Home  Journals  National Interests: Priorities and Security  20(305) - 2015 May

Anti-Kornai: reflections on the crisis of capitalism

Vol. 11, Iss. 20, MAY 2015

Article PDF Version

Available online: 7 June 2015

Subject Heading: GLOBALIZATION

JEL Classification: 

Pages: 52-66

Importance The article focuses on the role of capitalism in social progress. The research also investigates whether it is reasonable and practicable to change this socio-economic system.
     Objectives The objective of the research is to examine what was the driving force of innovative activities during capitalism, how capitalism influenced the current crisis of human development, and substantiate a possibility of the post-capitalist order.
     Methods The research relies upon the systems analysis, axiology, philosophy, social relationships, and dialectics.
     Results The research presents opposite views on some aspects of Gondolatok a kapitalizmusról (Thoughts on Capitalism) by Janos Kornai and demonstrates that innovative processes are driven by people's egoistic motives. The article discusses whether it is possible for Russia to create the post-capitalist society as a method to grow up the new human personality on the basis of the Russian traditions and transformation of the socio-economic conditions. As its priority objectives, the State should set up a system of national values, eliminate an oligarchic system, reduce unearned income, ensure minimum self-sufficiency of the society, devise and implement the governmental innovative meta-project, develop local authorities and horizontal ties.
     Conclusions and Relevance Capitalism should be and may be converted into a system of social equity, regulation of technocratic development in order to prevent global catastrophic scenarios. In this respect, it is necessary to thoroughly study the program for strategic management of transition to the post-capitalist society of fairness, spirituality and constructive labor, and political will of the national elite.

Keywords: capitalism, socialism, egoism, greediness, innovation, consumption, fairness, technological progress, spirituality

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