First as Tragedy, Then as Farce Summary

Why do we keep clinging to a system riddled with constant crises, believing it to be natural and irreplaceable?

1. Capitalism is an ideology masquerading as a neutral system

Capitalism is often regarded as the natural evolution of societal organization, but it's far from neutral. It's an ideology—an organized set of ideas driving human behavior. The capitalist system operates by embedding the notion of self-made success into people's dreams. Inevitably, when those dreams fail, societies rely on cultural systems like religion, welfare beliefs, or mindfulness practices to fall back on. These systems act as safety nets, keeping capitalism's machinery running, even through personal or collective disappointment.

One powerful mechanism in capitalism is its response to crises. Instead of spurring societies to reevaluate the system’s fundamentals, crises lead many to double down on faith in the system, claiming that the issues arose from an insufficient application of capitalist principles. This process, akin to shock therapy, reinforces the ideology instead of dismantling it. For example, socialist regimes in Eastern Europe became stricter in their socialism during crises rather than reassessing their practices.

Capitalism's resilience becomes apparent during moments like the 2008 financial crisis. Many blamed excessive regulation, arguing that freer markets would have prevented the collapse, even though analysis showed that inadequate regulation—like allowing unchecked subprime mortgage lending—was the actual root cause.

Examples

• Communist regimes responded to rebellion by enforcing stricter socialism.
• The 2008 financial crisis was seen incorrectly as excessive government intervention.
• Cultural systems, like mindfulness practices, help people cope with capitalism's failings.

2. Capitalism claims credit for freedoms it didn’t create

Despite its portrayal as the wellspring of democracy and liberty, capitalism’s contribution to our freedoms is deeply overstated. Many of the rights we now view as natural—universal suffrage, labor protections, and a free press—originated from revolutionary movements that capitalist leaders resisted vehemently. For instance, the rights advocated in Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels's Communist Manifesto were realized largely through persistent activism by leftist groups.

Capitalism sidesteps responsibility for systemic errors by allowing individuals and institutions to dissociate their personal morality from their public roles. This separation enables people to justify harmful actions as mere occupational obligations. For example, an Israeli soldier justified evicting Palestinians from their homes by insisting it was his duty and not reflective of his private self.

Additionally, this split between public roles and private selves discourages collective action. Activists are often accused of imposing on individualism, even when they fight against exploitation and inequality.

Examples

• The fight for suffrage and labor rights often opposed capitalist interests.
• An Israeli soldier evicted families but claimed moral innocence by citing orders.
• Leaders blame individuals for systemic issues, like housing bubbles or economic crashes.

3. Modern capitalism disguises inequality as egalitarianism

Today's capitalism no longer adheres to rigid, hierarchical structures. Companies now emphasize teamwork and decentralized decision-making, which gives the illusion of a flatter, more equitable system. This workplace shift, starting in the 1970s, masks the enduring power dynamics that still place ultimate authority with those at the top, like CEOs or board members.

In modern participatory labor systems, workers have the "permission" to share their opinions but lack the final power to make changes. A boss or manager holds the actual right to overrule. Likewise, social issues have seen similar dynamics; marginalized groups like the LGBT community have gained permissions, such as same-sex marriage, but true empowerment remains elusive. For instance, California's Proposition 8 initially legalized same-sex marriage but was repealed, proving how rights deemed as permissions can be revoked.

This façade of equality prevents real redistribution of power, painting industries and societies as more just while allowing the old structures of dominance to persist.

Examples

• Companies foster team-based work but reserve critical decisions for executives.
• LGBT rights progress, like same-sex marriage, is vulnerable to legislative reversals.
• Workers given a say in projects often cannot influence ultimate outcomes.

4. Fetishes in capitalism obscure real struggles

Capitalism creates ideological fetishes—concepts or symbols that channel frustrations while diverting focus from systemic problems. Fetishes serve to defuse dissatisfaction by offering distractions or scapegoats. For instance, Western Buddhism helps individuals cope with high-stress, chaotic capitalist lives by touting mindfulness, keeping the system’s stressful realities intact.

Another type of fetish is a scapegoat that absorbs societal blame. Anti-Semitism exemplifies this, as Jewish people have been falsely painted as controllers of economic and social systems, obscuring the real tension: class struggle. The same happens when grievances in Middle Eastern nations are directed at Israel, masking the marginalization caused by failed revolutionary politics.

These distractions hide the deeper issue of class exploitation, keeping revolutionary energy diluted or misdirected.

Examples

• Mindfulness practices help people endure rather than challenge their conditions.
• Anti-Semitism framed Jewish people as manipulators rather than addressing class struggles.
• Criticism of Israel diverts focus from local governmental and class failures in the Middle East.

5. Consumption now defines identity

In capitalism, buying has shifted beyond acquiring utility to being an avenue for self-expression. People increasingly define themselves through their purchasing decisions, choosing brands that reflect their values or aspirations. Consumption now fulfills more than needs; it promises experiences or moral satisfaction.

For example, Starbucks markets its coffee as "ethical," encouraging consumers to feel they are contributing to fair labor and environmental practices. This narrative distracts from the reality of Starbucks being a for-profit institution aiming to maximize shareholder returns. Its claim of “ethical coffee” is, for many, more impactful than the coffee's actual taste or the concrete betterment of coffee farmers’ lives.

The act of consuming shapes how individuals perceive themselves socially. The popularity of organic foods, for example, isn’t solely about health or taste, but about signaling responsibility toward environmental issues.

Examples

• Starbucks's “ethical coffee” creates a moral impression rather than systemic change.
• Organic food consumption communicates eco-awareness as much as it feeds consumers.
• Consumers choose brands that align with personal or aspirational identities.

6. A reimagined communism is necessary

For many, communism evokes the disastrous regimes of the past, but these systems were closer to socialism or state capitalism than true communism. Historically, communist experiments relied on centralized control, where states acted as property owners, maintaining hierarchies that communism aims to abolish.

True communism questions the entire notion of property, advocating collective ownership of essentials like air, water, and intellectual resources. Modern philosopher Alain Badiou calls this the "communist hypothesis": the continuous reimagining of collective action to address humankind's shared challenges. Any attempts to build a truly equal society must begin anew, unburdened by flawed historical implementations.

Communism isn’t about gradually evolving the current system but about restructuring from scratch to focus on collective welfare over isolated ownership.

Examples

• Alain Badiou’s "communist hypothesis" argues for continuous, ground-up rethinking.
• Traditional communism collapsed due to bureaucratic ownership, not collective governance.
• Examples like modern air or water reliance illustrate resources that should remain unowned.

7. Emerging crises demand collaboration

Today’s world operates in antagonistic directions that challenge survival. One major issue concerns privatized cultural commons, such as communication technologies or intellectual property laws, which restrict humanity’s creative collective progress. Another is environmental degradation, where climate change and resource mismanagement endanger planetary survival.

Finally, inner human nature is at risk. Genetic technology offers opportunities for enhancement but could be exploited by corporations or governments if commodified. Global interdependence makes these issues universal; tackling them requires shared, collective solutions.

Allowing private sectors to dominate these issues keeps profits flowing to the few while placing humanity at risk.

Examples

• Intellectual property laws stifle access to shared cultural resources.
• Climate change and deforestation jeopardize external natural commons.
• Genetic manipulation could commercialize fundamental aspects of humanity.

8. Society’s Excluded must gain a voice

Among all societal tensions, the divide between Included and Excluded is deeply entrenched. The Excluded—marginalized groups like undocumented immigrants—hold no representation in politics or legal systems, perpetuating inequality. When they gain formal inclusion, as immigrants do through citizenship, they essentially disappear into society, leaving others still excluded behind.

Communism’s focus on prioritizing the Excluded reorients political power. By using marginalized groups' needs as the foundation for restructuring, society can abandon the superficial inclusion model and ensure genuine equality.

Unlike reforms meant to assimilate excluded groups into existing systems, real change arises from dissolving distinctions altogether.

Examples

• Undocumented immigrants are marginalized because they belong nowhere legally.
• Proletarian inclusion in politics historically masked ongoing economic oppression.
• Traditional liberal democracy fails to fully empower marginalized participants.

9. Pseudo-opposition reinforces capitalism

Movements opposing capitalism sometimes play directly into its survival strategy. The USSR typifies this, as its authoritarian socialism operated as state-controlled capitalism under the guise of opposition. Similarly, Asia’s "capitalism with Asian values" achieves capitalist growth through collectivist, state-regulated economies.

Capitalism's flexibility allows it to coexist with authoritarian regimes like Singapore and China, challenging the assumption that it necessitates democracy. Any future opposition must include fully communal ownership, rather than state-bureaucrat hierarchies.

Communism offers the only consistent challenge by tackling property ownership at its roots.

Examples

• USSR bureaucratic socialism failed to remove class distinctions.
• Singapore and China demonstrate capitalism’s compatibility with totalitarianism.
• Movements against capitalism sometimes fuel new capitalist systems through adaptation.

Takeaways

1. Reflect on how common practices, like consumption, align with or perpetuate capitalist ideas. Challenge yourself to look beyond the surface.
2. Advocate for shared ownership and accessibility to resources like clean air, water, and education systems.
3. Empower marginalized voices in decision-making to restructure unjust systems from the ground up.