XIX ISA World Congress of Sociology (July 15-21, 2018)

58

Transforming Capitalism: Between Market Fundamentalism and Alternative Visions, the Authoritarian Shift and the Defense of Democracy

RC02 Economy and Society (host committee)

Language: English

For some decades we have witnessed far-reaching transformations of capitalisms in both the Global North and South. Market fundamentalism and neo-liberalism are putting democracy at risk. On the one hand, stalling “recoveries” and extended recessions amidst a deepening global crisis and continuous military interventions in challenged regimes further spiked increasing inequalities, precarity, migratory displacement and desperation. These processes accompany the resurgence of right wing political forces in and outside of the electoral realm and “populist“ political movements advocating new forms of nationalism, exclusion and violence that pose important social implications for progressive alternatives. On the other hand, besides right wing movements, social protest and initiatives are pushing alternative visions of a just, solidary, democratic, neo-socialist society. Following the theme “transforming capitalism,“ the session invites papers to discuss research about this worldwide “double movement,“ the “movement“ in the capitalist relations of economy/market and politics/state and the “counter-movement“ of civil society (Polanyi), the shift to an authoritarian capitalism and the defense of democracy, the shift to “free trade“ and the defense of human and social rights.  Welcome are theoretical and empirical contributions dealing with the question whether we are witnessing a fundamental transformation of capitalism, and analyzing the uneven development and the pathways between market fundamentalism and alternative visions, the authoritarian shift and democratic ideas around the world.