Socialism, Capitalism And Alternatives: Area Studies And Global Theories (fringe)

"In 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. Two years later, the Soviet Union disintegrated. The collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union discredited the idea of socialism for generations to come. It was seen as representing the final and irreversible victory of capitalism. This triumphant dominance was barely challenged until the 2008 financial crisis threw the Western world into a state of turmoil. Through analysis of post-Socialist Russia and Central and Eastern Europe, as well as of the United Kingdom, China, and the United States, Socialism, Capitalism and Alternatives confronts the difficulty we face in articulating alternatives to capitalism, socialism, and threatening populist regimes. Beginning with accounts of the impact of capitalism on countries left behind by the planned economies, the book moves on to consider how China has become a beacon of dynamic economic growth, aggressively expanding its global influence. The final section of the book poses alternatives to the ideological dominance of neoliberalism in the West."-- Provided by publisher

In 1989 the Berlin Wall came down. Two years later the Soviet Union disintegrated. The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union discredited the idea of socialism for generations to come. It was seen as representing the final and irreversible victory of capitalism. This triumphant dominance was barely challenged until the 2008 financial crisis threw the Western world into a state of turmoil.

Through analysis of post-socialist Russia and Central and Eastern Europe, as well as of the United Kingdom, China and the United States, Socialism, Capitalism and Alternatives confronts the difficulty we face in articulating alternatives to capitalism, socialism and threatening populist regimes. Beginning with accounts of the impact of capitalism on countries left behind by the planned economies, the volume moves on to consider how China has become a beacon of dynamic economic growth, aggressively expanding its global influence.

The final section of the volume poses alternatives to the ideological dominance of neoliberalism in the West. Since the 2008 financial crisis, demands for social change have erupted across the world. Exposing the failure of neoliberalism in the United Kingdom and examining recent social movements in Europe and the United States, the closing chapters identify how elements of past ideas are re-emerging, among them Keynesianism and radical socialism. As those chapters indicate, these ideas might well have potential to mobilise support and challenge the dominance of neoliberalism.

In 1989 the Berlin Wall came down. Two years later the SovietUnion disintegrated. The collapse of communism in Eastern Europeand the Soviet Union discredited the idea of socialism forgenerations to come. It was seen as representing the final andirreversible victory of capitalism. This triumphal dominance wasbarely challenged until the 2008 financial crisis threw the Westernworld into a state of turmoil.

Through analysis of post-socialist Russia and Central andEastern Europe, as well as of the United Kingdom, China and theUnited States, Socialism, Capitalism andAlternatives confronts the difficulty we face in articulatingalternatives to capitalism, socialism and threatening populistregimes. Beginning with accounts of the impact of capitalism oncountries left behind by the planned economies, the volume moves onto consider how China has become a beacon of dynamic economicgrowth, aggressively expanding its global influence.

The final section of the volume poses alternatives to theideological dominance of neoliberalism in the West. Since the 2008financial crisis, demands for social change have erupted across theworld. Exposing the failure of neoliberalism in the United Kingdomand examining recent social movements in Europe and the UnitedStates, the closing chapters identify how elements of past ideasare re-emerging, among them Keynesianism and radical socialism. Asthose chapters indicate, these ideas might well have potential tomobilise support and challenge the dominance of neoliberalism.

In 1989 the Berlin Wall came down. Two years later the Soviet Union disintegrated. The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union discredited the idea of socialism for generations to come. It was seen as representing the final and irreversible victory of capitalism. This triumphant dominance was barely challenged until the 2008 financial crisis threw the Western world into a state of turmoil. Through analysis of post-socialist Russia and Central and Eastern Europe, as well as of the United Kingdom, China and the United States, Socialism, Capitalism and Alternatives confronts the difficulty we face in articulating alternatives to capitalism, socialism and threatening populist regimes. Beginning with accounts of the impact of capitalism on countries left behind by the planned economies, the volume moves on to consider how China has become a beacon of dynamic economic growth, aggressively expanding its global influence. The final section of the volume poses alternatives to the ideological dominance of neoliberalism in the West. Since the 2008 financial crisis, demands for social change have erupted across the world. Exposing the failure of neoliberalism in the United Kingdom and examining recent social movements in Europe and the United States, the closing chapters identify how elements of past ideas are re-emerging, among them Keynesianism and radical socialism. As those chapters indicate, these ideas might well have potential to mobilise support and challenge the dominance of neoliberalism. In 1989 The Berlin Wall Came Down. Two Years Later The Soviet Union Disintegrated. The Collapse Of Communism In Eastern Europe And The Soviet Union Discredited The Idea Of Socialism For Generations To Come. It Was Seen As Representing The Final And Irreversible Victory Of Capitalism. This Triumphal Dominance Was Barely Challenged Until The 2008 Financial Crisis Threw The Western World Into A State Of Turmoil. Through Analysis Of Post-socialist Russia And Central And Eastern Europe, As Well As Of The United Kingdom, China And The United States, Socialism, Capitalism And Alternatives Confronts The Difficulty We Face In Articulating Alternatives To Capitalism, Socialism And Threatening Populist Regimes. Beginning With Accounts Of The Impact Of Capitalism On Countries Left Behind By The Planned Economies, The Volume Moves On To Consider How China Has Become A Beacon Of Dynamic Economic Growth, Aggressively Expanding Its Global Influence. The Final Section Of The Volume Poses Alternatives To The Ideological Dominance Of Neoliberalism In The West. Since The 2008 Financial Crisis, Demands For Social Change Have Erupted Across The World. Exposing The Failure Of Neoliberalism In The United Kingdom And Examining Recent Social Movements In Europe And The United States, The Closing Chapters Identify How Elements Of Past Ideas Are Re-emerging, Among Them Keynesianism And Radical Socialism. As Those Chapters Indicate, These Ideas Might Well Have Potential To Mobilise Support And Challenge The Dominance Of Neoliberalism. Cover......Page 1 Half title......Page 2 Series page......Page 3 Title page......Page 4 Copyright information......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 List of figures......Page 8 List of tables......Page 10 List of contributors......Page 12 Preface......Page 16 Acknowledgements......Page 18 Introduction......Page 20 PART I. Capitalism in action......Page 32 1. Semi-dependent capitalism: Russia......Page 34 2. Diversifying the super-rich: Forbes-listed Russians from a Muslim background......Page 52 3. The culture of elite philanthropy: Russia and the United Kingdom compared......Page 68 4. Between the public and the private: Socialism, capitalism and street socialisation in Georgia......Page 85 PART II. China today and as a future alternative......Page 106 5. Making it in China: The determinants of economic success in a socialist market system......Page 108 6. The revival of Marxism in China: Could it herald a Communist Reformation?......Page 127 7. China’s emerging liberal partnership order and Russian and US responses: Evidence from the Belt and Road Initiative in Eurasia......Page 150 PART III. Alternatives in the West......Page 178 8. Neo-liberalism, Keynesianism and the current crisis......Page 180 9. Political alternatives on the Western Left: Podemos, Syriza, Sanders and Corbyn......Page 200 Conclusion......Page 232 Index......Page 240 Socialism, Capitalism and Alternatives confronts the challenge we face in articulating alternatives to capitalism, socialism and threatening populist regimes