Resisting the Sense of Futility

Richard Marens’ and David Weir’s chapters in this volume provide an excellent assessment of the phenomenon of Critical Management Studies (CMS). I share their dissatisfaction with the impact CMS has had. Scholars in CMS would, of course, like to change the world. However, one must concede that there is a broad disappointment among critics of global capitalism that transcends the particular travails of the CMS community. The enervation of social democratic forces in the West and collapse of alternative movements in the East provide an uncertain and unhappy terrain. There are unfortunate obstacles across the globe in the pursuit of solutions to climate change, growing inequality, and myriad forms of violence. CMS should not be judged too harshly.