My guest today is Grace Blakeley – UK-based political economist and author of three books, including her most recent: Vulture Capitalism. We discuss how political and corporate elites work together to protect their interests, why governments prop up monopolies, and how “the system” isn’t broken – in fact, it’s working exactly as it’s designed. We also touch on the history of capitalism and enclosure, the global legacy of imperialism, and why the struggle for a better future is ultimately a struggle over power.
Learn more about Grace, her work, and her books: https://graceblakeley.co.uk/
Read Grace’s writing on Substack: https://graceblakeley.substack.com/
Support the Better Future podcast by subscribing:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelmezz
Substack: https://substack.com/@michaelmezzatesta
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16K0dkbk35q0mTslKJJ7z0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-future-with-michael-mezz/id1823942833
Follow Grace on social media:
Twitter: https://x.com/graceblakeley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace.blakeley/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@graceblakeley0
00:00 Intro: Rich people don’t create jobs
01:16 Introducing Grace Blakeley
03:05 The system isn’t broken – it’s working as designed
10:46 Keynesianism, Marxism, and dialectical materialism
16:45 How state and corporate elites work together
22:44 The moral hazard of neoliberal capitalism
27:26 Who actually takes risk?
31:19 The history of enclosure & primitive accumulation
37:09 Capitalism’s expansion through colonialism & imperialism
43:40 The myth of “prosperity for all” under capitalism
51:28 The myth of innovation under capitalism
56:22 Trumpism’s destruction of visions for the future
59:08 The importance of unions & collective action
1:05:33 The importance of community & mutual aid
1:12:12 Diagnosing the recent success of the right
1:14:24 Embedding democracy in work & politics
1:18:24 Conclusion
Host/Creator: Michael Mezzatesta
Guest: Grace Blakeley
Editor: Nuria Salgado
Sound editor: Andre Corea
Designer: Amea Wadsworth
Thanks for watching episode 005. Lots more on the way :)
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