Capitalism and Democracy: A Reformist Dilemma

Abstract

Capitalism and Democracy: A Reformist Dilemma In this essay two critical conceptualizations of the relation between capitalism and democracy is discussed. Capitalism can be seen both as an external and internal limit to democracy. The first, external conceptualization has been the predominant one in the reformist labor movement. It is here discussed in terms of Habermas' social theory. This view is problematized, and it is instead suggested that a conceptualization of capitalism as an internal limit to democracy can be made on the basis of Marx' discussion of inversions, as a characteristic of capitalist societies. It is argued that this second conceptualization is more adequate for a socialist problematization of capitalism and democracy.