[calibraxis]

Fortunately, capitalism is a fairly young system & requires a government to provide violence (police & military) to preserve it. Capitalists often ask government to step in and make capitalism viable long-term. That is, keep capitalists from destroying each other. And to keep the populace from trying alternatives. ("Revolution.")

Slavery was more stable: lasted millenia. We're in turbulent times, particularly since we're probably ending neoliberal capitalism: an unstable form of capitalism whose one advantage is to damage the imagination enough to stop seeing alternatives except a single bad one.

[r00fus]

I would be surprised if the death knell for neoliberal capitalism is really sounding. And what, pray tell, is the replacement? Fascism? Plutocracy? Probably not Socialism or Communism...

[danharaj]

Even the IMF's economists are starting to question neoliberalism's limitations: https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2016/06/pdf/ostry...

Lenin (for all his faults) said that fascism is capitalism in decay, and far-right governments are gaining power all over the world, so...

[anigbrowl]

I'm anticapitalist but your smug tone does nothing to advance the discussion or help people to find effective alternatives.

[afsina]

Capitalism, as free markets are anti-state.

[GunboatDiplomat]

>Slavery was more stable: lasted millenia.

And slavery required less violence, per capita, to maintain? I don't think so. Innumerable slave revolts. Wars of conquest to capture slaves. Slave raiding. The daily violence needed to enforce slavery. Sexual violence perpetrated on slaves.

Capitalism is a rock of stability, from a civil society perspective, in contrast. When was the last time a developed capitalist nation had a civil war, or even a major violent revolt?

[finid]

When was the last time a developed capitalist nation had a civil war, or even a major violent revolt?

Reminder: Before those developed capitalist nations became what they are now, they also had their share of civil wars and major violent revolts.

[GunboatDiplomat]

Yes, and?

[20after4]

> When was the last time a developed capitalist nation had a civil war, or even a major violent revolt?

Ask again in a year or two.

[anigbrowl]

Oh boy, are you in for a big surprise.