On Friday January fourth, host Esty Dinur spoke with author Cynthia Kaufman about her book, “Getting Past Capitalism: History, Vision, Hope.” Kaufman is the director of the Institute of Community and Civic Engagement at De Anza College as well as a teacher of Philosophy. She has written the book, “Ideas for Action: Relevant Theory for Radical Change” (South End Press 2003). She is a lifelong activist, having been involved with Central America Solidarity work, union organizing, work against police abuse, housing rights, and most recently work to prevent destruction of the climate.
“Getting Past Capitalism begins with a critique of the impacts of capitalism on human society and the environment. It looks in new ways at what capitalism is and at how it is reproduced. That investigation opens the door to fresh ways of looking at how to challenge it. Getting Past Capitalism looks at some fundamental questions about how capitalism comes to look like a system that is unbeatable, and how people come to have desires that work to reinforce capitalism. The book uses this analysis to develop ideas about how to challenge capitalism. It argues that rather than looking for the fulcrum point in a system that will make it able to be overthrown, we should try to understand what kinds of practices open more spaces for stopping the reproduction of capitalist processes, and what kinds of structures need to be developed to make capitalism a less important part of our world. The book includes a critique of capitalism and presentation of alternatives to capitalism, many of which already exist. It explores strategies for developing and strengthening those alternatives.”
– Lexington Books, 2012
Read more about the book:
http://faculty.deanza.edu/kaufmancynthia/stories/storyReader$112
Read more about Cynthia Kaufman:
http://faculty.deanza.edu/kaufmancynthia/
Listen to the entire interview:
