Book Review

The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism

Number: 28 June 10, 2026
TR EN

The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism

Abstract

N.s., the author of platform capitalism, is a prominent thinker whose work focuses on the intersection of political economy and digital technology. This part of the “theory redex” series serves as a critical intervention into popular narratives surrounding the modern economy. Shirnek’s primary aim is to provide a rigorous economic history of capitalism’s relationship with digital technology, moving beyond superficial cultural or purely political interpretations. He argues that to understand the tech giant of the day, we must view them primarily as economic actors operating within a capitalist mode of production. The book is structured to provide clarity on the contemporary moment by examining its roots in the past economic crisis. It begins with a historical overview of the “long downturn,” which the author identifies as the foundational period for our current situations. From there, it transitions into a detailed analysis of the “platform as a specific and powerful new business model” that has emerged to extract and control massive amounts of data. The book identifies five distinct types of platforms: advertising platforms, cloud platforms, industrial platforms, product platforms, and lean platforms. Each represents a different strategy for generating profit in an era where traditional manufacturing profitably has declined.

Keywords

References

  1. Srnicek N. (2017), “Platform Capitalism”, UK: Polity Press, ISBN-13: 978-1-5095-0490- google scholar

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Communication and Media Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Book Review

Publication Date

June 10, 2026

Submission Date

May 6, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 28

APA
Güner, D., & Arca, M. Y. (2026). The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism. 4. BOYUT Medya Ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi, 28, 114-118. https://doi.org/10.26650/4boyut.2026.1946060
AMA
1.Güner D, Arca MY. The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism. 4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi. 2026;(28):114-118. doi:10.26650/4boyut.2026.1946060
Chicago
Güner, Doğan, and Mehmet Yaşar Arca. 2026. “The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism”. 4. BOYUT Medya Ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi, nos. 28: 114-18. https://doi.org/10.26650/4boyut.2026.1946060.
EndNote
Güner D, Arca MY (June 1, 2026) The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism. 4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi 28 114–118.
IEEE
[1]D. Güner and M. Y. Arca, “The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism”, 4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi, no. 28, pp. 114–118, June 2026, doi: 10.26650/4boyut.2026.1946060.
ISNAD
Güner, Doğan - Arca, Mehmet Yaşar. “The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism”. 4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi. 28 (June 1, 2026): 114-118. https://doi.org/10.26650/4boyut.2026.1946060.
JAMA
1.Güner D, Arca MY. The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism. 4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi. 2026;:114–118.
MLA
Güner, Doğan, and Mehmet Yaşar Arca. “The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism”. 4. BOYUT Medya Ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi, no. 28, June 2026, pp. 114-8, doi:10.26650/4boyut.2026.1946060.
Vancouver
1.Doğan Güner, Mehmet Yaşar Arca. The New Era of Capitalism: A Critical Review of Platform Capitalism. 4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi. 2026 Jun. 1;(28):114-8. doi:10.26650/4boyut.2026.1946060