`Author:` [[Mark Fisher]] `Availability:` > [!info] > ![[CapitalistRealism.jpg]] ## Summary *Capitalist Realism* (2009) by Mark Fisher argues that [[Capitalism]] has become the only viable political-economic system in the public [[imagination]], making it nearly impossible to conceive of alternatives. Fisher explores how this "realism" manifests in [[Culture]], [[Education]], [[Mental Health]], and [[Politics]], leading to widespread resignation, anxiety, and [[Depression]]. Fisher critiques leftist failures to mount effective resistance but ends with a call to revive collective political imagination. The book is a sharp, concise analysis of late-capitalist despair and the urgent need for new futures. ## Key Takeaways - **"There is no alternative" (TINA):** [[Margaret Thatcher]]’s slogan captures capitalism’s ideological dominance, stifling opposition. - **Marketisation of everything:** [[Education]], healthcare, and even personal identity are reshaped by capitalist logic. - **Depoliticisation & [[bureaucratic]] [[Control]]:** Institutions enforce compliance under the guise of efficiency, crushing dissent. - **Mental health crisis:** Capitalism demonises individuals rather than addressing systemic causes of distress. - **Cultural stagnation:** [[Art]] and media recycle old ideas, lacking transformative visions beyond capitalism. ## Quotes - ## Notes `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Capitalism]] [[Books index]]