There are increased variations to the history of capitalism with different people and
groups engaging in consistent deliberations about its roots. However, most scholars believe that
the fully-fledged capitalism emerged from Northwestern Europe, particularly the Netherlands
and Great Britain, and in the 17 th century. Primarily, merchants acted as the link between the
customer and the producer/manufacturer. However, the subsequent gradual developments
included them dominating the producers through the placement of orders and payment in
advance, then supplying the raw materials and paying for the labor involved in the production of
goods 1 . These developments characterized the nature of capitalism as the following centuries
would see a prevalence in a new range of methods and variety of scales attributed to capital
accumulation. Today, the culture of capitalism is associated with the concentration of wealth and
economic power and it has become the dominant economic system throughout the world.
Unfortunately, its dominance does not reflect its reception, especially in the contemporary world.
Even though it has been the key economic framework for a long period, there exists substantial
opposition towards its core principles and philosophies. Capitalism has influenced a culture that
promotes the accumulation of capital and the sale of commodities with the individuals involved
all defined by their association to the business and the market 2 . Therefore, capitalist culture
comprises of people who do not only conduct themselves based on a predefined set of learned
rules but also believe their actions are imperative for survival 3 . Typically, the mindset of business
and corporate culture, consumerism, and working class as influenced by capitalism raises
significant issues. Resolutely, given the core principles and philosophies of capitalism and the
resultant culture, an exploration of why it invokes an endemic of rebellion and protest and how it
1 Rutherford, Jonathan. "The culture of capitalism." Soundings 38 (2008): 8
2 Ibid.
3 Robbins, Richard H. "GLOBAL PROBLEMS AND THE CULTURE OF CAPITALISM, 3/e." (2005): 14
3
deals with the problems it causes provides substantial insight that can be utilized in better
addressing any complexities associated with it.
Culture of Capitalism
In the 1970s, there was global rise in liberal market capitalism with its ideology of neo-
liberalism meant to be a rejoinder to the crisis of profitability prevalent then. Given the nature of
customary capitalism, the primary objective of the new hegemony was restructuring national
economies and communities to reduce the influence of labor while simultaneously optimizing
capital accumulation 4 . These developments were imperative given their contribution to new
powers of production, influenced by new information, and communication innovations and
technologies that characterized contemporary class relations and cultures. Since the start of the
21 st century, capitalism has proved to the prevalent economic framework on the international
level. Notably, in 1991, the collapse of the Soviet bloc resulted in the reduction of socialism’s
influence, particularly as the primary alternative economic system. Even though socialism is still
predominant in some parts of the world, capitalism remains predominant 5 . It is at the epicenter of
influencing how class is restructured at the national and global level and the emerging social
forces of political change. In a world influenced by globalization, capitalism has become
extensive as an element utilized by political organization to influence change.
Even so, an analysis of the contemporary culture of capitalism, the means of capital
accumulation, and their influence on people and society provides a clearer understanding of what
it represents. According to Robbins, the culture of capitalism existent today alludes to an
economic framework where nation’s trade, markets, and profits are all controlled by private
companies 6 . The subject practices and processes take place at the expense of the people that
4 Rutherford, Jonathan. "The culture of capitalism." Soundings 38 (2008): 8
5 Movahed, Masoud. “Does capitalism have to be bad for the environment?” World Economic Forum, Feb 15, 2016,
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/02/does-capitalism-have-to-be-bad-for-the-environment/
4
invest increased resources such as time and labor into these organizations. Most of the world
leading countries such as the United States are capitalist countries even though there are other
economic systems. Still, the culture of capitalism is characterized by a formulation of economic
activity into an intertwined core and periphery. For instance, in countries such as the United
States and the United Kingdom, wealth production in their core economies was mostly
dominated by the financial services industry 7 . However, recent changes have seen industries such
as the knowledge, service, and cultural sectors being driven by new technologies and innovations
into ascendency. They have shaped the economic future given the new approaches to production
and consumption; most of which have been incorporated into the customary segments of the
economy. Notably, since the 1900s, the conception of a knowledge economy has been at the
center of new economic strategies with skills and innovation applying in the generation of a
force of independent autonomous entrepreneurs instead of the reliant employees 8 . However, due
to the extensive and complex nature of capitalism, the education and supple labor market have
mostly augmented class inequality. The outcome has mostly involved a re-organization of the
class and social relations of production.
Causes for the Rebellion and Protest Endemic
Today, a capitalist state is subjected to progressive marketization as the foundation for
facilitating new forms of capital accumulation, which is influences the rebellion and protest
endemic faced by the widespread culture. Moreover, the markets and corporate profit-making is
extended into the public sector and non-market social realms of life 9 . The culture of capitalism
existent today limits its capacity for global expansion but remains at the core of economies for
6 Robbins, Richard H. "GLOBAL PROBLEMS AND THE CULTURE OF CAPITALISM, 3/e." (2005): 14
7 Galbraith, James, K. “Rebuilding the Economy Will Require Job Biden to Think Very Different than 2009.” The Intercept, Sep 1, 2020,
Rebuilding the Economy Will Require Joe Biden to Think Very Differently Than 2009
8 Rutherford, Jonathan. "The culture of capitalism." Soundings 38 (2008): 8
9 Robbins, Richard H. "GLOBAL PROBLEMS AND THE CULTURE OF CAPITALISM, 3/e." (2005): 14
5
‘inward’ expansion into the psyche and emotional life of people who are not benefiting. The
participation of the larger percentage of people is principally limited to the exploitation of their
human potential. Rutherford elaborates that capitalism has formulated forms of communicative
labor that acts as conveyers of information, care, symbolic meaning, and learning. Honesty to
sentiments and the ability to feel are exploited as economic functions 10 . Capitalism’s grip on the
social functions of society instigates increased protest, especially since they are primarily used
for commercial purposes.
Still, capitalism faces increased opposition since modern societies have selected its
institute of production. The prevalent culture of capitalism is based on a system where private
owners formulate enterprises and chose their directors who make decisions concerning
everything about production and how to utilize the net revenues acquire from the sale of the
product/output. The small percentage of persons make these economic decisions for everyone
else, that is, the majority of the people who invest the most, particularly the actual productive
work 11 . Moreover, the majority are expected to be content and live with the outcomes of all the
clerical decisions made by the key shareholders and the select boards of directors who also select
the replacements. Therefore, capitalism involves and replicates an exceedingly undemocratic
culture of production in corporations, which poses increased environmental problems. Movahed
notes that the world is finite with limited ecological and natural resources and as the production
increases so does the depletion and exploitation of these resources 12 . On the other hand, the
increased production also projects increased problems to the environment through the processes
10 Rutherford, Jonathan. "The culture of capitalism." Soundings 38 (2008): 8
11 Wolff, Richard. “Yes, there is an alternative to capitalism: Mondragon shows the way.” The Guardian, Jun 24, 2012,
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jun/24/alternative-capitalism-
mondragon#:~:text=Yes%2C%20there%20is%20an%20alternative%20to%20capitalism%3A%20Mondragon%20shows%20the%20way,-
Richard%20Wolff&text=Capitalism's%20recurring%20tendencies%20toward%20extreme,because%20there%20is%20no%20alternative%3F
12 Movahed, Masoud. “Does capitalism have to be bad for the environment?” World Economic Forum, Feb 15, 2016,
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/02/does-capitalism-have-to-be-bad-for-the-environment/
6
and practices involving manufacturing progressions and disposal of waste. Unfortunately, the
supporters of capitalism overlook these aspects by persisting that no replacements to such
corporations of production exist or would operate as well as they do, especially on matters of
output, efficiency, and labor processes 13 . However, mutineers and protestors maintain that the
falsity of the subject claim is apparent, especially given evidence from recent developments in
countries focused on fighting capitalism.
How Capitalism Deals with its Problems
Most of the solutions used by capitalism to address the apparent problems are based on a
fixation on production. Movahed notes that the production process of capitalism expands past
output to enlisting culture, knowledge, and personal affect. The promotional culture is used in
rallying thinking, imagination, and sensibility as corporations continue with their attempts to
acquire customer loyalty 14 . Still, capitalism is an economic system that has always been known to
seek intimacy through using the market to create relational cultures where consumers are
recruited as co-producers of predefined cultural meaning. Even in the midst of rebellion and
protest, capitalism creates social relations in an effort to implant commercial transactions in
personal and daily life. These strategies focused on the industrial modernity of class and the
manufacturers have given way to a more individualized society where the needs and stature of
the consumer are used to foil the problems attributed to capitalism 15 . Today, employees and other
non-management level stakeholders have been made to believe that their participation in the
production and profit-making processes is key to addressing consumer needs and acquiring their
loyalty.
13 Robbins, Richard H. "GLOBAL PROBLEMS AND THE CULTURE OF CAPITALISM, 3/e." (2005): 14
14 Movahed, Masoud. “Does capitalism have to be bad for the environment?” World Economic Forum, Feb 15, 2016,
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/02/does-capitalism-have-to-be-bad-for-the-environment/
15 Galbraith, James, K. “Rebuilding the Economy Will Require Job Biden to Think Very Different than 2009.” The Intercept, Sep 1, 2020,
Rebuilding the Economy Will Require Joe Biden to Think Very Differently Than 2009
7
In addition to production, capitalism is fixated on profit-maximization as the foundation
for addressing the gaps instigated by its collective economic framework. The profit-
maximization motif of capitalism is prioritized as sufficient incentive for entrepreneurs to
augment productivity on large scale 16 . Even though some companies have publicly voiced their
intentions to ditch shareholder-first capitalism, they continue to enable economic agents that
allocate resources in ways that continue to facilitate growth and dynamism. Similarly, as a
response to the adverse economic impacts of capitalism, companies such as Amazon have set
goals to reduce their carbon footprint 17 . However, such resolutions and goals have been prevalent
for a long time but the culture of capitalism influences a competitive force that compels even
these leading organizations to continue with production and profit maximization. For instance,
over the years, firms have found it more lucid to invest in cost-cutting technologies that allow
them to address pressures from competition and the collective marketplace 18 . Typically, even
when setting stringent social and environmental goals, companies still find their way back to the
virtuous cycle of efficiency, productivity, and optimized profit.
Resolutely, even with the efforts and willingness to counter the problems associated with
capitalism, companies can not overlook that its system needs consistent growth of production.
The endless process is necessary not only for stability but also in raising the standards of living
and producing jobs for a young and growing global population. Unfortunately, the production
itself is dependent on consumption and its insufficiency would mean limited demand and the
subsequent outcome of a paralyzed production cycle. Movahed elaborates that consumption is
the other side of the production coin thus making it imperative to the production cycle 19 .
16 Robbins, Richard H. "GLOBAL PROBLEMS AND THE CULTURE OF CAPITALISM, 3/e." (2005): 14
17 Schmidt, Elizabeth. “Can capitalism solve capitalism’s problems?” The Conversation, Jan 22, 2020, https://theconversation.com/can-
capitalism-solve-capitalisms-problems-130427
18 White, Micah. “Why I’m going to Davos – and why I’m hoping my peers don’t find out.” World Economic Forum, Jan 7, 2020,
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/why-im-going-to-davos-and-why-im-hoping-my-peers-dont-find-out/
8
However, even though capitalism fuels remarkable productivity rates, it will always favor
productivity towards increased consumption to avoid the result of the manufacture process being
impeded 20 . Consequently, consumerism is not a cultural phenomenon but a core tenet of a
capitalist world. Therefore, when consumption is high, production will always be high and the
main problems attributed to capitalism will continue to persist.
Dealing with Capitalism and its Core Issues
Unlike popular opinion, the capitalist problems can be addressed without jeopardizing the
imperative corporate aspects attributed to economic development and sustainability. As indicated
from the assessment, intentions are not sufficient to influence the required systematic change.
Primarily, the state could be at the forefront of solving these issues by introducing a
contemporary system based on a cohesive and holistic approach to production and corporate
decision-making 21 . Notably, the larger part of problems resulting from capitalism are influenced
by a system that designates all the power to a specific group leaving those that invest more time
and labor at a disadvantage. Consequently, the introduction of a balanced system where the
workers are equally active and compensated fairly for their efforts would solve the disparities 22 .
For instance, Wolff affirms that such an approach would be effective as indicated by evidence
from the Mondragon Corporation in Spain. During an annual general assembly, the workers
make significant decisions such as choosing and employing a managing director 23 . They retain
the power to decide on all the basic elements of the enterprise, for instance, all factors
concerning the production process and how the profits are spent. A similar approach can be
19 Movahed, Masoud. “Does capitalism have to be bad for the environment?” World Economic Forum, Feb 15, 2016,
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/02/does-capitalism-have-to-be-bad-for-the-environment/
20 Rutherford, Jonathan. "The culture of capitalism." Soundings 38 (2008): 8
21 Movahed, Masoud. “Does capitalism have to be bad for the environment?” World Economic Forum, Feb 15, 2016,
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/02/does-capitalism-have-to-be-bad-for-the-environment/
22 Wolff, Richard. “Yes, there is an alternative to capitalism: Mondragon shows the way.” The Guardian, Jun 24, 2012,
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jun/24/alternative-capitalism-
mondragon#:~:text=Yes%2C%20there%20is%20an%20alternative%20to%20capitalism%3A%20Mondragon%20shows%20the%20way,-
Richard%20Wolff&text=Capitalism's%20recurring%20tendencies%20toward%20extreme,because%20there%20is%20no%20alternative%3F
23 Ibid.
9
enforced through the formulation and implementation of stringent laws by the state or other
governing bodies that have substantial power over the proceedings of an economy 24 . It would
form a foundation for addressing issues such as pay equity rules and job security while
simultaneously facilitating partnerships with education institutions to address workforce matters.
Notably, the security-focused system could transform the lives of workers, their families,
communities, and society altogether.
On the other hand, for environmental and some production-related issues, a non-market
approach could prove instrumental where social forces are utilized to influence positive change.
The prevalence of technology and innovations that facilitate anomalous outreach provides a
foundation where disruptive movements by environmental activists could be utilized in the
demand for stringent regulations 2526 . Since most firms and corporations have indicated their
interest in changing their production processes for better environmental outcomes, a disruptive
movement could compel the state to impose regulations on corporations with regular inspection
enforced through law. However, even the social forces’ approach requires the state and federal
governments to be at the forefront. Efforts by disruptive movements in the past have been futile
due to pressure from capitalist corporations and lack of support from the government. Therefore,
the subject non-market intervention demands increased efforts through massive public
demonstrations to pressure both the government and firms. Additionally, cooperation at the
international level could also fuel the pressure and act as an effective abatement 27 . However,
based on past evidence, substantial international cooperation has always proven to be a challenge
24 Galbraith, James, K. “Rebuilding the Economy Will Require Job Biden to Think Very Different than 2009.” The Intercept, Sep 1, 2020,
Rebuilding the Economy Will Require Joe Biden to Think Very Differently Than 2009
25 White, Micah. “Why I’m going to Davos – and why I’m hoping my peers don’t find out.” World Economic Forum, Jan 7, 2020,
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/why-im-going-to-davos-and-why-im-hoping-my-peers-dont-find-out/
26 Movahed, Masoud. “Does capitalism have to be bad for the environment?” World Economic Forum, Feb 15, 2016,
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/02/does-capitalism-have-to-be-bad-for-the-environment/
27 Movahed, Masoud. “Does capitalism have to be bad for the environment?” World Economic Forum, Feb 15, 2016,
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/02/does-capitalism-have-to-be-bad-for-the-environment/
10
given the extensive nature of capitalism around the world. Resolutely, a combination of these
approaches could form the required foundation to address capitalism and the problems instigated
by its culture.
11
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