Since the fall of the Berlin Wall we have been told that no alternative to Western capitalism is possible or desirable. This book challenges this view with two arguments. First, the above premise ignores the enormous variety within capitalism itself. Second, there are enormous forces of...

The Left is in crisis. Despite global economic turbulence, left-wing political parties in many countries have failed to make progress in part because they have grown too ideologically fragmented. Today, the term Left is associated with state intervention and public ownership, but this has little...

Contents: Preface -- Introduction -- Part I: Socialism, markets and democracy -- 1. What does socialism mean? -- 2. Small socialism requires frugality or markets -- 3. Big socialism brings stagnation and despotism -- 4. Knowledge, complexity and the limits to planning -- Part II: Towards a...