Aspects of a Theory of Transition within the Capitalist Mode of Production

Abstract

Marx's primary focus in his theoretical and practical work was on the transition between modes of production; our concern here, however, is to offer a theory of transition within the capitalist mode of production which is consistent with the fundamental principles of historical materialism. The methodological solution to this problem, we suggest, lies in recognizing the levels of abstraction and corresponding degrees of historical specificity in theoretical concepts. Four levels of abstraction are identified: level I, universal theory; level II, theory of a mode of production in general; level III, theory of variants of a mode of production; and level IV, theoretically informed analysis of real concrete formations. It is at the more historically specific level III that a theory of transition within the capitalist mode of production is offered by identifying four variants of capitalist production: the transitional, competitive, monopoly, and global submodes of production. Finally, it is proposed that at level III a more satisfactory theory of uneven development is possible based on the articulation of submodes of production within given social formations.