How to understand the new changes and historical position of capitalism in today's society?

In the long river of historical development of human society, capitalism once had glorious years. But every progress of it contains its own negative side, and it can't escape the historical fate of being replaced by a higher social form.

(1) Capitalism has played a great revolutionary role for the first time in history.

It is a great leap in social development that the capitalist system replaces the feudal system. It completely destroyed feudal social relations and ideology and caused a series of revolutionary changes in various fields of social life. Mainly manifested in: the establishment of the capitalist system. Make productivity break through the shackles of feudal production relations, and the rapid growth of social wealth is like a flood that breaks through the gate. "The productive forces created by the bourgeoisie in less than one hundred years of class rule have exceeded the sum of all the productive forces created in all previous times. The conquest of natural forces, the adoption of machinery, the application of chemistry in industry and agriculture, the operation of ships, the passage of railways, the use of telegrams, the reclamation of the whole continent, the navigation of rivers and so on. , are incomparable in the past.

Capitalism not only eliminated feudal separatism and established a country with unified factories, but also eliminated ancient national industries. Many countries have realized the industrialization, commercialization and socialization of production and opened the world market. Capitalism has turned the world into an open world, globalized the production and consumption of all countries in the world, and formed a new pattern of interdependence, mutual penetration and mutual competition among countries' economies.

This is the case with material production and spiritual production. The capitalist system has brought an unprecedented new situation to the development of science, education and culture. In the ideological field, bourgeois thinkers started from the bourgeois "theory of human nature", held high the banner of rational principle, and mercilessly criticized the feudal autocratic system and the religious theology that maintained this system. In the name of "freedom, equality, fraternity" and "natural human rights", they broke through the spiritual shackles of feudal autocracy since the Middle Ages and brought a great spiritual liberation to mankind.

The fundamental reason why capitalism can play a revolutionary role in history is to conform to the objective laws of historical development, break the decadent feudal ownership production relations that bind the development of productive forces, and establish capitalist production relations, which has opened up a broad road for the development of productive forces.

(2) Every progress of capitalism has its negative side.

The establishment of capitalist relations of production meets the needs of the development of productive forces. But it replaces another private ownership with one private ownership and another exploitation system with one exploitation system. Capitalist private ownership and the wage labor system based on it are the roots of all its negative aspects.

The establishment of the capitalist system liberated the productive forces and promoted the development and progress of local productive forces in factories. However, the progress of productive forces is accompanied by the deepening of exploitation and oppression of working people, which has become the means and material force for the bourgeoisie to exploit workers and become rich by itself. The opposition between the progress of capitalist productive forces and the conservative private ownership of capitalism, and the opposition between the development of capitalism and the working class that developed with it are all obvious. This opposition contains negative factors for capitalism and the bourgeoisie. Although bourgeois Pakistan is constantly adjusting its relations of production and society, this adjustment is in the final analysis to keep the foundation of its existence unchanged, which is the wage labor system based on capitalist private ownership. The contradiction between capitalist relations of production and the development of productive forces and between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat cannot be overcome by the capitalist system itself.

Capitalism provides material conditions for the interests and liberation of mankind, but it uses this material condition to undermine the further liberation of mankind and push mankind into the abyss of disaster.

Capitalism has created great wealth, but it has also brought great waste and destruction of social wealth.

Great progress has been made in scientific and cultural education in capitalist countries, but at the same time, it has also made social atmosphere corrupt, spiritual and moral decadence and social security worse, forming a sharp contrast.

In a word, after the prosperity and progress of capitalism, it contains the necessity of deepening the transformation of social capitalism to a higher social form.

New changes: (1) changes in productivity.

All commentators believe that the productivity of developed capitalist countries has made great progress after the war, but they have summarized this development from different angles.

Wei Xinghua and Lu Xianggan believe that from the perspective of economic development, contemporary capitalism, especially major capitalist countries, has accelerated the development of productive forces, greatly improved labor productivity, rapidly increased social wealth, and maintained relatively stable economic development for a long time. On the level of industrial structure, there is a tendency to turn to informationization, service industry and high technology. The tertiary industry has risen rapidly, and the proportion of primary and secondary industries has dropped significantly. Pang Renzhi, Zhou Minkai, Chen Guoxin and others discussed the changes of productive forces from the new changes of production factors. Laborers: the labor structure has changed greatly, the proportion of mental workers has increased, and their quality has improved significantly; Labor tools: revolutionary changes have taken place, from the traditional "three mechanisms" (power machine, working machine and transmission machine) to "four mechanisms" (adding computer control machine); Labor object: the advent of synthetic materials, the development and utilization of new resources, especially the wide application of information resources, have fundamentally changed the material scope of labor objects. In addition, as an important part of productivity, production management has gained new means and tools due to the application of computers, information technology, cybernetics and system engineering.

(b) Changes in relations of production

Fei Yi discussed a series of adjustments in the relations of production of contemporary capitalism from three aspects: in the relations of ownership, the so-called trend of capital socialization appeared, a certain proportion of state-owned economy was established and developed, and the shares of enterprises were dispersed. In terms of labor relations, we should take various forms, including allowing some workers to participate in enterprise management, to improve labor relations and ease class contradictions. In terms of distribution relations, many developed countries have made some adjustments to income distribution policies and implemented social welfare policies, which have alleviated social contradictions to some extent. The research group Qiushi expounds the changes of contemporary capitalist relations of production from four aspects: government intervention in microeconomics and macroeconomics; Implement the employee stock ownership plan; Implement welfare policies; Adjust income redistribution with tax. Pang Renzhi believes that the change of production relations is first manifested in the development of state monopoly capitalism: the combination of state and private monopoly capital; Developing capitalist state-owned enterprises; The state intervenes, manages and regulates all aspects of economic life.

With the development of economic globalization, contemporary capitalist relations of production show many characteristics of international monopoly capitalism. Wei Xinghua and Lu Xianggan believe that at the level of capital internationalization, the international trade space has been expanded, and the production and operation and capital flow have been internationalized. Chang Xinxin believes that due to the all-round development of economic globalization, the proliferation and turnover of capital are carried out on a global scale, forming an international cycle of capital and eventually forming a capitalist world system.

(c) changes in the superstructure

Xu Zhigong, Jiang, Pang Renzhi and others believe that the changes in the superstructure are mainly manifested in: the effective combination of political system and legal system has been realized; The function of the state in managing the economy and society has been strengthened; The democratic form of the bourgeoisie is further expanded, and the connotation and extension of civil rights are further expanded; The ideological differences between the left and the right are gradually weakening, and the diversified value orientation is more distinct. This shows that capitalism has developed to the stage of state monopoly capitalism and established a relatively mature political system and legal system. Chang Xinxin believes that there are two changes in the form of capitalist political rule: the internal and external factors that supervise and restrict state power institutions have been greatly strengthened; The focus of state power has shifted from parliament to government.

(D) changes in class structure and class relations

1, the changes of contemporary bourgeoisie. Zhang and Li Huixin believe that the internal structure of the contemporary bourgeoisie is changing. Under the condition that family capitalists continue to exist, the number of manager capitalists increases and their functions rise; Second, the change of family capitalists' control mode of enterprises has gradually changed from direct control to indirect control. Luo Wendong also believes that the transnational capitalist class has begun to take shape.

2. Changes of the contemporary proletariat. Zhang believes that these changes are mainly manifested in: the absolute number of workers has increased rapidly and their quality has improved; Workers in the tertiary industry have occupied a dominant position; White-collar workers surpass blue-collar workers. Pang Renzhi believes that the composition of the working class is becoming increasingly complex and multi-layered; Wage income increased and life improved significantly; Shorten working hours; Many people become owners of stocks; Workers get help through social insurance, social relief and social services.

3. the middle class. Lin Deshan pointed out that people who do not own or rarely own the means of production, but have the right to dominate workers' labor and daily control the means of production, that is, the middle class, are different from the working class in terms of income level, consumption pattern, social attitude and ideology. Luo Wendong believes that the middle class is divided into "lower middle class" and "upper middle class", and the number of the middle class has been greatly reduced.

4. Changes in class relations. Zhang believes that due to the entanglement of social contradictions such as class, stratum, interest groups, nationality and race, radicalism and conservatism, the contradiction between proletariat and bourgeoisie has been diluted by various social conflicts of interest. Lu Xianggan believes that western developed countries have implemented reformist measures, implemented tax policies and social redistribution policies that are conducive to limiting the widening gap between the rich and the poor, and alleviated social contradictions and class contradictions to some extent. Wei Xinghua believes that the social and political status of the working class in capitalist countries has improved.

Third, how to treat the new changes of contemporary capitalism?

The self-adjustment, improvement and improvement in the development of contemporary capitalist countries have greatly promoted the economic development and social progress of capitalism, but they have not changed the nature of capitalist society. There is not much difference in this respect, but the emphasis is different.

(A) to master the scientific methodology

Zhang Feng believes that only when these new changes in contemporary capitalism are regarded as regular phenomena, rather than accidental phenomena, can the scientific attitude conform to materialist dialectics. Chang Xinxin and Jiang believe that we should dialectically analyze the new changes of contemporary capitalism. We should not only see its profound changes, but also see its unchanging aspects: capitalist private ownership, the employment situation of the working class, the opposition between capital and labor, the basic contradictions inherent in capitalism and its three major contradictions, the economic crisis and various social contradictions caused by it, and so on. The ultimate limit of capitalism's self-adjustment is that it cannot change the fundamental system of capitalism. Xiao Feng pointed out that to fully understand capitalism, we must also study the whole "world system" of capitalism. Developed capitalism is only a part of the world capitalist system, and there is another kind of capitalism in the world, that is, capitalism in developing countries.

(B) the reasons for the new changes in contemporary capitalism

Because of the different angles and emphases of analysis, researchers can be divided into three views: the first view is the theory to promote the modern scientific and technological revolution. Tao Chengde, Chen Guoxin and Cao Wenzhen are representatives of this view. They believe that the change of modern capitalism is ultimately caused by the leap in productivity caused by the contemporary new scientific and technological revolution. The development of productive forces promotes modern capitalism to adjust production relations and social contradictions. Global monopoly capitalism is the inevitable product of highly developed productive forces, highly socialized capital and highly internationalized capital caused by the new scientific and technological revolution after World War II. The second view can be summarized as the theory of state intervention and self-discipline. Xu Chongwen believes that among the many changes that have taken place in developed capitalist society after World War II, the state's intervention and regulation of economic life has promoted and determined the nature of other changes to a considerable extent. Xiao Feng believes that the reason for the new changes in contemporary capitalism is firstly to strengthen the "state intervention", which has played a key role in delaying the aging of capitalism. Secondly, the "institutional crisis" was alleviated through "institutional reform"; By opposing monopoly, encouraging and protecting free competition, science and technology and social productive forces can still achieve rapid development. Wei Xinghua believes that the new changes of contemporary capitalism are different from the spontaneous development of capitalist economy in the past, and the bourgeoisie and its government constantly and consciously adjust themselves. The research group Qiushi also believes that self-regulation is the internal cause of the new changes in the capitalist world. The third view can be summarized as the theory of capitalist development potential. Some researchers emphasize that contemporary capitalism is not "dying" as estimated by Lenin in Imperialism, and it still has strong social adaptability and development potential. Xi Guangqing and Zhong hold this view. They believe that despite many contradictions, contemporary capitalism still has great vitality and development potential due to reform and high-tech development.

(3) Issues of special concern

1, we should correctly look at the changes in capitalist ownership.

The research group of Qiushi believes that the development of state-owned economy in western developed countries is an adjustment that has to be made to capitalist relations of production. Such a state-owned economy has only changed from the possession of a single capitalist to the possession of a group of capitalists. It not only did not change private ownership, but consolidated it. Decentralization and socialization of stock rights have not turned capitalism into "people's capitalism", but a clever way for tycoons and oligarchs to collect workers' consumption funds to dominate and control more capital, so as to reduce the investment risk of their own capital and intensify the exploitation of workers. Lu Hong and Wang Jian also believe that the socialization of equity is only a new model of capitalist private ownership.

2. Whether the welfare system and participation in enterprise management have changed the exploited status of workers.

Xiao Zhang Zongwei believes that the welfare system has not fundamentally changed the status of the working class. Essentially, it serves to stabilize the capitalist system, and its basic function is only to prevent low-income people from damaging the long-term interests of the bourgeoisie because of unfair social distribution. Wang Jian believes that social welfare expenditure is only a part of the transformation form of the total value of the working class labor force. As for the post-war western countries to absorb some workers to participate in enterprise management, Xiao believes that there are two reasons: one is the policy need to improve labor relations and ease class contradictions; The second is the result of the influence of the new scientific and technological revolution on corporate culture. The economic root of the confrontation between the working class and the bourgeoisie has not been eliminated because some workers participate in enterprise management.

3. On the issue of socialist factors within capitalism.

Lenin pointed out: "The dialectical development process does contain the factors of the new society within the scope of capitalism." According to Lenin's thought, the development of capitalism is also the growth of socialist factors. Liu Ji believes that contemporary capitalist society shows socialist factors: in terms of productivity. In the developed capitalist society, highly developed socialized mass production has to create advanced management forms and organizational forms, and more and more shows the historical trend towards socialism. In terms of ownership. At present, the state-owned economy in developed capitalist countries accounts for at least 7%. Joint-stock system is a public company with highly dispersed shares, and there are no individuals, families or enterprise groups holding shares and global shareholders. This may be the "social ownership" envisioned by Marx at that time. Other institutional funds, social intermediary organizations, cooperatives and other forms of ownership all contain a lot of socialist factors. In circulation. The wages of workers are no longer determined unilaterally by capitalists, but must abide by the minimum wage system stipulated by the state and must be negotiated with trade unions, which deprives capitalist owners of control. The social welfare and security system of workers in unemployment, medical care, old-age care and many other aspects is obviously beyond the reach of the essence of capitalism. Progressive income tax and inheritance tax are a method of productism.

Gao Fang also believes that contemporary capitalism can be said to go further than state monopoly capitalism, and socialist factors have gradually accumulated within capitalist society. Workers, peasants, commercial enterprises and cultural and educational institutions organized by producers in various countries through legal struggle naturally have certain socialist nature. In many capitalist countries, cooperative enterprises or employee-owned companies managed by workers themselves, various production, supply and marketing and credit cooperatives organized by farmers themselves, and more and more consumer cooperatives for urban and rural residents have spontaneously formed some collective economies. The governments of capitalist countries have strengthened macro-planning control over the national economy and adopted various social welfare measures. The gradual growth of these factors is not a change in the nature of the bourgeoisie, but a move towards socialism.

Regarding the growth of these socialist factors in capitalist society, Zhong believes that this is not the transfer of the will of the bourgeoisie, but the inevitable result of social and economic development, and also the result of the continuous criticism and struggle of capitalism by the working class and progressive forces in the world. Pang Renzhi believes that the deepening of the basic contradiction of capitalism has led to the increase of contemporary capitalist socialist factors. The adjustment and reform of capitalism did absorb some socialist factors intentionally or unintentionally, subjectively to save the demise of capitalism, but objectively caused the existence of socialist factors.

I found it for you on another webpage, hehe. There seems to be something in the book)