Tom Malleson - Fired Up about Capitalism

A generation ago, capitalisms supposed triumph was seen by many as unassailable. But several years of soaring inequality, the looming threat of ecological disaster, and the erosion of even the pretence of democracy in the political process, have led millions of people, especially young people, to lose confidence in the system. As these young workers and students seek out a concise yet comprehensive account of why capitalism is failing them, and a compelling sketch of some feasible and attractive alternatives to it, they will find no better starting point than Tom Mallesons lucid and intelligent book, Fired Up about Capitalism

STEPHEN DARCY, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Huron University College, and author of Languages of the Unheard: Why Militant Protest is Good for Democracy

Tom Mallesons Fired Up about Capitalism is a rare and wonderful book. It is wonderful because it provides such a compelling analysis of some of the most pressing economic and political problems of our time along with both short-term and long-term solutions. It is rare because it is written in a way that is rigorous, sophisticated, and nuanced while at the same time being clear, engaging, and accessible, without jargon or pretension. Fired Up about Capitalism should be widely read both by seasoned activists wanting to sharpen their critique of capitalism and their understanding of alternatives, and by interested readers with little background in these issues.

ERIK OLIN WRIGHT, Professor of Sociology, University of Wisconsin, author of Envisioning Real Utopias

Tom Mallesons timely book Fired Up about Capitalism provides a clear and inspirational outline to the problems of our collective worlds social, political, and economic crises, as well as some thoughtful arguments for their immediate and long-term resolution. This book presents complex issues with honesty, passion, and scholarship and is filled with that all too rare element of hope. It is well placed to be an inspiration to a generation of activists and students.

J.J. MCMURTRY, Associate Professor, Business and Society Program, York University

Tom Mallesons Fired Up about Capitalism is an amazing accomplishment: an incisive yet accessible critique of contemporary capitalist society, and a set of clear ideas about how we can collectively do better. Mallesons arguments are motivated by strong moral reasoning, but always supported by careful empirical evidence. This is an exciting and important book, and one that will surely motivate a new generation of activists.

DAVID WACHSMUTH, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning, McGill University

In clear and concise terms, Fired Up about Capitalism offers an agenda for activists to adopt. Such books are sorely needed to spur on the kind of dialogue that, through agreement and disagreement, can help us forge a collective path forward.

UMAIR MUHAMMAD, author of Confronting Injustice: Social Activism in the Age of Individualism

Malleson is a public intellectual of the first rate, brilliantly combining scholarly acumen with activist passion and know-how. In Fired Up about Capitalism he offers a frontal assault on the demoralizing notion that There is No Alternative to Capitalism (TINA). This short book is not merely a critique of the inequality, hierarchy, greed, injustice, and environmental devastation wrought by neoliberal capitalism. It is also an invigorating defense of radical democracy and a welcome wake-up call about real alternatives that already exist.

CRAIG BOROWIAK, author of Accountability and Democracy: the Pitfalls and Promise of Popular Control and Associate Professor of Political Science, Haverford College

Tom Malleson is fired up against capitalismhis powerful indictment backed by a plethora of well-chosen data. He defends, not only social-democratic reforms, but more radical (and more controversial) long-term institutional changes that would take us beyond capitalism. With so many people in so many countries becoming ever more aware that the current system isnt working, this beautifully written book could scarcely be more timely.

DAVID SCHWEICKART, Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Chicago

Tom Malleson once again has hit the critical mark. In clear and crisp language, Malleson pithily summarizes what is wrong with neoliberal capitalism while presenting a compelling case for the many alternatives to it that are within our reach. Shifting from the social, economic, and environmental injustices and inequalities wrought by the status quo and its mantra of there is no alternative, to myriad achievable proposals that can proliferate into a different socio-economic reality, its all here in a 21st century manifesto of radical democracy from one of Canadas most insightful activist-academics.

MARCELO VIETA, Assistant Professor in the Program in Adult Education and Community Development, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto

TOM MALLESON

Between the Lines
Toronto

Fired Up about Capitalism

2016 Tom Malleson

First published in 2016 by Between the Lines

401 Richmond Street West

Studio 277

Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8

Canada

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www.btlbooks.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be photocopied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of Between the Lines, or (for photocopying in Canada only) Access Copyright, 1 Yonge Street, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1E5.

Every reasonable effort has been made to identify copyright holders. Between the Lines would be pleased to have any errors or omissions brought to its attention.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Malleson, Tom, author

Fired up about capitalism / Tom Malleson.

(Fired up books)

Includes index.

Issued in print and electronic formats.

ISBN 978-1-77113-200-8 (paperback).ISBN 978-1-77113-201-5 (epub).ISBN 978-1-77113-202-2 (pdf)

1. CapitalismMoral and ethical aspects. 2. CapitalismSocial aspects. I. Title.

HB501.M287 2016330.122C2016-901829-6

C2016-901830-X

Cover design by Jennifer Tiberio

Cover illustration by Jack Dylan

Text design by Gordon Robertson

We acknowledge for their financial support of our publishing activities the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund, the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country, and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Book Publishers Tax Credit program, and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.

This book is dedicated to Lesley Wood, Mac Scott, and David McNallymy role models in showing me that growing up need not mean outgrowing activism.

A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and, seeing a better country, sets sail. Progress is the realisation of Utopias.

OSCAR WILDE,
The Soul of Man under Socialism

Everything I write is written with the thoughts of others minds. This project, like all activist endeavours, has been a collaborative one.

Many deep thanks to Daniel Cohen, Rebecca Hall, David Lizoain, Roey Malleson (without whom literally nothing would be possible), Sarah Mikhaiel, Seth Prins, David Wachsmuth, and the two anonymous reviewers. In particular I owe Laura Burns a debt of gratitude for her unwavering support.