Accessibility statement

The Corruption of Capitalism: Why Rentiers thrive and the Precariat struggles

Wednesday 3 May 2017, 12.00PM to 2.00pm

Speaker(s): Professor Guy Standing (School of Oriental and African Studies, London)

In the context of globalisation and the latter stages of the neo-liberal phase of the Global Transformation, in what is called austerity, the 20th century income distribution system has broken down irretrievably. Aided by the silicon revolution and labour market flexibility policies, the interests of financial capital have constructed an unfree market system of rentier capitalism. It is institutionally corrupt.

One consequence is that the growing inequality has generated a global class structure in which the precariat is growing and becoming more insecure and vulnerable. The precariat consists of millions of people forced to live unstable lives, without occupational identify, relying on low and volatile money wages and losing all forms of rights. It is alienated, anomic, anxious and angry, and is fomenting dangerous forms of populism. This presentation will elaborate on these themes, drawing on a trilogy of recent books.

This is a joint event organised by the Department of Politics and the York Union.

You can book through eventbrite here - all welcome!

Location: Berrick Saul Building, room BS/005

Admission: All welcome (via eventbrite booking)