ABSTRACT

Capitalism is a highly dynamic or dialectic system but until there is serious societal transformation, the dynamics do not involve the erasure of classes though there may be basic changes in the class structure. To identify and examine technological and other changes does not at all imply a disappearance of classes—except in the ideological statements of system apologists. The works of Wallerstein and others are key in laying out the development of the capitalist world-system. Works of others fill in more of the needed framework as regards health and health services in capitalist societies. The capitalists and workers are put forth as partners and the enemy is that part of government which drains funds from these productive people to support the surplus population—the unemployed, persons on welfare, and the elderly. The sexism often separating men and women workers from joining in common struggle, entails many subtle but powerful notions.