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The Constitution of Socialism. A World without Capital

Buy hardcover (Brill)
Published Sep 2025

Tim Platenkamp

Author: Tim Platenkamp
To revive the fortunes of socialism, the articulation of a credible and attractive alternative is absolutely essential. Offering an original synthesis of socialism and republicanism, The Constitution of Socialism discusses how society can move beyond capitalism. It outlines an institutional and political framework for a socialist future, in which collective decision-making about the use and allocation of resources directly responds to social interests. Through institutional design, this study explores the feasibility criteria of post-capitalism and sketches the contours and features of a viable model of socialism.

Biographical Note

Tim Platenkamp obtained his master’s degree from the University of Amsterdam in 2020, specializing in political theory. He is currently employed as a trade unionist.

Readership

This book is particularly relevant for students and scholars interested in the political theory of civic republicanism and the political economy of socialism.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
Glossary

1 Introduction
1 The Crisis of Socialism – Goodbye Lenin!
2 Overview

Part 1 Diagnosis

2 Socialism in Theory – Promise and Possibilities
1 The Communist Mode of Production and Distribution
2 Economic Calculation under Socialism

3 Socialism in Practice – The Soviet Model
1 The Experience of War Communism
2 General Features of Soviet Planning
3 Material Balances
4 The System of Norms
5 Reforming the System – From Optimism to Cynicism
Addendum: Sharing in the Illusion – On the Question of State-Capitalism

4 Socialism in Practice – The Yugoslav Model
1 Laying the Groundwork
2 Toward Self-Governing Socialism
3 Bottom-Up Planning and Collapse

5 Socialism in Theory, Again
1 Back to the Drawing Board
2 The Community of Citizens
3 Contradictions of Market and Plan – The Menu of Options
4 Negotiated Co-ordination and Allocation
5 Participatory Planning of Production and Consumption
6 Big Computer and Labour Time
7 Multilevel Programming

Part 2 Remedy

6 Governance in the Socialist Republic
1 Socialist Constitutionalism and the Social Contract
2 Political Institutions and Practices of Self-Government
3 The Role of Central Planning
Addendum 1: A Note on Public Safety, Crime, and National Defence
Addendum 2: A Note on Organised Political Activity Under Socialism

7 Production in the Socialist Republic
1 Public Property and Public Domination
2 Three Public Sectors
3 Self-Government in Industry – Workers’ Councils

8 General Planning and Parametric Control
1 Cost Accounting – ‘khozraschet’
2 Planning, Prices, Allocation
3 Co-ordination, Investment, Uncertainty
4 Labour Incentives
5 The Dynamics of Growth
Addendum: On the Possibilities for Progressive Socialisation

Part 3 Conclusions

9 Postscript
1 Closing Remarks
2 What I Hope to Have Imparted to the Reader
3 Moving Forward Along the Long and Winding Road

References
Index