INT 200: Global Capitalism and its Discontents Alternative Perspectives

Anarchism State unnecessary or harmful – advocate stateless societies based on voluntary associations individual anarchism v. social anarchism History – Josiah Warren: No Organization, no indefinite delegated power, no "Constitutions," no "laws" or "bylaws," "rules" or "regulations" but such as each individual makes for himself and his own business. – Sovereignty of the Individual – Cost is the Limit of Price (the labor theory of value) – what constitutes a just society? Libertarianism v. Anarchism – Liberty/autonomy – = neoliberalism? – Minarchists vs anarchist libertarians – Not “social liberals”

Naomi Klein: Shock Doctrine Joseph Schumpter’ Creative Destruction – the concept from Marx (“capitalism would periodically lead to explosions, cataclysms, crises, etc.) – Capitalism incessantly revolutionizes the economic structure from within, incessantly destroying the old one, incessantly creating a new one – innovative entry by entrepreneurs is the disruptive force that sustains economic growth Klein’s negative spin: Shock Doctrine – free-market polices are pushed through while citizens are in shock from disasters or upheavals – Those who push through these unpopular reforms do so by taking advantage of certain features of the aftermath of major disasters, be they economic, political, military or natural – in some cases intentionally encouraged or even manufactured

Occupy Wall Street A people-powered movement that “is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations” – We are the 99% Goals – OWS's goals include a reduction in the influence of corporations on politics, – a more balanced distribution of income and wealth, – more and better jobs – bank reform especially when it comes to speculative trading by banks – forgiveness of student loan debt and alleviation of the foreclosure situation