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Paul Mason’s recent book Postcapitalism: A Guide to Our Future is undoubtedly a brilliant, thoughtful and provocative take on the contemporary state of capitalism. It is carefully argued, insightful and rich in its depiction of the historical and economic conditions that have led to the current malaise. Amongst the many far-reaching issues and ideas that Mason delves into in his book, it is perhaps the concept of the network that emerges as the fulcrum of his vision. For Mason, networks play, or will come to play, a crucial part in the realisation of postcapitalism. Networks are, as Mason (288) puts it, ‘a brilliant tool for allowing us not just to dissent, but to secede and start our own alternative’. And indeed they are. Yet I think there are some good reasons for us to hesitate before placing networks at the epicentre of any postcapitalist future.
