Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy remains one of the greatest works of social theory written this century. When it first appeared the New English Weekly predicted that `for the next five to ten years it will cetainly remain a work with which no one who professes any degree of information on sociology or economics can afford to be unacquainted.' Fifty years on, this prediction seems a little understated. Why has the work endured so well? Schumpeter's contention that the seeds of capitalism's decline were internal, and his equal and opposite hostility to centralist socialism have perplexed, engaged and infuriated readers since the book's publication. By refusing to become an advocate for either position Schumpeter was able both to make his own great and original contribution and to clear the way for a more balanced consideration of the most important social movements of his and our time.

资本主义、社会主义和民主》仍然是本世纪最伟大的社会理论著作之一。当它第一次出现时，《新英语周报》预测说，"在未来五到十年内，它肯定是一部自称对社会学或经济学有任何程度了解的人都不能不熟悉的作品"。50年过去了，这个预测似乎有点轻描淡写。为什么这部作品能经久不衰？熊彼特认为资本主义衰落的种子是内部的，他对中央集权主义社会主义的同样和相反的敌意，自该书出版以来一直使读者感到困惑、参与和愤怒。通过拒绝成为任何一种立场的倡导者，熊彼特既能做出自己伟大的原创性贡献，又能为更平衡地考虑他和我们时代最重要的社会运动扫清道路。