Anti-capitalism

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This article lists ideologies opposed to capitalism and describes them briefly. For arguments against capitalism, see criticisms of capitalism.

An anti-capitalist poster printed by the Industrial Workers of the World in 1911.

Anti-capitalism refers to opposition to capitalism, in terms of beliefs or attitudes. As such, it is a very broad term and it covers a wide collection of views and ideologies, some of which oppose each other more than they oppose capitalism. Anti-capitalists, in the strict sense of the word, are those who wish to completely replace capitalism with another economic system; however, there are also ideologies which can be characterized as partially anti-capitalist, in the sense that they only wish to replace or abolish certain aspects of capitalism rather than the entire system.

What follows is a brief description of the most notable anti-capitalist ideologies, viewpoints and trends.

• Socialism argues for extensive public control over the economy, which may or may not be associated with democratic control by the people over the state (there are both democratic and undemocratic philosophies calling themselves socialist). In addition, socialism advocates a high degree of economic equality and the eradication of poverty and unemployment.
• * Marxism argues for collective ownership of the means of production and the eventual abolition of the state, with an intermediate stage in which the state will be used to eliminate the vestiges of capitalism. Marxism is the foundation of several different ideologies, including communism and certain types of socialism.
• * Social democracy is a partially anti-capitalist ideology that has grown out of the reformist wing of the socialist movement.
• Anarchist philosophies argue for a total abolition of the state, generally claiming that capitalism entails social domination, involuntary relations and coercive hierarchy. Some forms of anarchism oppose capitalism while supporting some particular aspects of market economies. For further discussion, see Anarchist economics.
• Ecofeminists attack capitalism for defining the natural world as simply a body of resources to be exploited and reshaped to serve human purposes and interests. They also see it as inherently snapping the relationship between humans to one another and to the natural world. Ecofeminists see capitalism as a patriarchal construction "based on the colonization of women, nature, and other peoples."
• Eco-socialists, merging aspects of Marxism, socialism, environmentalism and ecology, believe that the capitalist system is the cause of social exclusion, inequality and environmental degradation. Many Eco-socialists would argue that capitalism is also a cause of war and conflict. Eco-socialists criticise many within the Green movement for not going far enough in their critique of the current world system and for not being overtly anti-capitalist. At the same time, Eco-socialists would blame the traditional Left for overlooking or not properly addressing ecological problems.
• There are also strands of conservatism that are uncomfortable with liberal capitalism. Particularly in continental Europe, many conservatives have been uncomfortable with the negative impacts of unfettered capitalism (and the egoistic, hedonistic individualism it nurtures) on culture and traditions. The conservative opposition to the French revolution, the Enlightenment, and the development of individualistic liberalism as a political theory and as institutionalised social practices sought to retain traditional social hierarchies, practices and institutions. There is also a conservative protectionist opposition to certain types of international capitalism.
• Some religions criticize or outright reject capitalism:
• *Christianity is the source of many criticisms of capitalism, particularly its materialist aspects. The first socialists drew many of their principles from Christian values (see Christian socialism), against the "bourgeois values" of profiteering, greed, selfishness and hoarding. Many Christians do not oppose capitalism entirely but support a mixed economy in order to ensure decent labour standards and relations, as well as economic justice. Nevertheless, there are also many Protestant denominations (particularly in the United States) who are reconciled or ardently in favour of capitalism, particularly in opposition to secular socialism.
• *Judaism has always had a tense relation to capitalism, notable in the number of secular Jews attracted to the socialist and communist movements.
• *Islam forbids usury (lending money at an interest), an important aspect of capitalism.

See also

• Capitalism
• Capitalism and related political ideologies
• Anti-Globalization
• Corporatocracy
• Eco-socialism

External links

• [Infoshop.org] - Anarchists opposed to capitalism.
• [Marxists Internet Archive] - Archive of Marxist and anti-capitalist literature.
• [Anti-Capitalism: Modern Theory and Historical Origins]
• [Anti-Capitalism as an ideology... and as a movement]
• [Rejection of the label Anti-Capitalism]
• [Anti-Capitalism : A Guide To The Movement] Directory of Groups and Organisations, June 2001.
• [Page on anti-capitalism and anarchy]
• [Industrial Workers of the World]
• [Socialist Party USA]
• [AntiCapitaliste blog]

References

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