Previously in this series, I wrote a blog entitled ‘If We are Evolved, We are Equal’.

The idea was that the amount of actual equality in the world is a reflection of how far we have evolved as a species. In that blog we looked at the four stages of ‘equality consciousness’, taking equality as a barometer to represent a more evolved state of human consciousness, and inequality as a less evolved or primitive one. Doing this, we can trace a kind of evolutionary trajectory of collective awareness, flowing from ‘separation’ to ‘integration’ in four key stages.

Bear with me as we do a quick recap. At the first stage, inequality is not questioned; it is considered a ‘divine order’ or biologically fixed; this is the mindset of autocrats ruling authoritarian and fascist regimes. At the second stage, a ‘rational’ or an ‘industrial’ mindset says that inequality isn’t great, but it’s “necessary”, with the systems remaining “competitive”, often as overhangs from colonialism. Key here is that it is the societal systems themselves (which are more powerful than the individuals within them) that maintain the inequality, even if the professed goal of that society is for all to be treated equally (for example, under the rule of law). The rise of capitalism, meritocracy and liberal democracy have all claimed that equality is an ideal but they do not ensure it structurally. This is the stage we are at now, the stage that currently dominates the global systems in the West, such as with corporate capitalism.

The mindset at the third stage of equality consciousness recognises that systemic injustice is controlled by the systems themselves, and work is done to fix the systems. This stage says inequality is “unjust and dysfunctional” and it puts in ‘equality screening’ checks and balances to ensure that equality it is a provable reality. This is the stage that we are being asked to consider now; to move from “ego to eco”, that is, to move the priority from “I win” (me) to “we survive and thrive together” (we). This ties in with the Second Milestone in Human Consciousness that I’ve gone into in deeper detail here. Finally, at stage four, equality becomes a reality in a healthy, fully functional society.

Call for Change

So, that’s the overview in theory. But where is the evidence that any of us, as a species, are even thinking about this level of inclusion?

There is a clarifying voice in society, particularly among the younger generations, in the climate justice movements, ‘de-growth’ economics, indigenous resurgence, spiritual communities and grassroots groups calling for this kind of radical change with regard to race, gender, homophobia, etc. So far, these movements have been largely issues-focused, where the marginalised have been directly impacted by inequality, but slowly they are coming to realise that it is the systems themselves that require change if the bias is to be eradicated.

The gay marriage movement, for instance, recognised that only by a state-by-state reformation of the laws regarding marriage equality could federal law be changed, and it worked! The global social protests of the MeToo movement, calling for systemic change with regard to patriarchy, highlighted the injustice caused to victims of sexual violence and harassment whose perpetrators were enabled by culture and systems of governance. The ‘ally-ship’ for marginalised people, meaning the support from those not directly impacted because of their privilege, grew as a phenomenon especially since the 1960’s. All these shifts identified the systemic nature of bias and highlighted the need to change the systems themselves.

Change is inevitable and the momentum for change is growing. So what does that mean in practical terms? And what would the new systems look like? The current (old) systems ran the feudal systems, colonialism and religions, and later criminal justice systems, politics, education and capitalism and many more besides. All are hierarchies. The new systems will incorporate largely a different shape; instead of mostly triangles, there will be mostly weblike structures. The new systems will incorporate a different mindset; instead of ‘competition’, there will be ‘co-operation’. Instead of domination and suppression, there will be inclusion and a celebration of difference.

How to Measure Equality

In a bid to move towards a more equality-centred model, it isn’t enough to put policies in place that lean into an equality ideal. Instead, there must be a provable end-goal measureables that prove that users are experiencing the intended regard.

The checks and balances used in Risk Management, as well as community and user-interface feedback, is a decent model to emulate to ensure that equality is a deliverable outcome of these changes.

Each system in turn will have its own nuance and there is much to be teased out. This series of blogs will take a tour through the different systems and map out what the new systems will look like in practice, with this blog starting with corporate capitalism.

Capitalism

Capitalism is an ever-evolving economic system based on the private ownership of capital, typically organised through free markets. Though often idealised by elites and promoted as a solution for middle-class advancement, capitalism has driven innovation but has been sometimes criticised for concentrating power and reinforcing inequality. ‘Top-down’ power tiers dominate this system, with profits traditionally having been the driving force behind motivation, direction and production choices, with input from market demands.

Because of this, one of the main strengths of capitalism is that it evolves over time and tends to morph with whatever the prevailing winds decree. This strength means that capitalism is capable of shifting focus and prioritising a broad stretch of priorities, not just profits. It is capable of asking, “As well as generating profits, can this model allow us all to thrive?”

A Shift from Shareholders to Stakeholders

This model shifts priorities from the sole interests of shareholders to recognising stakeholders (workers, customers, communities and the planet), ethical production and economic democracy. This new form of capitalism would abandon its allegiance to relentless growth, replacing it with a model that seeks broad-based well-being, sustainability, and shared power. Corporations would be accountable not just to profit margins, but to the social and ecological systems that they depend upon.

Environmental and social harm would be an active concern and success would be measured by long-term value for many, not short-term gains for a few.

A More Equal Economy for Humans and Planet

In this vision, equality would no longer be seen as a welcomed occasional byproduct of market efficiency, but rather as a foundation with merit. Policies like universal basic income, public ownership of essential services and a more community-invested economy would ensure everyone a baseline of security and dignity. Worker cooperatives and community-owned enterprises would become common, allowing people to share in the wealth that they help to create. The emphasis would shift from ‘extracting maximum value’ to ‘sharing power and responsibility’.

In addition to this, a post-capitalist model would prioritise ecological balance and planetary resources would be appreciated as finite. The economy would be structured to operate within planetary boundaries, guided by regenerative practices and ‘circular production’, meaning, instead of waste being a byproduct of production, waste is a design flaw to be eliminated. Currently, ‘built- in obsolescence’ is common; moving forward, product designs would incorporate longevity and repair.

There already is precedent for this. Outdoor apparel company, Patagonia, encourages customers to buy less and to keep items for longer. It designs products with repairable components (e.g. zippers) and uses recycled materials (like old soda bottles and discarded fishing nets). Footwear and fashion brand, Timberland, uses the Circular Strategy “Designing for Disassembly”; shoes are designed to be easily taken apart at the end of their life, allowing individual materials (rubber soles, leather uppers, etc.) to be recycled or reused. Sportswear brand, Adidas, uses this Circular Strategy in their “Made to Be Remade” sneaker. After the lifespan of the running shoe, customers return it to Adidas to be ground down and remade into new shoes.

People Before Profit

Putting people and planet first is not a new idea. In 2019, under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce a Wellbeing Budget. This marked a shift in governance from simply aiming for economic growth to prioritising the well-being of people and the environment. “Economic growth alone does not guarantee improvement to our living standards... So this year we have done something different,” she said.

Instead of focusing narrowly on GDP, New Zealand’s government measured success in terms of human, social, natural, and cultural well-being. The four main areas addressed were the prioritisation of people, planet, systems and economic indicators. The budget put NZ$1.9bn into mental health services, child poverty reduction, and domestic violence prevention. Programs were time-tested to ensure decisions benefitted future generations, not just the present. Government agencies began to collaborate to tackle complex social issues holistically and the goals and success of the government expanded beyond purely economic indicators, to include broader measures like happiness, inclusion, trust, environmental quality, and equity.

Democracy

A post-capitalist capitalism would also mean a more democratic one. Economic decisions would no longer be made solely by investors or executives but would involve broad civic engagement. Participatory budgeting, workplace democracy, and public oversight of major industries would help rebuild trust and transparency. This wouldn’t be central planning in the old socialist sense, but a distributed form of economic governance, where local communities help shape the systems they live and work in. The internet and digital tools would make this more feasible than ever before.

A post-capitalist world does not mean the end of markets, innovation, or enterprise. Instead, it imagines a reconstruction of capitalism, one where equity, sustainability, and collective well-being take priority over individual profit. Profits still happen. But capitalism would be less about extraction and more about participation; less about dominance and more about balance. In this world, we wouldn’t just make a living, we would create a world worth living in.