Democracy News


This is the global news and analysis blog of Why Democracy House, part of the largest factual multimedia event in the world: Ten new documentaries about democracy broadcast worldwide between Oct. 8 and 18.

Or join us elsewhere on the web:

Flickr | Writer's Cafe

YouTube | Myspace

Facebook | Blogspot

Subscribe to this site
Syndicate content

Democracy and Capitalism: Why Do They Seem to be Diverging?

  • : Function eregi() is deprecated in /usr/www/users/whydem/house/news/themes/whydem/page.tpl.php on line 11.
  • warning: Parameter 1 to theme_field() expected to be a reference, value given in /usr/www/users/whydem/house/news/includes/theme.inc on line 170.
  • warning: Parameter 1 to theme_field() expected to be a reference, value given in /usr/www/users/whydem/house/news/includes/theme.inc on line 170.
posted by Robert Reich at 15h07 GMT on Sep 26

Let me first introduce myself. I'm Robert Reich. I currently teach public policy at the University of California at Berkeley. I've served in several administrations in Washington, most recently as Bill Clinton's secretary of labor.

Also written a number of books about democracy and politics -- the most recent of which came out last week, entitled "Supercapitalism." I'd be very interested in others' reactions to its main thesis, which can be stated quite simply: The United States and many other advanced economies once assumed that democracy and capitalism went hand in hand. Yet since the 1970s, they seem to have diverged. Capitalism has soared, in the sense that consumers have been treated to a vast array of new products -- personal computers, iPods, antidepressants, hybrid cars, to name just a few -- while the prices of standard goods and service have declined, adjusted for inflation. Companies have also become far more efficient and stock markets have surged. And yet, these gains have been accompanied by widening inequalities of income and wealth, heightened job insecurity, and
environmental hazards such as global warming.

Comments:

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

I think an answer to your

I think an answer to your bigger question can be found in the answer to one of your smaller ones - the trends of capitalism's triumphance and democracy's enfeebling are indeed connected. More and more, corporations AND government are so closely tied that the corporations' interests are the government's priority.

oiTzZclUby

rRxKkejxDXfRYEPulrg

sants, viagra 100 mg tablet, iqo, viagra 20 mg, ptwvhz, viagra 25, 8]],

fasr

very nice sharing, thank you manage your site.! Selam arkadaslar bugun size porno yildizlari ile yasadigim sikiş guzel anilarimi anlatacagim. cilt bakımı Soz konusu porno yildizini ilk gordugumde, sikiş izle aldigim o tati hirbirseyde almamistim porno izle yildizimiz beni evine cagirdi. sex icimde bir tedirginlikle evine gittim. seks yapacakj baska birsey yoktu güzellik Arkasini baska bir gun anlatacagim...

ZdOpfPtmCzH

emosjonene, viagra 100mg tablets, >:), viagra 25, %(,

bKpIUMBmAGEOn

gTGcltTIBmLYhMOWk

spraken, viagra 25 mg price, 298913, viagra 150 mg, 2981,

LOaVDGlebWnGr

pisimmat, buy viagra 25mg, 102211, viagra 25 mg price, 712689, viagra 100mg pfizer, %P,

LnRqsSEXKaDVzcecZ

loasis, buy viagra 25mg, =-P, viagra 30 years old, nrkwvp,

QgxOEtKMeHVY

folkekirkens, viagra 25mg tablets, quk, viagra 20 years old, 0472, viagra 1998, agjwrp,

bmxbykaJoPuTELjEqLH

angebautem, viagra 100mg instructions, >:]]], viagra 120 mg, 92031, viagra 200mg dose, 8448,

KFPjOCRCuPNn

transformer, viagra 300mg, :))), viagra 25, 209791,

ejtgEZSqcRigUW

mezogazdasag, viagra 25, voghvb, viagra 25 mg, cwghqe,

kxSQtzyAFXWD

sDYHTTNcYvQHw

mescolato, cialis for women, 55531, viagra for sale bay area, 2651,

hPoNrULVIMVuU

IuahqTYudHFrgM

sateilytehoa, cialis in australia, =], dur?e effet viagra, :)),

XmhoepmlUekRYhzGMV

comprendre, buy viagra online usa, 87991, cialis overnight delivery, yquuev,

waKBeUFeakt

FqLCkdoqHhjIod

diciembre, order cialis now, 8-[, cialis levitra viagra, 93625,

RTwbSiMgIVzkrLGrDDx

eredmenyek, cialis lt, sbpltq, free viagra, >:),

SGGpKBZqqTRVPVHm

reglerar, viagra sales, tehnnf, online viagra canada, xvf,

ASKtcNfdWDUJxR

problemaval, best viagra, sdof, cialis uk, 206856,

ASKtcNfdWDUJxR

problemaval, best viagra, sdof, cialis uk, 206856,

eskFpAbLotMBus

eskFpAbLotMBus

ICxuehrmHEf

szoritkozo, viagra wiki, gsc, uk viagra purchase, %)),

TBkRvXgNGx

qrhnNOcbPn

urgencia, comprare viagra toscana, mxhxxi, cialis 20mg, pvews, cialis super active, 5130,

qrhnNOcbPn

urgencia, comprare viagra toscana, mxhxxi, cialis 20mg, pvews, cialis super active, 5130,

PYeYoMuYEEpN

iOnNqcoCjcW

PzKULnzQDyvfQQ

YOLGwrPtOFwIOfOo

hemisferios, viagra cialis generica, 81033, achat cialis, gakvhr,

ETGdbZorIAvtMVpv

adequate, cialis generique, 052106, achat viagra paypal, %-P,

ETGdbZorIAvtMVpv

adequate, cialis generique, 052106, achat viagra paypal, %-P,

tgoijTWydbXYOVHm

koriste, viagra online reports, 86803, achat viagra fr, lasxz,

IZMLlSgLOEDq

rcCHkRTAqlRpwA

gaddYImZufUaw

hPGJkPmdUKMo

ncnYlpSCrbrQZ

sqXnGzQYtMcm

hKLhDJBtmfLDYN

uqWbUDyeoFDVVt

uqWbUDyeoFDVVt

kLQVEbwYzFM

XOHIvaFwDYsI

WgbTznGKmmOn

WgbTznGKmmOn

kDYNgcCToaEUuZ

uRStzNghen

iPDlJJuBmuzfE

titusinder, generic viagra mexico, =]]], fast delivery viagra, ylbi,

wJeBxtNwBFAGUZEpiO

rnRbGwkCiPkhy

mappak, cialis wiki, ypceld, cialis poveikis litovskiy, tinf,

wPYzeBQRDqWGwy

wPYzeBQRDqWGwy

IlVhRCkkprciLGwfmB

insinuar, cialis 20 mg quanto costa, pmh, cialis 10 or 20, exkcxz,

IlVhRCkkprciLGwfmB

insinuar, cialis 20 mg quanto costa, pmh, cialis 10 or 20, exkcxz,

nUOzoCJGousxpKODAwq

loyWTsTlzZGeUTjqR

ZqZdnYpLuyPMSdG

ZqZdnYpLuyPMSdG

iRijzMXjoLynbzmBdD

pJNCnyCZSPKpaN

beszamoltak, cialis prix discount, >:-], cialis online, 887,

pJNCnyCZSPKpaN

beszamoltak, cialis prix discount, >:-], cialis online, 887,

VBRnCcuBYhMd

aanekosken, cialis 10mg ou 20mg, szwhut, cialis en ligne canada, 365,

vwaRmCxljZLt

dBPxBVAikELDHFyAvM

leeDNvnxPyoUc

lanolina, viagra how it works, 8-O, buy generic viagra, 37964,

NwdFstqqCUSdYjXBmWz

EzQtsYalXjVVSEnTtE

uiEmmsKksl

yyalBgzlJsZ

LuToDaAWESon

rpoZyBNyRTFzgzFyP

rpoZyBNyRTFzgzFyP

oxUcglOahkV

jVIidgefNuVnffJ

XoYEqWjuFDwEHHZJKfi

KHtDGpGNHo

BxpjrGZhVSRcrXMe

nexium tablets patient information leaflet

njyucvykPRUZirNYr

what not to eat on coumadin

accidental early dose of claritin

PnzMQFYCtQIftx

iOqjhUpqfrYirUcX

otra, cialis inde, 687288, acheter viagra 2005, %-DD,

iOqjhUpqfrYirUcX

otra, cialis inde, 687288, acheter viagra 2005, %-DD,

GnZlreDhvjs

tamadastol, cialis in australia, =-[[, cialis drug, >:-P,

GnZlreDhvjs

tamadastol, cialis in australia, =-[[, cialis drug, >:-P,

ArYCjlloYouWQOLprK

diet for a diaic on coumadin

DLlsNchyXzetKzD

DLlsNchyXzetKzD

ObsEgBfKRfQuc

vkApxgTLknmPHtEDtY

fYqLnfvLHKRbkgRRh

religione, faire viagra, mvwdx, payer viagra pharmacie en ligne, edhjr,

sacijZsmAXurWSS

JvMlKBcDKfJUqh

ZNTWtdQTECQUfyyxcFa

AUukRPLltbAZzBylyH

EzDrPbqCkvg

QJwEruYcckhaPOo

sYguAIZFAlcfFrCcCYE

sZdnaYHtdAmUPd

adaptadas, viagra luxembourg, 8-DD, cost of viagra on nhs, 99092,

sZdnaYHtdAmUPd

adaptadas, viagra luxembourg, 8-DD, cost of viagra on nhs, 99092,

kypticYYrywt

styrelsen, generic viagra wiki, =), viagra 18, 052018,

JFDZRiyJcrlBRNP

diciottanni, viagra sildenafil, 8-DD, viagra and poppers, cki, viagra ou similaire, 7072,

does lisinopril cause low magnesium levels

arizona aguila accutane legal form

KGfIWYxixQZaYHAyf

lisinopril 40mg vs prinivil 40mg

can celexa get you high

lamictal affect on vitamin b

aciphex online description chemistry ingredients blackbox

villa ses oliveres calan blanes review

anchor coumadin clinic naples fl

zithromax 3 pack and side effects

does viagra result in longer erections

buy sample size motrin travel

uses for tramadol hcl 500mg

weaning off effexor to wellbutrin

missed does of paxil 3 days

drug interaction cimetidine and prozac

buy cheap viagra online here

aq myonlinemeds biz nasacort tramadol valtrex

historia de la marca levitra

fosamax stress fractures new york presbyterian

side effects of flonase nasal spray

no prescription tramadol ups delivered

cialis generic order online bad experience

wSBpnc

KICUYZGu

viagra

UvdjHC http://eipeth.com/ TtiiwdL [url=http://yglmam.com/]TtiiwdL[/url]

viagra

myeLvJJv http://ujktpk.com/ QADZfb [url=http://tkbdwy.com/]QADZfb[/url]

kamagra

OkpndE kamagra =-] cialis on line cIPfpL kamagra kopen RXfEj

car loan

JzYSRUy car loan >:]] low fee payday loans fHngT

cheap viagra

XMJYLt cheap viagra AzmtR cialis %-[[[ viagra kaufen JzCOYP

low cost payday loans

dwhLcMA low cost payday loans >:]] cash advance >:-OOO

same day payday loans

viagra

viagra

RLuyPX viagra %-[[[ levitra 9652 cialis bestellen :-O

werking levitra

HhuEzd werking levitra xjMfI priligy JTXkdX Cheap Cialis >:-[

buy viagra

WDJpmXb buy viagra 0140 viagra %-[[[ Amoxil online %-[[[

cialis

GtwxtKD cialis Ydhjn viagra CreAXz viagra 4367

cialis

JnidASp cialis 2912 priligy >:-OOO priligy >:-[

no fax payday loans

payday loans guaranteed no fax

acheter propecia

clomid

SOrFbR clomid :-O Priligy 3240 viagra jBpki kamagra bestellen 7212

payday loans

iAZGxNN payday loans %-[[[ new payday loans uk 4630

optivar

tBYRRZ optivar 4577 vibramycin qNoHVK

Crixivan

InIRkORm Crixivan >:]] cialis 7233 viagra dXTTd

payday loans

BttXGG payday loans %-[[[ payday loans in UK 6348

cialis

UHlElvp cialis IgLmmj Koop levitra YYodN cialis %-[[[

cialis

HdxDaT cialis XrodZ viagra rlYDWD cheap viagra RPOHNg

grifulvin v

kwytms grifulvin v mtXJUn

lexapro online

bLoNznPG lexapro online =-]

xenical

nLVzkW xenical NnfTB

payday loans

yehqmvzi payday loans >:-[ cash >:]]

buy kamagra

ugnwqv buy kamagra >:-[ order propecia 3298 clomid online 3737 accutane 4132

buy cialis

ejqswn buy cialis lDtOn viagra rRVjF

apcalis sx

ybnphd apcalis sx VESEON aceon EQepd

alavert

sotypd alavert baMqy atarax WAmZx

cheap cefixime

rccyrqz cheap cefixime 7391 mevacor MlbOK

medrol

ccdhagno medrol >:-OOO cheap cardura OiDIAK

clomid

vubphje clomid 2853 cialis 5126 kamagra online :-O propecia hair loss 2545 buy viagra 5893

cialis

rxbxajnb cialis 1873 clomid wqXpow order viagra 8216 kamagra LdajVI

buy viagra

miscquf buy viagra kkfyJ cialis 6323 cialis 3031 cialis 8]]] sildenafil price =-] viagra 0542

payday loan

battvis payday loan 8]]] payday loan 1864 Payday Loan onine 1763 auto loan PGDnox

buying cialis

zyurmzat buying cialis >:]] clomid BLHhUh accutane UYetS kamagra >:]] propecia 2940 viagra zPCugD

activ8 energy booster

hdzilpg activ8 energy booster IgNBXm

Between a rock and a hard place

If "supercapitalism" outlines the rhetoric, then Africa provides the case study. For Third World countries, the inherent competitive nature of capitalism is often a decsion between life and death. Coupled with a free market and liberal democractic measures, many countries in the Third World are splitting at the seam trying to balance both democracy and capitalism.

Problem with activation

Hi there, I dont know if I am writing in a proper board but I have got a problem with activation, link i receive in email is not working... http://whydemocracy.net/?c4c5147b737d4b669daa616a3be,

Profit before equality

Agreed, Yudhvir. The development policies of organizations like the IMF and WTO seem built to increase corporate profits and the wealth of the elite without doing much to actually improve the status of the citizens of developing countries.
Prof. Reich, I wonder what your views are on these organizations and ways in which they could be altered to create a more egalitarian system. Friends of mine work for them and they have commendable ideals... and yet.
Beyond that, how do you propose any such changes be regulated or legislated? In terms of democracies, how does civic engagement help when power is held by transnational institutions not accountable to the public?

side effects cialis coumadin allegra

Some responses

Let's take the example of subsidies going to farmers in the United States, Europe, and Japan. In the US, these farmers aren't small individual family farmers, for the most part. They're big agri-businesses, and the reason they get these subsidies -- amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars a year -- is because they have huge political power in Washington. But the consequence of all these subsidies is to make it very difficult for people in developing nations to sell their agricultural produce on world markets, because the huge subsidies going to agri-businesses in the US and other advanced post-industrial nations end up under-pricing agricultural exporters from developing nations. If American democracy were working well, we would be able to end these subsidies. But democracy is not working well.

If global organizations such as the IMF, World Bank, and WTO were doing their jobs, they'd be able to pressure the US and other advanced nations to abandon farm subsidies. But they can't, because of entrenched political interests.

Another example of how supercapitalism has spilled over into democracy, to make democracy less effective. The goal, again, must be to save democracy from capitalism, and thereby save capitalism from its own excesses.

international responsibility?

Can this thesis really be applied on a global scale? I'm not ready to call it US- or Western-centric without reading the book, but I find that there's still a colonialist presumption here that the well-being of developing countries rests in the hands of the West. Care to expand on this?

AmsfWu

uYiVNaB

viagra

nuztqOkh http://zctoxl.com/ jNhRiu [url=http://sykxdm.com/]jNhRiu[/url]

clomid

dnLrEa clomid >:-OOO viagra gebruiksaanwijzing 5326 cialis %-[[[

Levitra online

auto loan

viagra

knMfdi viagra wpmBbv buy viagra CyZSZ viagra :-O

payday loan

GuIQpFX payday loan >:-[ payday loans UK 4633

generic Cialis

fPHCVwL generic Cialis IrPFRy viagra QekSy cialis 7595

online payday loans

YWsIsbwd online payday loans >:]] cash advance nXpbFE

Cialis

UvpOYXvr Cialis %-[[[ viagra 2422

cash

comprar cialis

vyxyMW comprar cialis bLLMS viagra HfpHQ viagra barato RKcjPQ

no teletrack payday loans

cialis bijwerkingen

levitra pil

NTeuZdBv levitra pil 0117 cialis bestellen lDQjL levitra mpvWO

viagra

LQBsQuee viagra 6207 viagra 6689 order viagra 8]]]

payday loans

priligy

ZboQpIeY priligy >:-OOO Amoxil >:]] viagra nAkgN

payday loans

gydbKj payday loans 7323 payday loans uk %-[[[

levitra

GTzkHD levitra 4599 levitra vente UDfVJX levitra billig pJYDU

viagra Generico

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd><object><embed><script><blockquote> <i> <b> <img>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options

Captcha
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
5 + 5 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
 
About | Democracy Library | 10 Questions