Immanuel Wallerstein
DEMOCRACY, CAPITALISM, AND
TRANSFORMATION
DEMOCRACY, CAPITALISM, AND
TRANSFORMATION

The expansion of democracy
 expansion
of democracy as concessions
 expansion of democracy as creation of cadres
 democracy as ideology
 used
to sustain the present world system
 used for the expansion of capitalism
expansion of democracy as concessions
the elite do not want to share their power and
privilege
 however, they fear revolution
 therefore, they must make concessions
 these concessions, however, do not change the
basic structure of the world system

expansion of democracy as creation of cadres
the elite cannot make concessions to everyone
(there is not enough wealth)
 they only make concessions to the cadres (the
middle class)
 the cadres serve as a buffer between the elite
and the masses
 the cadres align with the elite to hold on to their
privileges and help maintain the privileges of
the elite

democracy as ideology -- used to
sustain the present world system
democracy does not actually exist, only the
illusion of one
 the illusion of democracy keeps the elite in
power

 the
illusion of democracy is used as an ideological
tool to placate the people
democracy as ideology -- used for the
expansion of capitalism
in the past, the rhetorical tool used to justify
colonial expansion was “civilization”
 now, democracy (and freedom) is the rhetorical
tool used to expand capitalism

DEMOCRACY, CAPITALISM, AND
TRANSFORMATION

The expansion of democracy
 expansion
of democracy as concessions
 expansion of democracy as creation of cadres
 democracy as ideology
 used
to sustain the present world system
 used for the expansion of capitalism