Suchergebnisse

IT HAS SOMETIMES BEEN CLAIMED THAT THE MARXIST THEORY OF HISTORY SUFFERS FROM CIRCULAR REASONING WHEN IT POINTS TO THE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY INSTITUTIONS IN REPRODUCING A GIVEN SET OF SOCIAL RELATIONS. THIS ESSAY IN HISTORICAL MATERIALISM ADVANCES THE ARGUMENT THAT A SPECIES OF SELECTION CAN BE SEEN AT WORK IN HISTORY, ELIMINATING OR MARGINALIZING INSTITUTIONS AND EVEN WHOLE FORMS OF SOCIETY THAT FAIL TO STAND THE TEST OF ECONOMIC OR MILITARY VIABILITY. INDEED, THE TIME MAY EVEN COME WHEN COMPETITIVE SELECTION IS A MORE TENABLE HYPOTHESIS IN THE SOCIAL THAN IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES.

Particular societies exist in an environment that is both physical and geopolitical. Unsuccessful societies if they survive will tend to adopt structures of their successful rivals, either through assimilation or crisis. Some states will select a developmentally better structure than the dominant culture possession and this will be diffused by emulation or conquest. (SJK)

Examines Roemer's development of Marx's theory of exploitation, and argues that his attempts to circumvent the problems caused by the flaws in the labour theory of value do not succeed. (DCL)

IF THE MOST BASIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIETIES IS AT THE LEVEL OF THE RELATIONS OF PRODUCTION THAT CONSTITUTE THEIR ECONOMIC STRUCTURE, THEN IT IS TERMS OF SUCH RELATIONS THAT THE ALTERNATIVE TO CAPITALISM SHOULD BE EXPRESSED. JOHN ROEMER HAS SOUGHT TO BASE A THEORY OF EXPLOITATION DIRECTLY UPON A CONSIDERATION OF SUCH ALTERNATIVES. HE ASKS US TO LOOK AT WHO WINS AND WHO LOSES WHEN PROPERTY RELATIONS ARE CHANGED. IF ROEMER'S ATTEMPT TO REFOUND THE MARXIST THEORY OF EXPLOITATION WERE SUCCESSFUL, IT WOULD GO SOME WAY TOWARDS RESCUING MARXISM FROM CRITICS WHO JUDGE ITS SUCCESS AND FAILURE ACCORDING TO FATE OF THE DISCREDITED LABOUR THEORY OF VALUE. UNFORTUNATELY, HOWEVER, WHILE ROEMER'S THEORY IS BOTH STIMULATING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING, IT SUFFERS FROM A DEPENDENCE ON AD HOC PRINCIPLES IN KEY AREAS.