitalist 2eace>N 1&5&-'> httpD&& ss.ucs .e u&fe)art%ke&pu4lications&)art%keSaHpsS-'.p fA
+hile polic# ifferences or resource competition can )enerate conflict> the# nee not pro uce contests if states can resolve ifferences iplomaticall#. Li4eral theor# emphasi%es the pacif#in) effect of cross74or er economic linka)es . "arkets are ar)ua4l# most relevant as mechanisms for revealin) information > ho3ever> rather than for a in) to the risks or costs of fi)htin) =.art%ke an Li 2--0B .art%ke> Li> an Joehmer 2--1A. Competition creates incentives to 4luff> to eCa))erate capa4ilities or resolve. 1narch# makes it ifficult for states to compel honest ans3ers from one another eCcept throu)h the threat or imposition of harm. Contests inform 4# 4ein) costl#> forcin) actors to choose 4et3een 4earin) the 4ur en of competition an 4ackin) o3n. 5f course> one can si)nal 4# ?4urnin) mone#>N eCpen in) valua4le resources autonomousl#> 4ut such acts create a relative as 3ell as a4solute
loss. Tactics that impart costs onl# as a 4#pro uct of imposin) costs on an opponent can pro uce relative )ains> 3hile tactics such as 4urnin) mone# onl# harm the initiator. 8tates 3ith
economies inte)rate into )lo4al markets face autonomous investors 3ith incentives to reallocate capital a3a# from risk. 1 lea erTs threats a)ainst another state 4ecome costl# 3hen threats spark market repercussions. 2articipants learn from 3atchin) the reactions of lea ers to the ifferential incentives of economic cost an political re3ar . T3o economicall# inte)rate states can more often avoi militar# violence> since market inte)ration com4ines mechanisms for revelation an coercion. 1n
economicall# inte)rate tar)et can 4e coerce 4# the threat of losin) valua4le eCchan)e> 4ut a noninte)rate initiator cannot make its threats cre i4le or informative. Conversel#> a )lo4ali%e initiator can si)nal 4ut has little incentive to hamper its o3n markets 3hen a noninte)rate tar)et oes not suffer =.art%ke 2--!4A.
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57/57 The expansi*n *' capitalism makes (ar less likely Mris(*ld 57 @irector of the Cato institute center for tra
e polic# stu ies

Daniel Schexnayder
=@aniel> ?2eace on earthW Tr# free tra e amon) men>N 12&2*&-5> httpD&&333.cato.or)&pu4S ispla#.phpWpu4Si 65044A
First> tra
e an )lo4ali%ation have reinforce the tren to3ar
emocrac#> an
emocracies onGt pick fi)hts 3ith each
other. Free
om to tra e nurtures emocrac# 4# eCpan in) the mi le class in )lo4ali%in) countries an eFuippin) people 3ith tools of communication such as cell
phones> satellite T/> an the Internet. +ith tra e comes more travel> more contact 3ith people in other countries> an more eCposure to ne3 i eas. Thanks in part to
)lo4ali%ation> almost t3o thir s of the 3orl Gs countries to a# are emocracies 77 a recor hi)h. 8econ > as national economies 4ecome more inte)rate 3ith each other> those nations have more to lose shoul 3ar 4reak out . +ar in a )lo4ali%e 3orl not onl#
means human casualties an 4i))er )overnment> 4ut also rupture tra e an investment ties that impose lastin) ama)e on the econom#. In short> )lo4ali%ation has ramaticall# raise the economic cost of 3ar. Thir > )lo4ali%ation allo3s nations to acFuire 3ealth throu)h pro uction an tra e rather than conFuest of territor# an resources. Increasin)l#> 3ealth is measure in terms of intellectual propert#> financial assets> an human capital. Those are assets that cannot 4e sei%e 4# armies. If people nee resources outsi e their national 4or ers> sa# oil or tim4er or farm pro ucts> the# can acFuire them peacefull# 4# tra in) a3a# 3hat the# can pro uce 4est at home . 5f course> free tra e an )lo4ali%ation o not )uarantee peace. (ot7 4loo e nationalism an i eolo)ical fervor can over3helm col economic calculations. Jut eep tra e an investment ties amon) nations make 3ar less attractive. Tra e 3ars in the 1,0-s eepene the economic epression> eCacer4ate )lo4al tensions> an helpe to usher in a 3orl 3ar. 5ut of the ashes of that eCperience> the <nite 8tates ur)e .erman#> France> an other +estern European nations to form a common market that has 4ecome the European <nion. In lar)e part 4ecause of their intert3ine economies> a )eneral 3ar in Europe is no3 unthinka4le.
Capitalism s*l)es (ar Cudd 1< 9 @ean of (umanities an 2rofessor of 2hilosoph# : K<
1nne Cu > ?Capitalism for an 1)ainstD 1 Feminist @e4ate>N .oo)le Jook
@oes capitalism cause more 3arsW This has lon) 4een an ar)ument of socialists a)ainst capitalism> 4ut it seems a flims# one. First> it is clear that the communist eCperiments of the t3entieth centur# 3ere ever# 4it as militaristic an capa4le of a))ressive 3ars as the capitalist ones. 8econ > it is commonl# asserte > an I think 2rofessor (olmstrom 3oul a)ree> that emocratic nations o not 3a)e 3ar a)ainst each other. Jut emocratic countries ten to3ar capitalism> since that seems to 4e 3hat people choose 3hen )iven the chance. 1s 3ith slaver#> the lo)ic of capitalism tells a,ainst (ar> in )eneral> as that 3ipes out potential tra in) partners. Capitalist competition is a positive7sum )ame> not a %ero or ne)ative sum . I a)ree 3holehearte l# 3ith 2rofessor (olmstromGs assertion that securit# is than 4roa er militar# securit#B the securit# of persons an propert# )enerall# is the necessar# con ition for capitalist evelopment .

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The Capitalism Kritik

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Capitalism 'uels a ,en*cidal '*rei,n p*licy that threatens ,l*bal destructi*n!

1t the same time> it is clear that in

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7nly a re6ecti*n *' the ide*l*,y *' capital can s*l)e!

5n the 4asis of Lacanian theor#> one

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In'rastructure In)estment ink

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/ree Trade ink

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vocate a Fuick ei eolo)i%ation> a retreat

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1t the same time> it is clear that in

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1t the same time> it is clear that in

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8econ La3 is no3 use

to eCplain the 4i) 4an)> the eCpansion of the cosmos an even

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%T Cap M**d 2n)ir*nment

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there is not an 1merican finance empire> as claime

4# 2anitch an .in in =2--5A> 4ut that <.

8. capital stan s in fierce competition

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Capitalism 'uels a ,encidal 'rei,n plicy that threatens ,lbal destructi*n!

7nly a re6ectin ' the idel,y ' capital can sl)e!

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it (ere pssible t inhabit a heter,eneus and penCended ecn*mic space