Social and Political Decadence

At present, society is in deadlock. The capitalist class have no perspective to offer society other than even more of that which is causing the problems. And for its part the working class has been unable to implement its own historic solution to the contradictions of capitalist society – World Socialism.

The result of this situation, which has pertained since the beginnings of the profit system, on the political field is a form of stalemate. At the level of society as a whole, the descent of capitalism is not just into political decadence, but a very real social decadence too. Society does indeed seem to be rotting on its feet, and nobody is able to do anything to stop it.

This putrefying of capitalism's social basis and codes has taken on a number of forms, all of which are symptomatic of a society which is, to paraphrase, "ill at ease with itself". Here are some of the most obvious manifestations of capitalism's social decadence:

The Myth of Empowerment and the reality of State Power

• The ongoing break-up of community relationships and the atomisation of the individual. This has been particularly characterised by the development of a competitive "everyone for themselves" culture as the dominant one in society, and by the appearance and consolidation of seemingly unbridgeable generation gaps.

NOT a packet of SMARTIES!

• The massive explosions of casual drug taking and nihilistic bachanallia, phenomena which were once peripheral or isolated in pockets of society, but which are now generalised throughout the market economy. Drug culture and youth culture are now virtually synonymous.

• The increase in violence and social disorder, spurred on by the horror and violence infecting the media, which influences children and young people. And then the re-appearance of mass rioting.

The worst of these riots, such as in Los Angeles (and recently London), have turned major cities at the heart of capitalism into uncontrollable zones.

This is London - August 2nd 2011

• The continuing, if not increasing political vacuity of the capitalist class which has been mirrored in the rise of a vacuous, nihilistic "no future" culture among large sections of young dispossessed workers who see no progress and no hope beyond their pint glass or next 'hit'.

• The massive corruption of capitalism's political apparatus, which is particularly evident in Britain with the succession of 'sleaze' scandals, but which is in fact a feature of the modem nation state virtually across the globe, from the US to France to Japan (let alone in Africa or Latin America).

• The revival of religious fundamentalism, creationism and the spread of mystical and New Age sects, this being based on a loss of confidence in science and human progress together with a general rejection of rational thought and problem solving.


• Lastly, though certainly not least, heightened nationalism, racism and inter-ethnic violence, engendered and encouraged by the rampant competition eating away at the social fabric of society.

The BNP may be a small rump of know-nothing idiots - but racist nationalism is alive and well in Britain

It is in these ways that capitalism is undermining the principles and continued existence of collective life.

Social decadence has followed on from political decadence and all the signs are that it will continue and probably deepen, for there are few if any forces or tendencies within capitalism operating in the opposite direction.

Filling the prisons is no long-term solution on many grounds, not least of which is cost, and no government following this line has yet really succeeded in reversing the process which the market has started.

None of the TV evangelising by the ridiculous David Cameron and his contemptuous posh lackeys or political appeals to "family values" are likely to succeed either as the very continued existence of capitalism and the forces it has unleashed make that near impossible. Appealing to some sort of higher morality or set of values within the context of the market is clutching at straws, a long way from a considered and practical response to the problems we face.

If the social decadence infecting society is to be overturned it has to be tackled at source – and that means the abolition of the market and the poisonous relationships which spring from it..