David Graeber: Anti-Capitalist Cash

Posted by admin on Friday, November 26, 2021

David Graeber Money Quote saying revolutionaries fail to define how money functions after a revolution and don’t know how to define money. David Graeber said:
 

 

“Money has always been a particular problem for revolutionaries and anti-capitalists. What will money look like ‘after the revolution’? How will it function? Will it exist at all? It’s hard to answer the question if you don’t know what money actually is. Proposing to eliminate it entirely seems utopian and naive” — David Graeber

 

 

The money quote from David Graeber, an anthropologist and anarchist activist, and it raises some interesting points about the nature of money and its potential role in a post-capitalist society. Here are some possible interpretations and insights about the quote:

1. Money as a problem for revolutionaries: Graeber suggests that money has always been a challenge for those seeking to overthrow capitalism and create a more equitable society. This is because money is a key component of the current system and is deeply ingrained in our social and economic structures.
2. The question of what money will look like after the revolution: Graeber’s quote highlights the uncertainty around what form money will take in a post-capitalist society. Some propose eliminating money altogether, while others suggest that a new form of money will be needed to facilitate exchange and value creation.
3. The nature of money: Graeber’s quote implies that money is not just a neutral medium of exchange but has a more complex and problematic nature. He suggests that money is closely tied to the functioning of capitalism and the creation of social and economic hierarchies.
4. The utopian and naive nature of proposals to eliminate money: Graeber’s quote implies that proposals to eliminate money entirely may be overly optimistic and fail to understand the complexities of the current system and the need for a more nuanced approach.
5. The need for a more nuanced approach: Graeber’s quote suggests that any proposal for a post-capitalist society must take into account the complexities of money and its role in facilitating exchange and value creation. This may involve creating a new form of money that addresses the issues of inequality and exploitation inherent in the current system.

Graeber’s quote highlights the challenges and complexities of creating a post-capitalist society and the need for a more nuanced approach to the issue of money. It suggests that any proposal for a new society must take into account the lessons of the past and the complexities of the current system, rather than simply advocating for the elimination of money altogether.

Categories: politics Tagged:anti-capitalistsdavid graeber