Marxism - Not dead?

[jimmy olsen]

Nope, still dead thankfully.

[crazy canuck]

When I went through my undergrad I had a number of courses with a heavy dose of Marxist content.  It was taught, maybe not as Gospel, but as the beginning of the proper way to view the world - Foucoult was becoming popular and Marxism was seen as a stepping stone to teaching Foucoult.  My guess is that current teaching teaching Marxism in its historical perspective (pun intended ) and students wouldnt be required to buy and read Marx's works to learn that.

Today, it is mostly linguistics that serve to «get to» Foucault ; Marxism is still very much important in, say, the sociology of Bourdieu, the language of class, which we still use (incl. on the forum), etc. It is certainly taught to be a useful tool of analysis - not just as a historical curiosity. E. P. Thompson's narrative, for instance, is still yielding a good number of insights. Just like we use, say, Keynes or the Chicago Boys to structure our world, Keynes and the Chicago Boys become part of the tools of analysis useful to study it. Marx came before, and we did structure a lot of our reality in relation to it.

I think we are saying the same thing.  Your students dont have to read the original works of Marx to understand what you are teaching.  I assume you are getting them to read other derivative analysis - such as E.P. Thompson.

Which goes to the point of the article that up until recently nobody was buying Marx's works.

[Sheilbh]

I'll keep the red flag flying here.  Enrico

[Palisadoes]

The article is more referring to state interventionism in the economy during economic crisis, as opposed to collectivising everything (as commies like to do).

[derspiess]

If anyone's showing to be right after all, it's the Keynesians. 

Bookmarked.

[Admiral Yi]

The article is more referring to state interventionism in the economy during economic crisis, as opposed to collectivising everything (as commies like to do).

We might as well start referring to monetary policy as Marxist.

[Alatriste]

More than 1000 copies of Das Kapital were sold last year in Germany and that's a sign that Marxism is not dead? And the year before that only 100 copies of it were sold? I can't really believe that. There must be at least a few hundred political science or history students that have to buy it every year.

Come on, you can find a complete copy on the Net in the time needed to google "Marx The Capital"... I don't know if Marxism is dead, but Marxist texts in dead trees certainly are.

Regarding the general question, I would say Marxism is dead as a philosophy, and at least close to death as a political movement, but Marx the economist is very much alive. 

[Zanza]

Come on, you can find a complete copy on the Net in the time needed to google "Marx The Capital"... I don't know if Marxism is dead, but Marxist texts in dead trees certainly are.

Regarding the general question, I would say Marxism is dead as a philosophy, and at least close to death as a political movement, but Marx the economist is very much alive.

Just like not a single work of Shakespeare is sold anymore because they are all freely available on the net? 

[Alatriste]

Come on, you can find a complete copy on the Net in the time needed to google "Marx The Capital"... I don't know if Marxism is dead, but Marxist texts in dead trees certainly are.

Regarding the general question, I would say Marxism is dead as a philosophy, and at least close to death as a political movement, but Marx the economist is very much alive.

Just like not a single work of Shakespeare is sold anymore because they are all freely available on the net? 

Not the same thing... In all probability most persons buying Shakespeare works are students that don't do it by their own free will, while most persons willing to read Karl Marx deserve a golden

Besides, I would bet the sales of Shakespeare probably have fallen a lot since his works are available for free on the Net, but sadly I have absolutely no evidence at the respect.

[PDH]

I once had Das Kapital on the floor when the basement flooded.  All the other books were ruined, the waters refused to engage Marx.

True story.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

ya know It's not like there are only two ways of thinking - Marxist & Capitalist. The financial "crisis" will have fallout imho that takes us beyond such outdated quaint notions as Capitalism/Communism.

as far as I'm concerned... not fast enough... the sooner humankind geta away from the whole "ism" way of thinking about something that is completely integrated into the fabric of our lives (the trading of goods and services for either other goods & services, or some markers (money) denoting a certain value of goods & services that can be gotten later or in a different location.) Why are these things the beginning and end of each other? Neither "system" is realistic or any kind of Utopian panacea.

we must move beyond capitalism, just as the world sped past Marxism, decades ago.

[PDH]

Go back to Russia, commie.

[Berkut]

Go back to Russia, commie.

can't do it, he just got elected President.

[Barrister]

we must move beyond capitalism, just as the world sped past Marxism, decades ago.

Why must we move beyond capitalism?  Especially when there is no viable alternative it seems foolish to say we must abandon it.

[Jaron]

I agree. I think Buddha is out of touch with reality. Capitalism has its downfalls, sure, but when the sun sets on everything and we all go home for the day, we have the peace and comfort of knowing our economic system works.