ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, theoretical issues bearing on social structures of accumulation were brought up for consideration and one case study, that of Japan, was introduced as a means of clarifying the argument. This chapter will focus on two additional case studies: the rise and demise of America’s postwar SSA, and the rise of America’s current SSA during the 1980s and 1990s. Although these cases are of considerable interest in themselves, their presentation here is meant primarily to demonstrate the power of SSA analysis to contribute to an understanding of the general dynamics of the capitalist system. Such analysis, for example, could be equally well employed in evaluating the economic condition and outlook of countries like Germany and China. Some brief observations on SSA conditions in these two countries may help to clarify the broad applicability of SSA analysis and serve as an introduction to the more detailed case studies that follow.
