Anti-capitalist protest groups and their critiques of global economy

Anti-Capitalist Groups

Karl Marx is probably one of the staunchest critics of the kind of economic set-up that has long dominated the world, i.e. capitalism. He argued that capitalism, as a mode of production, allows for the accumulation of wealth of the dominant class and further results to marginalization and oppression of the working class (Marx cited in George Mason University Website, 2009). Indeed, Marx's effort towards anti-capitalism has resulted to further theorizing in this domain as well as the formation of anti-capitalist groups to embody these argumentations.

Focus on the Global South is an anti-capitalist group that aims to "dismantle oppressive economic and political structures and institutions; to create liberating structures and institutions to promote demilitarization and peace-building, instead of conflict" (Focus on the Global South, 2009, par. 3). Moreover, this group's propositions revolve around the theory of globalization which is described as "the transformation of the global economy from one centered on the needs of transnational corporations" (ibid).

In my analysis, the group's fight against capitalism is both rooted in their understanding of how the historical and contemporary economic order has oppressed the marginalized sectors of the society - and this oppression is further strengthened by economic policies of supranational institutions. Allow me to expound on my two points. Firstly, the group believes that the nature and problems of the capitalist society is a product of distinct historical and contemporary economic order because of its acknowledgment of the transnational class. The transnational class is believed to be a new breed of dominant class stemming from the new economic order (i.e. global capitalism) which gives way to a highly mobile capital which all the more strengthens social polarization (Robinson & Harris, 2000). Secondly, (and at the same time) the group recognizes that institutions like IMF and WB aligns with the dominant class as seen in the group's website which has a special section for these institutions under Reclaiming the Commons - where the group's critiques against the policies implemented by IMF and WB among many others can be found.