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"Economics and Power criticizes the main theories of power developed in economic literature, analyzing ultraliberal contractualism to radical political economics, and ultimately suggesting a Marxist conception of power and coercion in capitalism. Palermo's ontological argument is rooted in the philosophy of 'critical realism'. This unique volume presents his main finding as being that the essential coercive mechanism of capitalism is competition. Capitalist power is not caused by a lack of competition, but by the central role it plays in this mode of production. Following this, the chapters reconstruct a Marxian conception of power where it is analyzed as a social relation and argues that perfect competition does in fact exist under the disguise of capitalist power. This book criticizes the construct of power and the underlying ideas surrounding perfect competition."--Publisher's website

The debate in ecological economics about the importance of entropy law is critically reviewed & a Marxist perspective on the economy-entropy relationship is proposed. An overview of the economic importance of entropy law as argued by Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen & Herman Daly is followed by a description of four distinct tracks, or sub-controversies, which existed within the debate. Although each track added important insights, it is argued that the lack of a class perspective on nature & human production limits their analytical power. Emphasis is placed on the need to adopt a Marxist perspective to develop entropy in terms of the class relations that determine the productive use of nature. A consideration of capitalist relations as material & social relations introduces a dialectical outlook on entropy that addresses the link between wage-labor, market valuation, & the qualitative deterioration of natural wealth. It is concluded that the ecological-entropic dynamics of capitalism produce a "never-ending crisis in the natural conditions of human development" that can only be overcome through "an explicit communalization of production & its material conditions.". 57 References. J. Lindroth

Based on newly available archival records, this article examines the life and thought of Andre Gunder Frank from his years as a graduate student in development economics to the publication of his first and most influential book. A closer look at the evolution of Frank's thought provides new insight into the relationship of his brand of "neo-Marxist" development theories with both classical Marxism and modernization theory. Frank interpreted Marxist political debates according to the categories of thought of 1950s American development economics, and in doing so he both misinterpreted fundamental aspects of Marxism and simultaneously generated lively theoretical debates that remain relevant today.

Development and underdevelopment are the main determinants of life chances worldwide, arguably more so than social class. Marxism, as the underlying theory for social revolution, needs to have a clear understanding of the dynamics of development and social progress. Exploring the intersection of Marxism and development, this book looks at Marxs original conception of capitalist development and his later engagement with under-developed Russia. The author also reviews Lenins early critique of the Russian populists' rejection of capitalism compared with his later analysis of imperialism as a brake on development in the non-European world. The book then considers Rosa Luxemburg, who arguably provides a bridge between these theorists and those that follow with her analysis of imperialism as a necessity for capitalism to incorporate non-capitalist lands. Turning then to the non-European world, the author examines the Latin American dependency theories, the post-development school and the recent indigenous development theories advanced by Andean Marxism. Finally, Munck addresses the relationship between globalization and development. Does this relationship suggest that it has not been capitalism but a lack of capitalism that has led to under-development? Ronaldo Munck is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Centre for Engaged Research at Dublin City University and holds visiting posts in Argentina, Ecuador, Canada and Germany.

For the past several decades, Marxism has had a checkered lineage in the field of educational theory. Drawing on the work of Teresa Ebert, José Carlos Mariátegui, and the Marxist humanist tradition, this article constructs a defense of Marxist theory as the centerpiece for a revitalized revolutionary critical pedagogy.