Introduction

Abstract

The introduction outlines the significance of global neoliberal capitalism – its achievements, failures and contradictions. Despite recurrent crises of capitalism, current critical thinking in the social sciences reveals unpredictable and uncertain futures. The introduction summarises the thinking of leading writers, which include: spontaneous collapse leading to the rise of a new but undefined social formation, a reformed liberal capitalism, state capitalism or the rise of parallel autonomous economies. Among the social scientists discussed are Randall Collins, Nick Srnicek and Alex Williams, Leo Panitch and Colin Leys, Michael Mann, Branco Milanovic, Craig Calhoun and Georgi Derluguian, Immanuel Wallerstein, Alexander Buzgalin, Daniel Chirot, Wolfgang Streeck, J.K. Gibson-Graham and Samir Amin. The introduction explains why it is important to distinguish, theoretically, between different forms of capitalism and globalisation, and outlines six major alternatives. The book is organised into three parts: the three introductory chapters outline and criticise globalisation and neoliberalism; the next part outlines 20th-century alternatives to capitalism, it discusses their merits and failings; the final part considers current alternatives – their strengths and weaknesses – and finally my own proposal of regulated market socialism.