Misunderstandings in Politics, Economics, and Language

This book argues that modern societies face a fundamental contradiction. On the one hand, the purpose of government, as traditionally understood, is the general good and providing a range of services. On the other, that of business is maximizing profits of particular market agents. Historically, states have been stronger than private businesses and corporations, and have been able to impose their social and political goals on them. This book argues that relatively recently, this trend has been reversed, with far-reaching consequences. It considers some of these consequences for our societies and politics and our ways of thinking about them, and analyzes where they are taking us and questions whether we want to go there.