Towards a theory of change

With the present article the author rounds off the series he beganwith "A critique of peripheral capitalism" (published in Review No. 1);, andcontinued with "Socio-economic structure and crisis of peripheral capitalism"(No. 6); and "The neoclassical theories of economic liberalism" (No. 7);.While in all the preceding articles his main concern was to offer a criticalinterpretation of the functioning of peripheral capitalism and to show theinability of neoclassical theory to comprehend it in depth, in this one he seeksto trace the lines along which that system should be changed.After recalling the basic features of his critique of how capitalism worksin the periphery (chapter I);, he sketches the criteria by which the processof change should be guided and which, in toto, constitute a synthesisof central values of socialism and liberalism (chapter II);. He then goeson to pose certain inevitable questions as to the political conditions ofchange, through which he reaffirms the value of democracy as the idealfoundation for a harmonious society (chapter III);. The next chapters (IVand V); are devoted to completing the presentation of his ideas via theanalysis of problems of change linked to technique, demand, the structureof production, the specific features of peripheral capitalism, etc. In the finalchapters he slightly shifts his angle of approach in order to deal, on theone hand, with the role of centre-periphery relations in change (chapterVI);; and on the other hand, with the present crisis in the centres and itsrepercussions on the periphery (chapter VII);; ending with a few reflectionson ethics, rationality and foresight (chapter VIII);.His central ideas will give rise to controversy, not only because oftheir provenance, but also because they pivot upon the vexed questionsof appropriation and social use of the surplus. But the writer is convincedthat the present crisis will not be overcome with superficial measures; if itis to be surmounted and a developed, democratic and equitable societyis to be built up, the process of change will have to strike at the veryroots of the system.