Description
Marxoncefamouslystatedthatifhewascertainofanything,itwasthathewasnotaMarxist. This
seemsaratherpeculiarsentimentfromGreybeardhimself.Whywouldheuttersuchaphrase?This
isthequestionthatinformsourinterrogationofMarxianpoliticaleconomysinceMarx.Thisseminar
seekstobroachafewofthekeystreamsofMarxistpoliticaleconomythathaveemergedsinceMarx’s
ownlifetime.Thesedebatesarenumerousandsignificantwithregardtothecontemporaryterrainof
Marxian political economy. As I suggested in the previous seminar, the function of the state in
capitalist society is a useful way to broach these debates. The lecture will canvass strategic
interventions in Marxian political economy and suggest useful avenues of enquiry for future
engagementswiththisfertileandcontentiousdiscourse.Theseminardiscussionwillseektoengage
contemporaryissuesinMarxianpoliticaleconomywithinthecontextofthetotalityofcoreconcepts
inpoliticaleconomywehavesurveyed throughout thesemester.Letusposearuthlesscritiqueof
everything wehavesurveyed thusfar.
Ihavepostedaplethoraof readingsbut theybarely scratch the surfaceofwhathas transpiredin
MarxianpoliticaleconomysinceMarx’stime.Theselectiononofferalsoreflectsmyowninterestsand
prejudices.IwillelaboratetheseasbestIcan throughoutthelecture inordertoequipyouwiththe
tools to formulate your own positions. I strongly encourage you to disagree with me.
ReadtheEngels lettertoBernsteinpp.353-358foranexplanationofwhy Marxstatedhewasnota
Marxist.Thecontextisrelevantbuttherealsignificance ofthisstatementisthereasonMarxsought
todistancehimselffromtheFrench‘Marxists’.Considerthisinrelation towhatweareconfronted
withinthecontemporary periodas‘Marxism’.
Asidefromthis,trytoreadtheBryanarticle infullandtheVilarpieceifyouhavetime.ThePoulantzas
and Miliband articles constitute one of the most important debates on theories of the state in
capitalism.Readtheseatsomepointinyourlives,ifnotthisweek.TherestIleavetoyourinterest.
Questions
What is the functionand character of the state in capitalist society?Elaborate in relation to your
readings of the offerings for this week and from what you took from Marx’s own work.
WhywasMarxnotaMarxistandwhatparallels,ifany,canyouidentifyinthecontemporaryperiod?
Bespecificifpossible.
WhatdoyouconsiderthefundamentalproblemswithinMarxianpoliticaleconomyandhowdoyou
thinktheycanbeaddressed?Considerinrelationto Bryan’sremarks.
IsMarxianpoliticaleconomysinceMarxrelevantforaddressingcontemporarysocialissues?Discuss
in relation to at least two social issues that have an impact on our lives.