Capitalist Accumulation
For Harvey, capital accumulation is the central feature of capitalist society that shapes all aspects of this society. It is not clear if he by “accumulation” refers to the accumulation of capital only or, as I argue, the logic of accumulation that originated in the economy but diffused into all realms of capitalism. In a capitalist society, the economy plays a special role because all realms of society are conditioned, shaped, and influenced by the logic of accumulation and by class relations.
Table 1.2 shows how we can make sense of accumulation as a general process and in capitalist society. In capitalism, alienation takes on the form of accumulation processes that create classes and inequalities. Capitalism is based on capitalists’ accumulation of capital in the economy, bureaucrats’ accumulation of decision-power and influence in the political system, and ideologues’, influencers’ and celebrities’ accumulation of reputation, attention, and respect in the cultural system. Capitalism is an antagonistic system. Its antagonisms (see Table 1.2) drive its development and accumulation. Accumulation is an antagonistic relationship that not just constitutes dominant classes and groups but also subordinated, dominated, and exploited groups such as the working class in the capitalist economy dominated citizens in the capitalist political system, and ideologically targeted everyday people in capitalism’s cultural system.
Capitalist society’s antagonistic relations that drive accumulation are the source of inequalities and crises, which means that capitalism is an inherently negative dialectical system. As a response to crises, the ruling class and ruling groups require mechanisms they use for trying to keep the dominated class and dominated groups in check so that they do not rebel and revolt. Capitalism, therefore, is also an ideological system where dominant groups use the logic of scapegoating for blaming certain groups for society’s ills and problems. Scapegoating entails the logic of the friend/ enemy-scheme. And the friend/enemy-scheme can lead to violence, fascism, racism, anti-semitism, and nationalism. Capitalism has barbaric potentials. Crises of capitalism can be fascism-producing crises that turn barbarism from a potentiality of capitalism into an actuality. Only class and social struggles for socialism and democracy can keep capitalism’s negative potentials in check.
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Introduction