ABSTRACT
As I have suggested in previous chapters, capitalism overcomes its contradictions and moves on to new historical stages by repeatedly reinventing itself. It does not do so in a vacuum, however, but in a context defined by the “external” conditions that shape each stage. In the current era, one that promises to occupy much if not all of the twenty-first century, the principal external conditions are those defined by the prominent roles of globalization, technological change and their interaction. In the last analysis, of course, globalization and technological change are not truly “external.” Both are influenced by numerous factors, not least of which is the demands of the capitalist system for ever-expanding profits and accumulation. Moreover, the principles of overdetermination suggest that all social processes are mutually determinative, with myriad interactions. Even so, treating globalization and technological change as exogenous factors provides a useful entry point for analysis.
