Smashing capitalism

This is the classic revolutionary road to socialism. It assumes a seizure of power by a cadre of radicals, typically achieved by violent means, but also potentially through elections. Its defining element is not so much reliance on revolution, but what happens after — that it suppresses the counterrevolution by force and then rapidly builds new socialist institutions.

– A Blueprint for Socialism in the Twenty-First Century

Pros

periodically there will be intense capitalist economic crises in which the system becomes vulnerable and ruptures become possible. – How to Be an Anticapitalist Today , Erik Olin Wright

The idea that capitalism can be rendered a benign social order in which ordinary people can live flourishing, meaningful lives is ultimately an illusion because, at its core, capitalism is unreformable.

– How to Be an Anticapitalist Today , Erik Olin Wright

Cons

It is one thing to burn down old institutions; it is quite another to build emancipatory new institutions from the ashes.

– How to Be an Anticapitalist Today , Erik Olin Wright

Give up the fantasy of smashing capitalism. Capitalism is not smashable, at least if you really want to construct an emancipatory future.

– How to Be an Anticapitalist Today , Erik Olin Wright

Why not? Idea seems to be that defending such a revolution would be necessarily violent. Capitalism won’t take it lying down. See: [[To Posterity - Bertolt Brecht]].

A pro-smash article: Goodbye Revolution? - Regeneration Magazine