Capitalism in Transformation: Movements and Countermovements in the 21st Century

Presenting a profound and far-reaching analysis of economic, ecological, social, cultural and political developments of contemporary capitalism, this book draws on the work of Karl Polanyi, and re-reads it for our times. The renowned authors offer key insights to current changes in the relations between the economy, politics and society, and their ecological and social effects. They explore the commodification of land, labour, money, care and knowledge, and analyse labour and social movements, right-wing populism and religious fundamentalism. Bringing together insights from different parts of the world and from historical, theoretical and empirical research, the book sheds light on important facets of the crisis-driven transformation of contemporary capitalism. Social and political science scholars will greatly benefit from this timely analysis of contemporary capitalism. Those researching economic history and the impact of Polanyi's work on the analysis of the modern society will also find this a useful read. Contributors include: R. Atzmüller, B. Aulenbacher, R. Bärnthaler, K. Becker, D. Bohle, U. Brand, M. Brie, A. Bugra, M. Cangiani, F. Décieux, C. Deutschmann, K. Dörre, K. Fischer, C. Görg, B. Greskovits, B. Jessop, E. Langthaler, M. Leiblfinger, M. Markantonatou, A. Novy, A. Palumbo, K. Polanyi-Levitt, V. Satgar, B. Sauer, A. Scott, B. Silver, B. Stadelmann, C. Thomasberger, H.-J. Urban, B. Weicht, M. Williams, M. Wissen

Table of Contents:
Contents: Polanyian perspectives on the movements and countermovements of “our time”: an introduction Roland Atzmüller, Brigitte Aulenbacher, Ulrich Brand, Fabienne Décieux, Karin Fischer, Birgit Sauer PART I: Historical and theoretical reflections: Karl Polanyi, capitalism and society 1. A life-long search for freedom. From Budapest to America: a journey through Karl Polanyi’s life Kari Polanyi-Levitt interviewed by Michael Brie and Claus Thomasberger 2. “Plunges into utter destruction” and the limits of historical capitalism Beverly J. Silver 3. Crises and transformations: suggestions from Karl Polanyi’s works Michele Cangiani 4. Karl Polanyi as a theorist of disembedded markets Christoph Deutschmann 5. A Polanyian paradox: money and credit as fictitious commodities, financialization, finance-dominated accumulation, and financial crises Bob Jessop PART II: Contemporary developments of society and capitalism in Europe and beyond 6. Polanyian perspectives on capitalisms after socialism Dorothee Bohle and Béla Greskovits 7. Economy-society tensions in the Eurozone: the “anti-democratic virus” revived Maria Markantonatou 8. Political Islam as reactionary countermovement Ayşe Buğra 9. “Freedom’s utter frustration ...” Neoliberal social-policy reforms and the shift to the far-right through Polanyi’s theory of fascism Roland Atzmüller, Fabienne Décieux 10. Völkisch populism: a Polanyian-type movement? Karina Becker, Klaus Dörre 11. Cultural war 2.0? The relevance of gender in the radical populist-nationalist right Birgit Sauer PART III: “Fictitious commodities” and the challenges of ‘our time’ 12. Contested social-ecological transformation: shortcomings of current debates and Polanyian perspectives Ulrich Brand, Christoph Görg, Markus Wissen 13. Polanyi, nature and the international: the missing dimension of imperial ecocide Vishwas Satgar, Michelle Williams 14. Soy expansion and countermovements in the Global South: a Polanyian perspective Karin Fischer, Ernst Langthaler 15. Navigating between improvement and habitation: countermovements in housing and urban infrastructure in Vienna Andreas Novy, Richard Bärnthaler, Basil Stadelmann 16. The “fictitious commodity” care and the reciprocity of caring: a Polanyian and neo-institutionalist perspective on the brokering of 24-hour care Brigitte Aulenbacher, Michael Leiblfinger 17. The commodification of informal care: joining and resisting marketization processes Bernhard Weicht 18. Polanyi’s double movement and the making of the “knowledge economy” Antonino Palumbo, Alan Scott 19. Polanyi and the digital transformation of labour: on fictitious commodities and real conflicts Hans-Jürgen Urban Index