Western Capitalism in Transition. Global Processes, Local Challenges

In the last thirty years capitalism entered a process of radical change that wiped out the world we knew during the golden age. Processes of globalization and financialisation coupled with mass migration, demographic transitions and a delegitimized welfare state brought about a steeply increase of inequality or even a polarization between winners and losers, challenging the very nature of citizenship. The redefinition of the social class structure and the transformation of the existing patterns of social inclusion of individuals and social groups is having a deep impact on the social fabric. Written by cutting edge scholars this book explores – from different disciplinary perspectives – how western capitalism changes and with what consequences on individuals’ life and communities. The book is structured in three parts, each discussing a specific area of change: 1) capitalism and welfare; 2) migration and citizenship 3) cities and urban transformations. Chapters focus on the uneven effects of capitalism, on the manifold social conflicts emerging and on the possibilities for the mobilization of people and social movements. The authors develop their analysis taking into consideration the interplay of micro and macro factors. By combining theory and empirical analysis and adopting a comparative perspective, they provide insights for understanding the dynamics of change and who is winning and who is losing