Envisioning alternatives to capitalism: on recent debates from the great recession to the global pandemic

Amidst historic crises with deep socioeconomic and political consequences in the first two decades of the 21st century, there has been a renewed interest in the critique of and alternatives to capitalism. Particularly between the Great Recession and the Global Pandemic, there has been an increasing number of publications on this topic. This article provides a critical review of five recently published books by some of the leading publishers in the world. On the basis of this critical overview, I argue that the analysis of class dynamics should be integrated rigorously into the discussion on alternatives to capitalism not only at the level of economic relations but also the state and international relations. This is indeed essential for the theoretical efficacy and strategic pertinence of any transformative project that seeks to go beyond capitalism.