ACFM Trip 47: Disruption

Michał Kalecki's "The Political Aspects of Full Employment" is a seminal essay that analyzes the political implications of full employment policies. Kalecki argues that full employment, while beneficial for workers, could lead to increased worker assertiveness and demands that challenge the capitalist system. This could result in a backlash from capitalists, potentially leading to policies that undermine full employment. The essay highlights the inherent tensions between full employment and the interests of capital, offering a critical perspective on the relationship between economics and politics. Kalecki's insights remain relevant today, providing a framework for understanding the political dynamics of economic policy and the challenges of achieving social and economic justice.

In this seminal work, Joseph A. Schumpeter analyzes the processes of capitalism, arguing that it is both innovative and unstable due to the concept of 'creative destruction', where continuous innovation disrupts established industries. The book also examines the potential replacement of capitalism by socialism and discusses the future of democracy in evolving economic structures. Schumpeter presents a balanced view of both capitalist and socialist systems through theoretical models and comparative analysis, and he predicts that capitalism might eventually give way to socialism due to internal societal and economic changes rather than external failures.

A Thousand Plateaus is a key text in the 'Capitalism and Schizophrenia' series by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. It advances a unique philosophical approach that draws from but critiques both Freudian and Marxist theories. The book is structured as a series of 'plateaus' that can be read in any order, each exploring different concepts such as rhizomes, stratification, and the distinction between smooth and striated space. It is essential reading for those interested in critical theory, feminism, literary theory, and contemporary Western culture.