Capitalism and the Social Relationship: A Contextual Overview

Abstract

Chapter 1 sets the stage for the way this book examines capitalism and its exploration of the social, political, and economic context of individuals’ and firms’ place within the societal setting. In this chapter, we provide the methodological orientation of our compilation and examination of the research addressing the theme Capitalism and the Social Relationship: An Organizational Perspective. We will also examine the nature of capitalism’s emergence as a global system and its current state, which impacts on the way organizations operate. Additionally, we will explore the inherent contradictions in the global capitalist system, created by outsourcing and offshoring, which have led to domestic imbalances for some countries, displacing individuals, and changing organizations. Finally, we will examine how the global capitalist system, as viewed by different political perspectives, addresses and resolves its inadequacies and how organizations are influenced by changes resulting from interactions within the capitalist system.