New Books in Sociology

Andy Hines, "Imagining After Capitalism" (Triarchy Press, 2025)

Dec 7, 2024

Andy Hines, Associate Professor at the University of Houston and seasoned futurist, explores envisioning a world beyond capitalism. He introduces three compelling ideas: a Circular Commons, a Non-Workers' Paradise, and Tech-Led Abundance, each encouraging dialogue around potential futures. Hines discusses the need for innovative economic models and how AI could shape societal structures. Emphasizing creativity and collaboration, he challenges the prevailing negativity and inspires hope for a sustainable, post-capitalist paradigm.

50:29

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Andy Hines

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Quick takeaways

The podcast emphasizes the importance of discussing hopeful alternatives to capitalism, contrasting the current climate of fear and anxiety with proactive narratives for a sustainable future.

Andy Hines outlines three guiding images for a post-capitalist world—circular commons, non-workers' paradise, and tech-led abundance—provoking essential discussions about societal needs and possible futures.

Deep dives

Envisioning a Post-Capitalist Future

The framework for imagining a post-capitalist future is established through specific guiding images that reflect current societal needs and challenges. The author develops these images using foresight methodology, emphasizing a clear research process to illustrate the transition from present ideas to future possibilities. This systematic approach is crucial as it provides a roadmap for understanding how to navigate the significant changes required for a post-capitalist society. The urgency for such discussions is amplified by the prevailing socio-economic issues, prompting a search for alternatives that may shape the future.

Intro

2min

Visions Beyond Capitalism

15min

Exploring the Ideological Landscape of Future Visions

3min

Navigating Capitalism's Future

5min

Navigating Post-Capitalist Futures

8min

Exploring AI's Role in Future Societal Structures

4min

Navigating Tech's Role in Society

10min

Imagining After Capitalism (Triarchy Press, 2025) is the culmination of a decade-long exploration of what comes next after capitalism. It leverages previous work in developing foresight methodologies, which are featured in two previous books: Teaching about the Future and Thinking about the Future (2nd edition), both with Peter Bishop. It also leverages my work in identifying long-term values shifts—which are pivotal to After Capitalism—that are highlighted in ConsumerShift: How Changing Values Are Reshaping the Consumer Landscape.

Arguing that the absence of compelling positive alternatives keeps us stuck in a combination of fear, denial, and false hope, he offers three “guiding images” for the long-term future: an environmentally driven Circular Commons, a socially and politically driven Non-Workers’ Paradise, and a technology-driven Tech-Led Abundance.

Imagining After Capitalism argues “first things first.” Let us first decide where we want to go before building detailed plans for getting there. The three “guiding images” are not the answers, but are intended to provoke discussion about the possibilities.

The book offers an alternative to the prevailing doom and gloom and suggests there are indeed positive alternatives out there and it’s time to get started on crafting a different path to the future!

Andy Hines brings more than three decades of experience as a futurist to the Imagining After Capitalism work. He has explored the future from multiple vantage points. He is currently an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator at the University of Houston Foresight program. He also spent a decade as an organizational futurist, first with Kellogg’s and then Dow Chemical. His consulting futurists roles included Coates & Jarratt, Inc., Social Technologies/Innovaro and currently his own firm Hinesight.

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