Capitalism and COVID-19: Time to Make a Democratic New World Order

Using COVID-19 as the primary case study – this paper seeks to contribute to discussions and debates on why and how to transcend the current capitalist system – one that is responsible for so much that is wrong in the world today viz. the critical crises of the natural system and the disastrous environmental consequences such as climate change and deforestation, the widespread inequality – especially in countries like South Africa which is the world’s most unequal country. Poverty, unemployment, violence, wars, etc. are also prominent features of the capitalist system. The paper puts forward arguments and suggestions for transforming the current socio-economic capitalist system towards a post-capitalist society – one that should be premised on living in harmony with nature, equality, the common good, happiness, etc. The paper argues for the imagination of the best of all possible worlds that humankind can and should create. Some of the suggestions that the paper considers for transforming towards a post-capitalist society are ensuring that the free market serve people and the planet rather than vice versa. The paper calls for a global environmental movement to reimagine and recreate ‘the best of all possible worlds for current and future generations.’ A post-capitalist society should ensure the well-being of the planet and people – and not only focus on economic ‘well-being’ as is currently the case – especially the obsession with GDP. This requires that ‘economic science in its current ideological form should be revisited’. Co-operation amongst countries instead of ruthless competition which seems to be the case currently is what is required to solve global problems. The paper also puts forward the idea and motivation for celebrating 14^th MARCH of every year as #END CAPITALISM DAY! In the final analysis – the paper argues and predicts that capitalism too shall pass!