Socialism or Extinction: Climate, Automation and War in the Final Capitalist Breakdown

by Ted Reese

"The most complete book I've read on the nature of our historical moment." – Stephen Radecki, The Swoletariat "Gripping from start to finish." – Mathew Bartlett, Goodreads Socialism or Climate, Automation and War in the Final Capitalist Breakdown is a systematic Marxist analysis of the unprecedented crises engulfing humanity, arguing • capitalism per se – because its ever-growing dependence on exploiting labour makes the labour-intensity of extraction-based production increasingly necessary – is the cause of and can only continue to accelerate the climate crisis; • the solution to the climate crisis requires value creation to become based on utility instead of exploitation and profit, thereby ending the absolute economic dependence on extraction and enabling a transition to production based predominantly on nuclear, mycelium, hemp and other fibrous plants – a green industrial revolution that is actually green; • automation is eliminating the sole source of profit – capital's exploitation of commodity-producing human labour – meaning capitalism is heading unavoidably, in purely economic terms, towards a final, insurmountable economic breakdown; • socialism (the lower stage of communism) – the social ownership of production; a (digital) voucher system pegged to labour time; and central planning of utility- (as opposed to commodity-) production, on a break-even basis – is therefore becoming an economic necessity *for the first time*; • the accumulation crisis is forcing the world’s imperialist powers into direct confrontation, meaning humanity faces not one extinction threat, but two. Humanity stands at a world-historic crossroads.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Environment, Economics, Ecology

386 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2019

Reviews

[Jairo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible Marxist analysis of the current state of capitalist accumulation and why we are heading towards its final breakdown. Ted Reese was able to explain why dealing with the climate crisis, achieving full automation and further development of science and technology can only happen under an international democratically planned socialist economy.

For the first time in history, socialism is not only possible but is becoming a necessity if we want to prevent extinction.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting read that at first was a bit hard to understand. Worth bearing with as highly intelligent and thought provoking. Gripped me from start to finish very hard to put down.

[David Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

In these troubled times there has never been a greater need to `follow the science' if we are to understand our situation and plot a way forward. Here's a book that does just that. The science of course is Marxism which is marshalled here with great skill. Our situation, comprehensively analysed by the author, consists of the immanent and related existential threats posed to a continued human presence on the planet by climate heating, rapid automation and a potential Third World War or what is otherwise known as late capitalism. The inevitable conclusion is socialism or barbarism and who can argue with that? If they've read this book, nobody.

[Eamon Radecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most complete book I've ever read on the nature of our historical moment. It systematically explains the nature of capitalist accumulation, its features of automation, war and environmental destruction, and maps these tendencies on to modern history, culminating in the inevitable final crisis of capitalism.

While he paints a bleak picture for the near and mid-term future, Ted sees a great deal of promise for a growth friendly Eco-socialism through communist revolution.

[Donal Costello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Reese has done something that no other Marxist theorist had yet achieved, bringing together all of the major strands of our historical moment, from the climate emergency to the long running crisis in the global economy. He walks the reader through the current macro trends, where all roads lead to deepening malaise and breakdown. This would have been enough to make this a significant theoretical work - but then he does something far more ambitious - he illuminates the solution.

[Salvador Nogales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging, not too hard to follow, and truly the best write-up I've seen on the current accumulation crisis. Bleak, but without being fatalistic. I think you'll walk out with a solid understanding of the mechanisms of capitalism, understanding of why the usual arguments for it utterly fail, and some hope that there's a bright future on the other side if we put in the effort & organizing.

[Mike Wazowzki · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are few books that capture the the current global crisis, potential solutions and the mechanisms that shape our current society all in one. Ted reese covers these in a way thats both analytical and grounded at the same time. For those new to analysis or more seasoned this books offers insight invaluable in understanding what socialism has to offer in our modern economic age.