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POLI_SCI 374-CN : Politics of Capitalism

Description

As we are in the 21st century, there is little debate over the victory of capitalism on a world scale. Even China can hardly be called a socialist society. This does not mean that within capitalism there are not robust debates over how it should be run; ranging from what one might flippantly call, "capitalism with a human face" or "capitalist democracy" on one hand and "market fundamentalism" on the other. This era is often referred to as neo-liberal based on a certain understanding of the18th century liberalism of Adam Smith et alia. The first part of this course will cover the assumptions of capitalism and their historical roots (wealth, Christianity, profit, the market to name but a few); the opposition of Karl Marx, and the categories of Max Weber (essential for understanding the "firm "and authority). The second part will look at the debates over the market and case studies of market failures and their social implications for people's lives. Finally, we will look at one analysis of how opposition to this stage of capitalism might look in the 21st century.