capitalism has always required cheap labor and resources from a periphery, and the West has maintained that imperial arrangement through violence. it’s imperative that we transition to a post-capitalist economic system. Jason Hickel on the Better Future Pod:

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@jasonhickel Capitalism isn't defined by 'periphery exploitation via violence, that's a feature of many systems throughout history (empires, feudalism, socialist states). Imperialism predates capitalism by millennia (Rome, Mongols, Ottomans, etc. Capitalism does not need imperialism!

@jasonhickel @saucyseawitch @calmecam

@jasonhickel I abhor the violence in our world...now & for decades & centuries. Fighting capitalism...the only system that pulls people up instead of pushing them down...isn't the answer to world peace. All economic systems have issues w/power over others. So scratch ur theories & try again.

@jasonhickel Profit means incentives to produce efficiently and innovate. Socialism has no incentives. You get your modest stipend whether you work of not, so not much work gets done. Stagnation results, even maintenance is ignored. Corruption flourishes in the place of innovation. History.

@jasonhickel Capitalism does not in fact require cheap labor and resources from a periphery. It will use whatever it can find. That is why AI and automation are becoming important now.

@jasonhickel How does China fit into this discussion. It seems profits are not as important as Market share, but also they get cheap resources from overseas+export higher value good with huge trade surpluses. I never get a good answer to this? Chinas story is wow, but in terms of trade?

@jasonhickel Ah, so all the other systems aren't organized around profit? That makes no sense. The money and surplus value have to go somewhere.

@jasonhickel Requires is the wrong word. They want to maximise profit so they go for aggressive exploitation, but it's not a requirement. Capital warrants its own return for the costs involved in providing it -- the same reason labour warrants compensation. It's just a question of the split

@jasonhickel Certainly wonder what a debt free culture would look like. The tax haven structure in it all. Hard for people to recognise what is truly happening. I imagine it will be quite strange for people to realize that the concepts that incentivise and constrain us are conditioned.

@jasonhickel Why do businesses so often pay above the minimum wage?

@jasonhickel You've lived your entire life in post-capitalism. Do you like it?

@jasonhickel Genuinely curious how we can have serious geopolitical, economic analysis, with a view to correcting course, without any real reflection of the worlds' majority. How can a better, new economic model be created without centering/prioritising the majority?

@jasonhickel Market must end. @org_integral

@jasonhickel "It makes no difference how many thousands of years exchange goes back in time: the act of two parties trading property for differential advantage is the fertile substructure upon which our present condition has been built."

@jasonhickel Do you have any examples of societies or economic systems that do not require cheap labor & resources from a periphery? Rome was not capitalist, yet Rome requires cheap labor & resources from a periphery.

@jasonhickel Imperialism predates capitalism

@jasonhickel Yes, but the violence has not been to go to a village & demand it work for capitalists, but to "acquire" the land so people can only avoid homelessness by getting a wage & paying rent That explanation is too disturbing for all owners, so critics of capitalism too rarely go there

@jasonhickel @grok which came first: capitalism or colonialism?