Modern Capitalism and the Marginalized in the Post-2008 Era: The ‘Consumer Society’, Mystification and Rebellion

Abstract

This article explores the issue of modern capitalism’s ability to mystify the majority of people through a system of mass consumerism in the post-2008 era of austerity. It argues that although the power of consumerist ideology—in a context of stagnating/declining living standards—has weakened since the 2008 global banking crash, the capitalist system, to an extent, retains its mystificatory power over people whose basic needs are increasingly not being adequately satisfied. It also argues that, should austerity go on, the rebellions of ‘youth’ and worker-consumers of recent years are likely to continue to offer a challenge to the existing system. However, the way in which such a popular desire for change might shape the transformation of consumer-capitalism depends upon ‘political’ struggles which are currently unfolding, and the outcome of which remain uncertain.