Suchergebnisse

Though the assertion of class struggle as the principal contradiction of capitalism was a leading achievement of Marxist thought, it is argued that Marxism, like critical thought in general, tends to overidealize the working class. This view positions workers -- or the people as a whole -- as "liberating victims," denying them their role as negotiators & the "merchants of their own labor power," even in their rebelliousness against oppression & exploitation. It is contended that the history of capitalism is one of "negotiated contradictions" within & between classes; several examples are offered since the emergence of capitalism -- in the late 20th century, highlighting negotiated contradictions at the international level surrounding colonialism & technological development. A systems theory approach is utilized to explain how negotiated contradictions form the basis of contemporary capitalist megaorganizations & their role in neoliberal globalization; such an analysis also illuminates the inadequacy of Marxist determinist concepts. K. Hyatt Stewart

Though the assertion of class struggle as the principal contradiction of capitalism was a leading achievement of Marxist thought, it is argued that Marxism, like critical thought in general, tends to overidealize the working class. This view positions workers -- or the people as a whole -- as "liberating victims," denying them their role as negotiators & the "merchants of their own labor power," even in their rebelliousness against oppression & exploitation. It is contended that the history of capitalism is one of "negotiated contradictions" within & between classes; several examples are offered since the emergence of capitalism -- in the late 20th century, highlighting negotiated contradictions at the international level surrounding colonialism & technological development. A systems theory approach is utilized to explain how negotiated contradictions form the basis of contemporary capitalist megaorganizations & their role in neoliberal globalization; such an analysis also illuminates the inadequacy of Marxist determinist concepts. K. Hyatt Stewart

It is argued that the concept of contradiction has lost explanatory value, its use in Marxist analysis tending to "oscillate between.pretentious & empty theoretical verbiage & ritual cliche, vague enough to cover almost anything.." In an attempt to rescue the concept & reestablish its utility for contemporary analyses of capitalism, Karl Marx's original theorizing is revisited in light of the ideas on contradiction expressed by Marxist historian G. E. M. de Ste. Croix (1981) in his work on class struggle in ancient Greece. Marx & Ste. Croix are compared in terms of their perspectives of contradiction between (1) the forces & relations of production, (2) the social character of production & private appropriation, & (3) private landownership & rational agriculture. Ste. Croix's objections to the application of contradiction to class relations are reviewed, & the idea that class relations under capitalism may be different than those in other systems is explored. The roles of market dependence & exchange relations in contradictory class relations are also reevaluated. Capitalist contradictions in the modern world are evidenced in two examples: ecological degradation & globalization. K. Hyatt Stewart

It is argued that the concept of contradiction has lost explanatory value, its use in Marxist analysis tending to "oscillate between.pretentious & empty theoretical verbiage & ritual cliche, vague enough to cover almost anything.." In an attempt to rescue the concept & reestablish its utility for contemporary analyses of capitalism, Karl Marx's original theorizing is revisited in light of the ideas on contradiction expressed by Marxist historian G. E. M. de Ste. Croix (1981) in his work on class struggle in ancient Greece. Marx & Ste. Croix are compared in terms of their perspectives of contradiction between (1) the forces & relations of production, (2) the social character of production & private appropriation, & (3) private landownership & rational agriculture. Ste. Croix's objections to the application of contradiction to class relations are reviewed, & the idea that class relations under capitalism may be different than those in other systems is explored. The roles of market dependence & exchange relations in contradictory class relations are also reevaluated. Capitalist contradictions in the modern world are evidenced in two examples: ecological degradation & globalization. K. Hyatt Stewart