E-Book Overview
Babylon and Beyond provides the first clear and accessible guide to the economics of anti-capitalism. Anti-capitalism is a diverse movement: critics accuse it of knowing what it is against, but not knowing what it is for. Anti-capitalists want radical change, but what shape should that change take?The truth is that different sections of the movement advocate distinct---sometimes complementary, sometimes contradictory---programmes for change. This book concentrates on perhaps the most divisive issue of all in the anti-capitalist struggle: how to transform the economy.There are greens who think we must hold back economic growth and Marxists who believe the economy must move forward along capitalist lines before there can be revolutionary change; there are those who remain faithful to notions of collective or state ownership of all aspects of the economy, and those who think various kinds of reform or regulation of capitalist practice is more appropriate.Babylon and Beyond is a modern guidebook to the complicated terrain of alternatives to global capitalism. Derek Wall explains and summarises the rich variety of theories available within the anti-capitalist movement. Chapters cover Marxism, Autonomism, Anarchism, Ecosocialism, Capitalist reformers (like George Soros and Joseph Stiglitz), Green localists (like Colin Hines), and others. Unique in its coverage, clear and accessible, the book is ideal for activists, and anyone who is trying to find a useful way forward.This book is published in association with the Green Economics Institute.
E-Book Content
Babylon and Beyond The Economics of Anti-Capitalist, Anti-Globalist and Radical Green Movements Derek Wall
Pluto
P
Press
LONDON • ANN ARBOR, MI
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First published 2005 by Pluto Press 345 Archway Road, London N6 5AA and 839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 www.plutobooks.com Copyright © Derek Wall 2005 The right of Derek Wall to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN ISBN
0 7453 2391 X hardback 0 7453 2390 1 paperback
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data applied for
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Designed and produced for Pluto Press by Chase Publishing Services Ltd, Fortescue, Sidmouth, EX10 9QG, England Typeset from disk by Stanford DTP Services, Northampton, England Printed and bound in the European Union by Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham and Eastbourne, England
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To Jean-Pierre Faure and Brad Warner
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Contents Acknowledgements Foreword by Nandor Tanczos 1
Warm Conspiracies and Cold Concepts
2
Vaccinating against Anti-capitalism: Stiglitz, Soros and Friends
23
White Collar Global Crime Syndicate: Korten, Klein and other Anti-corporatists
44
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Small is Beautiful: Green Localism
64
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Planet Earth Money Martyred: Social Credit and Monetary Reform
6
Imperialism Unlimited: Marxisms
101
7
The Tribe of Moles: Autonomism, Anarchism and Empire
123
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Marx on the Seashore: Ecosocialist Alternatives
153
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Life after Capitalism: Alternatives, Structures, Strategies
171
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Bibliography Index
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x xii 1
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193 207
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The Green Economics Institute Directors: Volker Heine