Historical evidence shows, as early as the case of Mesopotamia, that progressive social formations could take shape in a premature form long before they achieved a historic breakthrough, and conso­lidated excluding the possibility of return to previous forms. The study of antic, feudalistic, and capitalist formations from this point of view allows the author to draw some interesting conclusions about the future of socialism.

The United States and Japan can be described through two quite different models of capitalism. These differences can be shown on all levels: from the one of the enterprises through enterprise structuring up to the role played by ministries, as well as from the point of view of economics, politics or culture. The two models are rivaling at the present and there is no evidence available yet to predict which results this competition will lead to.

Recent years have witnessed the development of new attempts to conceptualize capitalist accumulation, including the maturation of ca­pitalist economies and their passing through stages of development. Focusing on the so-called Fordist period of capitalism, Kotz's com­parative analysis provides a survey of two present-day schools of thought – the Regulation Theory and the Social Structures of Accu­mulation schoo.

In her article introducing the social policy section of this issue the author who has a view on both the Western and Eastern social policies criticises those Hungarian and other East European ideas which idealize the western (capitalist) social policy models (that are far from being altruistic). She lets the reader sense that the cutting back of the "socialist" systems of provision with entitlements pro­vided on the basis of the right of citizens is a loss in the current limited circumstance.

All societies must satisfy the basic needs of its citizens, if it requires them to fulfill their duties. The regulatory role of the state cannot be expelled from social relations   anymore,   although  the  concrete means and ends of this regulation can change time after tim.