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Four Futures

Life After Capitalism

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Four Futures

By: Peter Frase
Narrated by: Bob Souer
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About this listen

Peter Frase argues that increasing automation and a growing scarcity of resources, thanks to climate change, will bring it all tumbling down. In Four Futures, Frase imagines how this postcapitalist world might look, deploying the tools of both social science and speculative fiction to explore what communism, rentism, socialism, and exterminism might actually entail. Could the current rise of real-life robocops usher in a world that resembles Ender's Game? And sure, communism will bring an end to material scarcities and inequalities of wealth - but there's no guarantee that social hierarchies, governed by an economy of "likes", wouldn't rise to take their place.

A whirlwind tour through science fiction, social theory and the new technologies already shaping our lives, Four Futures is a balance sheet of the socialisms we may reach if a resurgent Left is successful - and the barbarisms we may be consigned to if those movements fail.

©2016 Peter Frase (P)2017 Tantor Anthropology Economics Future Studies Politics & Government Social Sciences Sociology Theory Socialism Capitalism Technology Fiction Economic Inequality Utopian
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A strong and entertaining work, willing to side step ossified dogmas on the left, while still full throatedly left-wing. My only complaint is that the author seemed a little to intent on convincing us of his erudition. More focus on analysis and less focus on being the man who has read everything would be nice.

Engaging and thoughtful

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