Is capitalism “mutating” into an infotech utopia?
Ann Pettifor reviews Paul Mason’s recent book PostCapitalism: A Guide to Our Future
“Mason is optimistic about technology’s ability to eliminate pricing, to free up knowledge and to empower society to act collaboratively and with a “general intellect”. While I share some of that optimism, I see new technology as intensifying exploitation – by barring access to society’s collective public goods, and by transferring all risk on to today’s increasingly insecure working class – the precariat. Above all Mason’s optimism about technology’s role in our future means that he never fully grasps the nettle of ecological limits.”
“His vision of a post-capitalist era is inspiring, but needs to take into greater account the impact of technology on both increased expoitation of labour and the dominance of the finance sector”
[Read full review at Prime website]
