Brenner's Theory Research Articles

Manufacture and the Transition from Feudalism to Capitalism

Robert Brenner's theory of the passage from feudalism to capitalism in England in the early modern era contends that an “agrarian capitalism” makes up the core of the transition. This thesis is weak, measured against fundamental insights presented by Karl Marx in different parts of Capital, I. On the other hand, in the exposition of English developments subsequent to the Tudor enclosures, in the last part of that work, “So-Called Primitive Accumulation,” Marx conspicuously ignores relevant insights developed in earlier chapters, on the nature of manufacture and of large-scale industry. There, manufacture had appeared as a condition of large-scale industry, while advanced capitalism was seen as a result of overcoming deficiencies in the structure of manufacture. Marx's text on primitive accumulation would have benefited from being presented more in coherence with this earlier analysis. The “agrarian capitalism” thesis loses credibility when confronted with empirical data on English manufacture and a Marxian synthesis.

Transnational Regionalization and the Rescaling of the Chinese State

Transnational regionalization has become a popular development policy among East Asian countries since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Expanding upon Brenner's theory of state rescaling, this paper focuses on China's transnational regionalization projects and how the Chinese state rescales to implement these projects. Specifically, this paper has two objectives. First, by comparing two projects of transnational regionalization in which Yunnan participates—the Greater Mekong Subregion program and the Bangladesh—China—India—Myanmar forum—the paper critically probes the actual mechanisms (upward collaboration, downward implementation, and outward corporatism) deployed by the Chinese state to facilitate cross-border initiatives. This emphasis on the actual mechanisms thus theorizes back to Brenner's work, showing that regulatory restructuring entails complex power relations of competition and collaboration among various forces. Second, this paper examines how the Chinese state handles the territorial geopolitical relations which have emerged during the process of transnational regionalization. I seek to broaden the theoretical framework of state rescaling beyond the narrow confines of domestic city-regions to international political economy.

Conformations of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) in electrolyte solutions: Experimental measurements and theoretical modeling

In this work, the conformations of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) molecules in electrolyte solutions were determined experimentally for various pH and ionic strength by dynamic light scattering (DLS), microelectrophoresis and dynamic viscosity measurements. The molecular weight of the polymer exhibited a narrow size distribution and the average value of 15 kDa. Using the diffusion coefficient data obtained by DLS, the hydrodynamic radius R H of PAH for various conditions was calculated. It was found that that R H varied between 4.80 nm for I = 5 × 10 −3 and 6.15 nm for I = 0.15 M at pH 6.5. These R H values were consistent with predictions stemming from Brenner's theory, approximating the real particle shape by prolate spheroids, bent to the various forms. Such molecule shape was also confirmed by the molecular dynamics numerical simulations. Using these R H values and electrophoretic mobility data, the average number of uncompensated (free) charges N c and the effective ionization degree of PAH molecules in solutions were calculated. The maximum number of the free charges N c was 27 at pH = 6.0, which gives the effective ionization degree of 17%. Supplementary shape information was derived from the dynamic viscosity measurements of dilute PAH solutions using a capillary viscometer. The intrinsic viscosity derived from these measurements varied between 105 and 35 for the ionic strength from 5 × 10 −3 to 0.15 M. It was shown, after introducing the correction for hydration, that the experimental results were well accounted for by the Brenner's viscosity theory for slender particle suspensions. From these measurements, the effective lengths of the molecule for various ionic strength and pH were calculated. This parameter varied between 32 nm for I = 5 × 10 −3 M and pH = 6.5 (high ionization of the molecule) to 17.3 nm for I = 0.15 M and pH = 9.5 (low ionization). For comparison, the contour length L ext predicted for fully extended polymer chain was 40.7 nm. However, these values, consistent with the hydrodynamic radius measurements, were significantly higher than the data derived from numerical simulation. This discrepancy was interpreted as due to the extensive hydration of PAH molecules, increasing their stiffness, which was not considered in simulations. Therefore, confirming the major role of hydration for determining polyelectrolyte shape, especially their effective length, was considered the major finding of this work.

Structure of poly (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) in electrolyte solutions: Theoretical modeling and measurements

In this work, the structure of poly (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) molecules in electrolyte solutions obtained from theoretical simulations was compared with experimental data derived from dynamic light scattering (PCS), electrophoretic and dynamic viscosity measurements. Simulations and experiments were carried out for polymer having molecular weight of 15.8 kD and for various ionic strength of the supporting electrolyte (NaCl). It was predicted from molecular dynamic simulations that for the entire range of electrolyte concentration studied ( I = 10 −3 to 0.15 M) the molecule behaved as a flexible rod. Its effective length L ef varied from 12.5 to 8.5 nm, which corresponds to 0.79–0.56 of the contour length L ext = 16 nm predicted for fully extended polymer chain. Thus, for electrolyte concentration of 0.15 M, a significant folding of the molecule was predicted, whose shape resembled a semi circle (torus). These predictions were compared with PCS measurements of the diffusion coefficient of the molecule, which allowed one to calculate its hydrodynamic radius R H. It was found that R H varied between 3.1 for I = 5 × 10 −3 M and 4 nm for I = 0.15 M. These R H values were in a good agreement with theoretical predictions stemming from Brenner's theory, approximating the true particle shape by prolate spheroids, bent to various forms. Using these R H values and electrophoretic mobility data derived from microelectrophoresis, the average number of uncompensated (free) charges on the PSS molecule and the effective ionization degree were calculated. The number of free charges was determined to be 14–16 (decreasing slightly with ionic strength), which gives the ionization degree of 18–20%, which was comparable with theoretical predictions. Additional shape information was derived from the dynamic viscosity measurements of dilute PSS solutions using a capillary viscometer. The intrinsic viscosity derived from these measurements varied between 28.3 and 8 for the ionic strength 10 −3 to 0.15 M. It was shown, after introducing the correction for hydration, that the experimental results were accounted well by the Brenner's viscosity theory for slender particle suspensions. The effective lengths derived from viscosity measurements using this theory was comparable with values predicted from the molecular dynamic simulations.

Is Brenner's Modification to the Classical Navier–Stokes Equations Able to Describe Sound Propagation in Gases?

We analyse the problem concerning the propagation of sound waves in gases by using the modified hydrodynamic theory proposed recently by Brenner for single-component fluids. The modifications introduced by Brenner are based on his proposal that the translational momentum in fluid motion is not given by the mass flux. Comparison of the sound propagation results derived from Brenner's theory with available experimental data for monatomic gases shows that this modified continuum theory is unable to describe the acoustic measurements not even in the low-frequency limit, a result that from our point of view makes Brenner's proposal questionable.

The case for Agrarian capitalism: A response to albritton

Albritton finds Brenner's designation ‘agrarian capitalism’ inappropriate for early English agriculture, as the law of value and the commodification of labour are undeveloped. But Brenner is not theorising a ‘full‐blown’ capitalism. His theory traces a process of transition, by which new rules for social reproduction and a new capitalist logic unfolded gradually. Albritton's evidence, moreover, actually supports Brenner's thesis. Charges of class reductionism misconstrue Brenner's efforts to overcome the tendency to dichotomise society into political and economic spheres. Brenner's theory provides what the bourgeois paradigm does not: a logical explanation of how market dependency and capitalist classes emerged.

Presentation of the 1999 Jean Hamburger Award to Barry M. Brenner

It is a great privilege and pleasure to introduce my former mentor, the recipient of the Jean Hamburger Award in 1999, Dr. Barry M. Brenner. Although Dr. Brenner's name is readily recognized from his research, theories and textbooks, not many have had my good fortune of being able to observe him so closely and for so long. It was the summer of 1974, when I was visiting from Tokyo, that Dr. Brenner granted me my first interview in his small office at the VA hospital on Clement Street in San Francisco, which overlooks the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. During the next seven years of working with him, Dr. Brenner taught me nephrology, medicine, and importantly for me, English, as well. I believe that the many significant benefits that I received from working with him have earned me the right to introduce Dr. Brenner today.

Capitalism, Competition and Profits: A Critique of Robert Brenner's Theory of Crisis

AbstractThe Marxist theory of crisis has fallen on hard times. Marx's ‘law of the tendency of the rate of profit to fall’ (TRPF), generally seen, at least in recent times, as the basis of the theory, is now widely rejected by economists who regard themselves as broadly working in his tradition. This state of affairs is in large part a consequence on the larger assault on mounted on the theoretical structure of Capital by self-proclaimed supporters of Piero Sraffa during the 1970s. Analytical Marxism, during its brief efflorescence in the 1980s, took for granted the validity of the Sraffian critique. One of this school's more vulgar advocates published an ‘obituary’ of the TRPF which dismissed Marxists' attachment to the theory as a result of the influence of ‘“extra-scientific” considerations’ on them. The editors of a dictionary of Marxian economics expressed the hope not long ago that the resolution of the debate provoked by the Sraffian critique would be to ‘release Marxian ideas on crises, growth, imperialism, the social and economic evolution of forms of production, and so on, into the mainstream of economics’.

Hypothesis: reduced renal mass with glomerular hyperfiltration, a cause of renal hyperechogenicity in children.

A group of 10 pediatric patients had renal hyperechogenicity and reduced renal mass. The authors wish to suggest a relationship between renal hyperechogenicity and glomerular hyperfiltration according to Brenner's theory on the progressive nature of kidney disease. Reduced renal mass was related to multicystic dysplastic kidney (3 cases) nephrectomy (3 cases) and to reflux nephropathy (4 cases). The hyperechogenicity was diffuse in 6 cases with the preservation of cortico-medullary differentiation and was localized in all four cases of reflux nephropathy producing a "pseudotumoral" appearance. Hyperfiltration was confirmed by isotope studies in all 3 cases where it was performed. This condition together with secondary glomerulosclerosis could explain hyperechogenicity. The predictive value of such patterns are still unclear; yet such findings should lead to appropriate radiolocal, functional, clinical and dietary measures.

Transport properties and hydrodynamic centers of rigid macromolecules with arbitrary shapes

AbstractA general formalism, which includes translation–rotation coupling, is proposed for calculating translational and rotational transport properties, as well as intrinsic viscosities, of rigid macromolecules with an arbitrary shape. This formalism is based on Brenner's theory of translational–rotational dynamics and on methods for the calculation of hydrodynamic properties that have been already presented, and can be regarded as a generalization of the one proposed by Nakajima and Wada. The calculated transport properties depend on the origin as predicted by Brenner's theory, but in a disagreement with him, the center of resistance and the center of diffusion do not coincide. As one can define several hydrodynamic centers, which in practice turn out to be located at different points, the influence of the choice of the center on the calculated transport properties is discussed. An analysis of the translation–rotation coupling effects in translational diffusion reveals that they arise exclusively from hydrodynamic interactions and are rather small in some cases of interest. Finally, we present a study of the rotational diffusion of rigid bent rods with a fixed length‐to‐diameter ratio. The diffusion coefficients obtained can be useful to estimate changes with respect to a straight rod.