Nothing to Prove

Introduction At a most basic level we all have needs. These vary from individual to individual but more generally it may be said that as a species, as humans, we all have certain common needs. Through a process of economic globalisation our needs have come to be presented to us from external agents – there has been a loss of self-reliance. The opening chapter of the book details the extent of commodification of our needs and how they have been at least partially replaced by externally generated wants. In chapters two to four, the capitalist system’s involvement in the shaping of our needs is examined. Some of the major impacts of the current system are then explored in relation to richer and poorer countries. Of course, materially poor is a singular measure of condition but this terminology has been used here as it captures the unbalanced nature of current global divisions. Chapters five and six look in more detail at the expression of capitalism in our lives. An attempt has been made to show how easy it is to take for granted and even assume as superior, the ‘standard of living’ we have become accustomed to in the west. The final three chapters question the prevailing capitalist logic existing in the world at present and its relevance to our lives. By recognising the roles we are currently playing it is possible to begin to make changes that challenge us individually, and points hopefully to a better direction for society into the future.