A Basic Reader on Western Social Science Knowledge - Capitalism: A Social Examination

Author: (English) Sanders / Zhang Hao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The discussion about capitalism has gradually become a faded topic. Although it has been a subject of contention for over a century, this topic is so renowned that ignoring it is unimaginable. While Peter Sanders' Capitalism may seem insufficient and incomplete as a work defining a specific concept, it is still worth reading if viewed as a mirror reflecting the views of some orthodox Western liberalists. Through this book, we can examine the simplistic optimistic views held by some Western scholars since the early 1990s, due to the perceived advantages of free capitalism in political and economic spheres. They arbitrarily attribute the achievements of modern technological societies to capitalism, harshly criticize theoretical criticisms outside the capitalist value system, and even make inappropriate predictions about the future of capitalism. It is very clear that these views are unacceptable.
Particularly, the author, in some passages, focuses on refuting Marxist theories of capitalism but fails to recognize the interrelationship between the economic system and other systems. He describes capitalism solely based on the functioning of the economic system, even equating it with free markets, leading to fragmented and biased conclusions. This is clearly due to the author's limited perspective. From some of his viewpoints, it is evident that he lacks an understanding of theoretical approaches to other value systems, especially a lack of recognition and comprehension of Marxist theory, making his criticism appear weak. Moreover, the author holds biased views on socialist practices in countries like China and the Soviet Union, labeling setbacks and detours as fundamental flaws of socialism, which is arbitrary and incorrect. These shortcomings are evident throughout the book. Here, we remind readers to maintain correct value judgments and adopt a selective approach when reading.
This book attempts to conduct a social examination of contemporary capitalism and its path forward. For most of the 20th century, the future of capitalism was heavily questioned. Today, the situation is entirely different, as the challenges from socialism have collapsed. In every place where socialist experiments were tried, they failed and were quickly abandoned. Capitalism has become a truly global phenomenon. The victory of capitalism worldwide has raised three major issues, all of which relate to the essence of modern capitalism as an economic "growth machine" in different directions.
The first question is whether poor countries, including the Saharan region of Africa, Central and South America, South Asia, China, and Southeast Europe, can hope to catch up with developed capitalist countries like North America, Western Europe, and Japan. Can capitalism continue to fundamentally improve the living standards of the remaining 80% of the world's population, as it has for the wealthy in the 20th century? If so, the next question is whether our planet can sustain such large-scale industrial expansion. Because capitalism has been so successful in controlling natural growth to increase output, it seems to threaten the fragile ecological balance of the Earth. These three questions are discussed in the three core chapters of this book.
Chapter 2 considers the development issues of the Third World; Chapter 3 focuses on environmental survival; and Chapter 4 addresses whether capitalism will ultimately align with the conditions necessary for human happiness. In the first chapter, it is outlined how capitalism has so successfully promoted technological innovation and economic growth, and how this revolutionary socio-economic system first formed. In the final chapter (Chapter 5), a brief discussion is provided on the future of capitalism in a world where socialist alternatives have declined and new divisions and challenges are emerging.