Postcapitalism : a guide to our future

is a guide to our era of seismic economic change, and how we can build a more equal society. Over the past two centuries or so, capitalism has undergone continual change - economic cycles that lurch from boom to bust - and has always emerged transformed and strengthened. Surveying this turbulent history, Paul Mason wonders whether today we are on the brink of a change so big, so profound, that this time capitalism itself, the immensely complex system by which entire societies function, has reached its limits and is changing into something wholly new.At the heart of this change is information technology: a revolution that, as Mason shows, has the potential to reshape utterly our familiar notions of work, production and value; and to destroy an economy based on markets and private ownership - in fact, he contends, it is already doing so. Almost unnoticed, in the niches and hollows of the market system, whole swathes of economic life are changing.. Goods and services that no longer respond to the dictates of neoliberalism are appearing, from parallel currencies and time banks, to cooperatives and self-managed online spaces. Vast numbers of people are changing their behaviour, discovering new forms of ownership, lending and doing business that are distinct from, and contrary to, the current system of state-backed corporate capitalism.In this groundbreaking book Mason shows how, from the ashes of the recent financial crisis, we have the chance to create a more socially just and sustainable global economy. Moving beyond capitalism, he shows, is no longer a utopian dream. This is the first time in human history in which, equipped with an understanding of what is happening around us, we can predict and shape, rather than simply react to, seismic change. Read more... Abstract: Explores how past societies have collapsed or changed, and provides a powerful critique of why our present system of financial capitalism has failed us. This book guides you through an era of seismic economic change, and how we can build a more equal society. Read more... Over The Past Two Centuries Or So, Capitalism Has Undergone Profound Changes--economic Cycles That Veer From Boom To Bust--from Which It Has Always Emerged Transformed And Strengthened. Surveying This Turbulent History, Paul Mason's Postcapitalism Argues That We Are On The Brink Of A Change So Big And So Profound That This Time Capitalism Itself, The Immensely Complex System Within Which Entire Societies Function, Will Mutate Into Something Wholly New. At The Heart Of This Change Is Information Technology, A Revolution That Is Driven By Capitalism But, With Its Tendency To Push The Value Of Much Of What We Make Toward Zero, Has The Potential To Destroy An Economy Based On Markets, Wages, And Private Ownership. Almost Unnoticed, In The Niches And Hollows Of The Market System, Swaths Of Economic Life Are Beginning To Move To A Different Rhythm. Vast Numbers Of People Are Changing How They Behave And Live, In Ways Contrary To The Current System Of State-backed Corporate Capitalism. And As The Terrain Changes, New Paths Open. In This Bold And Prophetic Book, Mason Shows How, From The Ashes Of The Crisis, We Have The Chance To Create A More Socially Just And Sustainable Economy. Although The Dangers Ahead Are Profound, He Argues That There Is Cause For Hope. This Is The First Time In Human History In Which, Equipped With An Understanding Of What Is Happening Around Us, We Can Predict And Shape The Future-- In The Tradition Of No Logo And Empire, Postcapitalism Is A Sharply Polemical But Deeply Analytical And Historically Informed Account Of The Transition From Capitalism To A New Economic Order-- Neoliberalism Is Broken -- Long Waves, Short Memories -- Was Marx Right? -- The Long, Disrupted Wave -- The Prophets Of Postcapitalism -- Towards The Free Machine -- Beautiful Troublemakers -- On Transitions -- The Rational Case For Panic -- Project Zero. Paul Mason. Originally Published In 2015 By Allen Lane, An Imprint Of Penguin Random House, Great Britain-- Title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 293-311) And Index. From Paul Mason, the award-winning Channel 4 presenter, Postcapitalism is a guide to our era of seismic economic change, and how we can build a more equal society. Over the past two centuries or so, capitalism has undergone continual change - economic cycles that lurch from boom to bust - and has always emerged transformed and strengthened. Surveying this turbulent history, Paul Mason wonders whether today we are on the brink of a change so big, so profound, that this time capitalism itself, the immensely complex system by which entire societies function, has reached its limits and is changing into something wholly new. At the heart of this change is information technology: a revolution that, as Mason shows, has the potential to reshape utterly our familiar notions of work, production and value; and to destroy an economy based on markets and private ownership - in fact, he contends, it is already doing so. Almost unnoticed, in the niches and hollows of the market system, whole swathes of economic life are changing.. Goods and services that no longer respond to the dictates of neoliberalism are appearing, from parallel currencies and time banks, to cooperatives and self-managed online spaces. Vast numbers of people are changing their behaviour, discovering new forms of ownership, lending and doing business that are distinct from, and contrary to, the current system of state-backed corporate capitalism. In this groundbreaking book Mason shows how, from the ashes of the recent financial crisis, we have the chance to create a more socially just and sustainable global economy. Moving beyond capitalism, he shows, is no longer a utopian dream. This is the first time in human history in which, equipped with an understanding of what is happening around us, we can predict and shape, rather than simply react to, seismic change.

We know that our world is undergoing seismic change—but how can we emerge from the crisis a fairer, more equal society?

Over the past two centuries or so, capitalism has undergone profound changes—economic cycles that veer from boom to bust—from which it has always emerged transformed and strengthened. Surveying this turbulent history, Paul Mason’s Postcapitalism argues that we are on the brink of a change so big and so profound that this time capitalism itself, the immensely complex system within which entire societies function, will mutate into something wholly new.

At the heart of this change is information technology, a revolution that is driven by capitalism but, with its tendency to push the value of much of what we make toward zero, has the potential to destroy an economy based on markets, wages, and private ownership. Almost unnoticed, in the niches and hollows of the market system, swaths of economic life are beginning to move to a different rhythm. Vast numbers of people are changing how they behave and live, in ways contrary to the current system of state-backed corporate capitalism. And as the terrain changes, new paths open.

In this bold and prophetic book, Mason shows how, from the ashes of the crisis, we have the chance to create a more socially just and sustainable economy. Although the dangers ahead are profound, he argues that there is cause for hope. This is the first time in human history in which, equipped with an understanding of what is happening around us, we can predict and shape the future.

We know that our world is undergoing seismic change—but how can we emerge from the crisis a fairer, more equal society? Over the past two centuries or so, capitalism has undergone profound changes—economic cycles that veer from boom to bust—from which it has always emerged transformed and strengthened. Surveying this turbulent history, Paul Mason's Postcapitalism argues that we are on the brink of a change so big and so profound that this time capitalism itself, the immensely complex system within which entire societies function, will mutate into something wholly new. At the heart of this change is information technology, a revolution that is driven by capitalism but, with its tendency to push the value of much of what we make toward zero, has the potential to destroy an economy based on markets, wages, and private ownership. Almost unnoticed, in the niches and hollows of the market system, swaths of economic life are beginning to move to a different rhythm. Vast numbers of people are changing how they behave and live, in ways contrary to the current system of state-backed corporate capitalism. And as the terrain changes, new paths open. In this bold and prophetic book, Mason shows how, from the ashes of the crisis, we have the chance to create a more socially just and sustainable economy. Although the dangers ahead are profound, he argues that there is cause for hope. This is the first time in human history in which, equipped with an understanding of what is happening around us, we can predict and shape the future. In this volume, Paul Mason explores how past societies have collapsed or changed, and provides a powerful critique of why our present system of financial capitalism has failed us. Most of all, he shows how, from the ashes of the crisis, we have the chance to create a more socially just and sustainable economy. 'The most important book about our economy and society to be published in my lifetime' Irvine Welsh. From Paul Mason, the award-winning Channel 4 presenter, Postcapitalism is a guide to our era of seismic economic change, and how we can build a more equal society. Over the past two centuries or so, capitalism has undergone continual change - economic cycles that lurch from boom to bust - and has always emerged transformed and strengthened. Surveying this turbulent history, Paul Mason wonders whether today we are on the brink of a change so big, so profound, that this time capitalism itself, the immensely complex system by which entire societies function, has reached its limits and is changing into something wholly new. At the heart of this change is information technology: a revolution that, as Mason shows, has the potential to reshape utterly our familiar notions of work, production and value; and to destroy an economy based on markets and private ownership - in fact, he contends, it is already doing so. In this ground-breaking, Sunday Times top ten book, Mason shows how, from the ashes of the recent financial crisis, we have the chance to create a more socially just and sustainable global economy Content: Neoliberalism is broken -- Long waves, short memories -- Was Marx right? -- The long, disrupted wave -- The prophets of postcapitalism -- Towards the free machine -- Beautiful troublemakers 00 On transitions -- The rational case for panic -- Project zero. "In the tradition of No Logo and Empire, Postcapitalism is a sharply polemical but deeply analytical and historically informed account of the transition from capitalism to a new economic order"-- Provided by publisher