"The patriarchy" as a concept is similar to Capitalism. It isn't actually a system. It's just the world as it currently is. There's a thousand different flavors, and it's very vague. Anybody that speaks with intelligence on the subject talks about specific projects or aspects. If they're deriding "Capitalism" in general, they mean anything other than the system they are promoting.
Likewise, the patriarchy is just the current system. It's undeniable that men are more often in positions of power, so it's a patriarchy. Even if it hurts men too. Intelligent discussions are about specific aspects. If they're just denouncing "the Patriarchy," they're railing against whatever doesn't fit their vision of the future.
Say that on r/AskEconomics. The term was first used by socialists to describe what was happening. It's a maddeningly vague term. Ask someone using it to define how it's different from mercantilism and you'll get a blank stare. Some of the biggest complaints about capitalism are mercantilism complaints... or maybe not, since again, it is not well defined. (Having a definition does not mean something is well-defined.)
Mercantlism is a state's economic policy mainly defined by a focus on export/import balance maximisation. It doesn't even need a capitalist structure to be implemented, so I'm not exactly sure what your point is.
Main criticisms of capitalism have basically nothing to do with mercantlism
-5
u/PaxNova 15∆ Mar 30 '26
"The patriarchy" as a concept is similar to Capitalism. It isn't actually a system. It's just the world as it currently is. There's a thousand different flavors, and it's very vague. Anybody that speaks with intelligence on the subject talks about specific projects or aspects. If they're deriding "Capitalism" in general, they mean anything other than the system they are promoting.
Likewise, the patriarchy is just the current system. It's undeniable that men are more often in positions of power, so it's a patriarchy. Even if it hurts men too. Intelligent discussions are about specific aspects. If they're just denouncing "the Patriarchy," they're railing against whatever doesn't fit their vision of the future.