Why must capitalism keep expanding?

[Questionable]

I've read many times that capitalism must keep seeking out new markets, but why is this? Is it a simple lust for money, or would capitalism collapse without looking for more markets? If the latter, why? Could capitalism exist within one region and never go beyond that?

[jookyle]

I've read many times that capitalism must keep seeking out new markets, but why is this? Is it a simple lust for money, or would capitalism collapse without looking for more markets? If the latter, why? Could capitalism exist within one region and never go beyond that?

Capitalism seeks new markets because of competition in the market and to gain profit. The capitalist also relies on the state to keep their markets safe.(While preaching anti-regulation/non-government interference in the market) It's one of the main contradictions of liberalism and why Marx calls the state the "executive branch of the bourgeoisie".

Capitalism could not exist in one region as it relies on the exploitation of underdeveloped nations/nation-states/peoples for the purposes of raw materials. This allows for the capitalist to make profit off of labor and production of the materials, take the diamond mines of Africa for an example. Essentially, neo-imperialism and neo-colonialism were created for this purpose. To keep such places under-developed and divided allowing the exploitation to be maintained.