Public Life and Late Capitalism

Author: John Keene
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-01-01
Features: The general belief is that social democracy can achieve a democratic "interpersonal" era goal through administrative means. The author explicitly states that in the assumption of an inevitable relationship between democracy and socialism, the concept of democracy itself is being distorted. Through some ambiguous interpretation, democracy becomes a synonym for rulers conveying decisions to the ruled. Social democracy becomes a synonym for the bureaucratization existing within the state and society under late capitalism. The radical reform of late capitalism lies in weakening the power of corporate and state bureaucracies by establishing and consolidating an independent and autonomous public life sphere. This book focuses on three arguments.
The author argues that late capitalist societies live under the shadow of an ever-expanding bureaucracy composed entirely of professionals. The bureaucratization process is taking place in all fields of the state and society, in both the public and private spheres of late capitalist life. In these spheres, traditional methods of threat and control are being gradually removed or phased out; the exercise of power increasingly relies on various management methods, specialization, and science and technology. In contrast, bureaucratic socialist regimes notify the entire society with the premise of eliminating and restricting the public action sphere. As a result, establishing an independent and autonomous public sphere under bureaucratic socialist regimes is a more dangerous plan than under late capitalism.
Second, bureaucracy aims to manage the entire population of late capitalist states. Under late capitalism, bureaucratic institutions gradually become routine work institutions. Daily life is universally influenced by a network of hierarchical institutions managed by leaders, professionals, and expert consultants. Each institution employs legal advisors, security personnel, and publicity personnel, all striving to transform unorganized residents into reliable tools for achieving the institution's goals.
Third, under late capitalism, bureaucratic administrative agencies constantly give rise to demands for independent and autonomous public action. Based on these three arguments, the author believes that a state-regulated capitalist system is prone to disintegration and political crises. The fundamental solution lies in the political system's ability to protect the independent and autonomous public sphere, fulfill its demands, and regulate its conflicts and antagonisms. Only in this way can democratic socialism be realized. This book focuses on three arguments.