After Capitalism

David Schweickart is a professor of philosophy at Loyola University Chicago. He holds doctorate degrees in both mathematics and philosophy. He is the author of Capitalism or Worker Control and articles on social, political, and economic philosophy. His work has been translated into French, Spanish, Catalan, and Chinese.

Over some 30 years, Schweickart (Loyola Univ. Chicago) has defended and developed a vision of a democratic market socialism as a viable alternative to capitalism. With PhDs in both mathematics and philosophy, Schweickart has the tools to critically evaluate relevant arguments, both economic and ethical. In the first edition of After Capitalism (2002), Schweickart sought to present his case in a manner accessible to a general audience and to academic specialists. The second edition remains accessible to a general audience, but adds valuable discussions on the instability of capitalism, the current global crisis, different responses to this crisis in different parts of the world, and what may be an emerging Chinese version of market socialism. As in his earlier works, Schweickart writes with vigor and clarity. He has a gift for presenting abstract and complex material in a way that nonspecialist readers can understand. Readers who finish this book not yet ready to embrace Schweickart's vision for the future nonetheless will have a much richer understanding of the current crisis, the underlying causes of the crisis, and alternative possibilities. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers.

• Preface to the Revised EditionPreface to the 2002 EditionChapter 1: Counterproject, Successor-System, Revolution1.1 The Counterproject1.2 Successor-System Theory1.3 Historical Materialism1.4 Criteria1.5 Revolution1.5.1 A Note on Gender1.6 An Outline of the ArgumentNotesEndChapter 2: Justifying Capitalism2.1 What Is "Capitalism"? What Is A "Capitalist"?2.2 Neoclassical Shenanigans: Marginal Product as Contribution2.3 Capitalism's White Knight: The Entrepreneur2.4 Risk and Reward: Playing Reverse-Lotto2.5 The Utility (And Disutility) Of Deferred Consumption2.6 TinaNotesEndChapter 3: Economic Democracy: What It Is3.1 Economic Democracy: The Basic Model3.1.1 Worker Self-Management3.1.2 The Market3.1.3 Social Control of Investment3.2 The Viability of Economic Democracy3.3 The Mondragon "Experiment"3.4 A Note on the Public Sector3.5 Economic Democracy: The Expanded Model3.5.1 The Government as Employer-Of-Last-Resort3.5.2 Socialist Savings And Loan Associations3.5.3 Capitalists Under Socialism3.6 Fair Trade, Not Free TradeNotesEndChapter 4: Capitalism Or Socialism? Inequality, Unemployment, Overwork, Poverty4.1 Workplace Democracy: Some Behavioral Consequences of Structural Change4.2 Inequality4.3 Unemployment4.3.1 A Note on Inflation4.4 Overwork4.5 Poverty4.5.1 Poverty in Rich Countries4.5.2 Poverty in Poor Countries4.5.3 A Note on Racism4.5.4 A Note On ImmigrationNotesEndChapter 5: Capitalism Or Socialism? Economic Instability, Environmental Degradation, Democracy5.1 Economic Instability5.1.1 A Note on the Current Crisis5.2 Environmental Degradation5.2.1 Overpopulation5.2.2 Food Scarcity5.2.3 Pollution/Climate Change5.3 Democracy (Lack Thereof)5.3.1 A Note On Anticommunism5.3.2 A Note On Liberty5.3.3 A Note On Political PartiesNotesEndChapter 6: Getting From Here to There6.1 Economic Democracy as an Orienting Device6.1.1 How the World Looked Then (2001)6.1.2 How the World Looks Now (2011)6.1.3 A Note on China6.2 An Economic Democracy Reform Agenda6.2.1 Democratizing Labor6.2.2 Democratizing Capital6.2.3 Toward Full Employment6.2.4 Toward Fair Trade6.2.5 Democratizing Democracy6.3 From Reform to Revolution6.3.1 Radical Quick6.3.2 Somewhat Slower (With Concern This Time For Stockholders)6.3.3 Slower Still (Without a Financial Meltdown)6.4 A New Communism?6.5 A New WorldNotesEnd