Capitalist Realism
Mark Fisher is a British theorist who explored the idea of capitalist realism, whereby he describes Capitalism being the only viable economic and political system. Moreover, he states that apart from it being feasible, it is impossible to think of an alternate method. The theorist even relates how it is easier to imagine the end of the world than thinking about Capitalism’s end. He refers to capitalist realism as a pervasive atmosphere that conditions the founding of cultures, standardize work and education, and acts as an intangible regulation of thoughts and actions.
In the book, Fisher investigates what he refers to as the effects of neoliberal ideology on contemporary culture, education, work, and mental health in the current society. Capital realism does not define Capitalism as being a perfect system. Still, it asserts that it is the only system that can function in a relevant way to people’s nature and the economic state. Any other system that is not focused on the individual gaining of capital and wealth is assumed to be different from people’s personalities, therefore being impossible to establish.
Socialism is a populist economic, political, and social system whereby collective ownership of the involved means in production. The means can include the equipment, machinery, and industries that produce crucial human needs. Socialist systems are based on production for use, not for profitability, equal distribution of resources and wealth, less competitive trading in the market, and free access to products and services.
Socialism was established to oppose the intense negative impact of liberal individualism and Capitalism. During the early capitalist economies, most western European countries experienced rapid economic growth. It led to a vast social class of people whereby some individuals and families accumulated wealth faster while others went into obsolete poverty. Some early thinkers like Vladimir Lenin contributed significantly to the national level after Russia’s Bolshevik Revolution. After the failure of socialist planning in the Soviet Union and Maoist China, most modern socialists adopted market socialism or democratic socialism.
Socialist systems are in two forms, nonmarket and market. Non-market replaces market factors and capital with collective economic planning and structuring or technical format based on calculations in-kind. Hence, it produces a different economic approach that functions according to financial laws and concepts rather than Capitalism. Nonmarket socialism removes the inconveniences and challenges related to wealth accumulation and individual profitability in Capitalism.
Market socialism maintains the use of monetary prices, factor markets, and for some instances, profit objectivity about the functioning of socially owned firms and distribution of capital goods within them. These enterprises’ profits could be monitored and controlled by each company’s workers or accumulate for society in terms of a social dividend.
In a socialism system, everybody in the community has possession of the production factors equally. The ownership comes from a democratically formulated government, through cooperative or public corporations whereby every stakeholder owns shares. Everyone gets a percentage of production based on the contributions apart from the children, the elderly, and those disabled. If one wants to earn more in these countries, there should be an increase in working hours or changing the job.
In socialist countries, individuals are responsible for personal needs and social needs. The resources of the nation are both distributed to both these types of conditions. Social requirements outlined include healthcare, education, defense, transportation, and conservation of natural resources. Furthermore, the needs have taken care of the groups like children, the elderly, and the disabled who cannot contribute to production.
For a socialist political system, power is exercised by the delegates of the people. The nation should aim to establish a political system that is an option to representative democracy. It is because representative democracy is prone to elite control because of the availability of financing of campaigns and its likelihood to manipulate the public through the media of communication.
Socialist nations use popular democracy, which is based on the formulation of many less popular groups. The people meet in many gatherings to discuss the problems and give recommendations on the issues. The popular groups also meet to choose delegates to have political authority. It is done till the country’s highest political rank is established.
In socialist countries, people who have the highest political ranks have the same characteristics as the ordinary people. They can be professionals, peasants, workers, peasants, any gender, and of different ethnicities. Political parties don’t play a significant role in selecting the leaders but engaging in civic education and participating in public opinion. Political leaders are not chosen with the intervention of political parties but based on their traits.
Socialist nations take into consideration the social and economic rights of the citizens. The socialist governments have significantly invested in relevant resources on public projects. The national projects help citizens to access education, affordable housing, health services, and proper nutrition. In socialism systems, these vital goods and services for quality life should not be distributed based on market factors. The system ensures that the economic and social rights of every citizen are considered.
Socialist governments put the media under public control. Socialism disagrees that the state can lead to a restriction of freedom of speech. Instead, it describes that private ownership of media reduces and misleads the public. The press’s management is appointed by the ministers selected by political leaders elected directly or indirectly by the citizens. Hence the media is likely to perform better because there are no individual-specific interests in the corporations.
Socialist systems encourage gender equality and significantly advocate for the rights of women in society. The course offers women full participation in social issues, including exact positions in the political and economic areas. Furthermore, the socialist nation requires conserve the environment by considering the limit of resources, hence ensuring that the people’s basic needs are balanced with the rising environmental issues.
Socialism can create solidarity among people. The system has influenced some people to go to other countries to join in the fight for liberation. Socialism invites international aid whenever a nation experiences various pandemic and issues ranging from political matters to climatic ones. Socialist governments participate in solidarity by enhancing education, sports, and cultural exchange among different people.
Therefore, there is a vast difference between Capitalism and socialism. Capitalist systems are based on an individual focus on accumulating wealth, while the socialist system whereby there is collective ownership of production factors. The capitalist system leads to rapid economic growth and a higher range of social class of people. In contrast, the socialist system focuses on equality and ensures citizens’ social and economic rights are protected.