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

Dec 7, 2024

In this engaging discussion, Andy Hines, an Associate Professor at the University of Houston and seasoned futurist, delves into his work, "Imagining After Capitalism". He explores the need for innovative economic models and introduces three intriguing concepts: the Circular Commons, Non-Workers’ Paradise, and Tech-Led Abundance. Hines emphasizes the importance of reimagining societal values and actively shaping a post-capitalist future. The conversation also touches on the role of technology and collaboration in achieving a sustainable, inclusive world.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Imagining Futures Beyond Capitalism

01:31 • 12min

Imagining Futures Beyond Capitalism

13:02 • 7min

Rethinking Capitalism's Future

20:00 • 7min

Rethinking Post-Capitalism

26:52 • 7min

Navigating the Future: AI, Universal Basic Income, and Societal Change

33:29 • 5min

Envisioning a Post-Capitalist Future

38:20 • 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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