Advanced Capitalism

In political philosophy, advanced capitalism is the situation that pertains in a society in which the capitalist model has been integrated and developed deeply and extensively and for a prolonged period. The expression advanced capitalism distinguishes such societies from the historical previous forms of capitalism, mercantilism and industrial capitalism, and partially overlaps with the concepts of a developed country, of the post-industrial age, of finance capitalism, of post-Fordism, of the spectacular society, of media culture, and of "developed", "modern" and "complex" capitalism.

Jürgen Habermas has been a major contributor to the analysis of advanced-capitalistic societies. According to Habermas, a key feature of advanced-capitalism is "privatism", meaning "political abstinence combined with an orientation to career, leisure and consumption" as well as "family orientation". Another key trait of complex capitalism is commodity fetishism. Antonio Gramsci, formulating his influential concept of cultural hegemony, said that in advanced capitalist societies, innovations such as compulsory schooling, mass media, and popular culture indoctrinate people with the opinions convenient to the powerful.