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Single Idea 22853

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 11. Capitalism ]

Full Idea

Wage earners consent to capitalist organisation of society when they act as if they could improve their material conditions within the confines of capitalism.

Gist of Idea

Anyone who thinks capitalism can improve their lives is endorsing capitalism

Source

Steven Lukes (Power: a Radical View (2nd ed) [2005], Intro)

Book Ref

Lukes,Steven: 'Power: a radical view' [Macmillan 2005], p.9

A Reaction

[He is citing Przeworski 1985] Not plausible as it stands. Does a prisoner who tries to improve their life within a hideous prison thereby endorse the prison system? In Auschwitz? Slaves can go along with the system for years, then suddenly rebel.

The 15 ideas from Steven Lukes

22850 Hidden powers are the most effective [Lukes]
22852 The pluralist view says that power is restrained by group rivalry [Lukes]
22854 Power is a capacity, which may never need to be exercised [Lukes]
22851 In the 1950s they said ideology is finished, and expertise takes over [Lukes]
22853 Anyone who thinks capitalism can improve their lives is endorsing capitalism [Lukes]
22855 One-dimensionsal power is behaviour in observable conflicts of interests [Lukes]
22856 Political organisation brings some conflicts to the fore, and suppresses others [Lukes]
22860 The evidence for the exertion of power need not involve a grievance of the powerless [Lukes]
22857 The two-dimensional view of power recognises the importance of controlling the agenda [Lukes]
22859 Power can be exercised to determine a person's desires [Lukes]
22858 There is collective action, where a trend is manifest, but is not attributable to individuals [Lukes]
22862 Liberals take people as they are, and take their preferences to be their interests [Lukes]
22861 Power is affecting a person in a way contrary to their interests [Lukes]
22863 Power is the capacity of a social class to realise its interests [Lukes]
21133 Supreme power is getting people to have thoughts and desires chosen by you [Lukes]