What is the future of capitalism? (Corvallis, Oregon)

Virtual panel, October 5, 2020

Panelists:
- Conrad Cartmell (Class Unity DSA)
- Josh Decker (International Bolshevik Tendency)
- Andrea Haverkamp (International Journal of Engineering, Social Justice, and Peace)
- Doug Lain (Zero Books)

The present is characterized not only by a political crisis of the global neoliberal order but also by differing interpretations of the cause of this crisis: capitalism. If we are to interpret capitalism, we must also know how to change it. We ask the panelists to consider the following questions:
- What is capitalism?
- Is capitalism contradictory? If so, what is this contradiction and how does it relate to Left politics?
- How has capitalism changed over time, and what have these changes meant politically for the Left?
- Does class struggle take place today? If so, how, and what role should it play for the Left?
- Is capitalism in crisis? If so, how? And how should the Left respond?
- If a new era of global capitalism is emerging, how do we envision the future of capitalism and what are the implications of this for the Left?

[soxfan]

Intro 00:00; Conrad 4:34; Andrea 14:25; Josh 27:38; Doug 39:35; Responses and Q&A 49:43

[louismoench]

"capitalism is an ideology and a system of relationships"

[lkcreativevictoria]

The question about cooperation hinges on the distinction between bourgeois society and the crisis of that society, capital-ism. The panellist as typical of today's "Left" recognises no such distinction so the point is lost.

[pedrocavalcante]

Why do we call the 2020 crisis a “capitalist crisis” and not a “covid-19 crisis”?