The Theory of Capitalist Development, Chapter One, "Marx's Method"

Abstract

The year 1992 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of The Theory of Capitalist Development by Paul Sweezy. It was originally published by Oxford University Press but for many years has been an MR Press title. It has been translated into many languages (German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Serbo-Croat, Japanese, Chinese, among others) and has served as an introduction to Marxism for thousands of students around the world. The MR Press edition still has a steady sale, mostly for classroom use. To observe the occasion and remind readers of the book's continued availability, we reproduce here the first chapter entitled "Marx's Method." This seems to us particularly appropriate in view of the sorry state and dismal prospects of capitalism as we approach the twenty-first century. If this continues, as we are confident it will, a renaissance of Marxism, the heart and soul of which is a critical analysis of capital and capitalism, is as predictable as anything in the realm of human affairs can ever be. - The EditorsThis article can also be found at the Monthly Review website, where most recent articles are published in full.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.