Introduction to the special issue on theorizing contemporary capitalism

Abstract

While capitalism continues to be regarded as the dominant socioeconomic system globally, some observers have sought to show that recent economic and technological developments could pave the way for something new and potentially more destructive than capitalism itself. In this special issue, the persistence of capitalism is highlighted. It is treated as a dynamic system, capable of adapting to the different challenges thrown at it, be they economic, political, cultural, or technological. The different contributions take stock of capitalism's latest evolutionary tendencies and offer analyses which reflect two themes central to capitalism's theorization: its characterization and critique. In this introduction I preview each article in the light of those themes and identify the two overarching contributions this special issue makes to the theorization of contemporary capitalism.