Capitalism, Socialism, History

While, as the title of his book indicates, Smith conceives Capitalism as a nationalistic system, Marx envisions Socialism as international.  Thus, it is perhaps ironic that currently it is Capitalism of the two that has attained greater global coherence, e. g. the stock markets, the World Bank, the WMF, vs. the dissolution of the Soviet Union.  Now, whether or not that apparent success validates the 'invisible hand' as a principle of History is unclear.  But, less uncertain is that Marx miscalculated in putting his trust in a variety of Determinism that is as unverifiable as is the Capitalist hypothesis.  So, whether or not Socialism still does prevail, eventual dominance will more likely be a function of the biological drive that has impelled the patent global ascendance of the species over several millennia, than of any developmental principle that has been traditionally associated with the competing systems.