The Cold War in the second half of the 20th century was between two superpowers. It was also a battle between two ideologies, capitalism and communism. The strongest of the two ideologies won. However, there is another explanation: although neither of the ideologies can be described as humane, the evillest of the two won, i.e., capitalism.
Capitalism as a system can be described as a tool that allows the accumulation of wealth for the richest. Transnational corporations are enriching their shareholders at the expense of their employees and customers. Neoliberalists’ obsession with profits is widening inequality, and justice is neglected. Exploitation is the heart of the capitalist system.
As the elites get greedier and more power-hungry, they try to create ever more opportunities to take more from the poor and give back less. Over the past 50 years, under capitalism, monopolies have increased, and conversely, competition has decreased, leaving consumers with higher prices.
The so-called ‘free market’ capitalism is a deception; it is a scam. They have turned everything from land and water to plants and animals into a commodity. The gullible public imagines that the prices are set by supply and demand. Little do they know that the supply is often manipulated to create greater demand and increase profits. The prices are set not based on the worth of the product but rather on what the market can bear to pay.
Secondly, con artists are employed to create markets for products the consumers do not feel they need to buy. These con artists are called marketers and advertising agencies. The so-called consultants are experts in manipulating the masses. All in the name of neoliberal capitalism.
Countries are invaded, and wars are launched to help increase business for the military-industrial complex. Similarly, fake pandemics are declared to help the pharmaceutical industries enrich their shareholders. Millions of lives are destroyed to enrich the capitalists and the bankers. Under capitalism, the result is always the same: an ever-widening inequality gap between the rich and the poor.
If you feel that you are living in a dystopian world, then you can thank capitalism for it.
In the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) reminds us of our behaviours:
“Most certainly, one exceeds all bounds. once they think they are self-sufficient.” (Qur’an: 96:6-7)
