Marxist Theory Research Articles

The Making of a Reserve Army of Labor: Paradoxes of American Disability Policy

Since the 1980s, despite much United States legislation to promote the employment of people with disabilities and reduce their reliance on government benefits, employment rates among people with disabilities have fallen while rates of disability benefits receipt have risen. I conducted historical research on two sites of contradiction in the state treatment of disability: (1) antidiscrimination legislation and (2) disability benefits. I show that the goals of antidiscrimination legislation were undercut by court interpretations of this legislation, while cyclical expansion and contraction of disability benefits produced haphazard integration of recipients into the labor force and inhibited cessation of benefits. These findings demonstrate that the legislative push for the labor market inclusion of disabled people, undertaken simultaneous to ongoing labor market exclusion with roots in the very same legislative program, led to the incorporation of disabled people into the labor market on contingent terms. Contradictions in disability employment policy have thus constituted people with disabilities as a labor force suited to the precarious positions characteristic of economic restructuring. This argument develops Marxist theories of disability, conceptualizing disabled people as a reserve army of labor malleable to the needs of capital.

Platformlar ve Ekonomi Politiğin Eleştirisi

The study of platforms, or multi-sided markets, has seen exponential growth in economics, media studies, social sciences, and humanities. However, the critical political economy of media has been relatively quiet, with notable exceptions in areas such as platform capitalism, imperialism and especially platform labour and gig work. However, traditional Marxian production, often taken as the starting point, relies on the labour theory of value and struggles to capture all platform specificities. Due to their integrated understanding of production and circulation of value, I will argue that New Readings of Marx and Open Marxism help study platforms as linchpins of internet user lifeworlds and the global economy. In this literature, capitalism is analysed as a historically specific social form of production. Additionally, these approaches can address some theoretical problems that occasionally occur with related Marxian theories, such as unpaid digital labour, rent, and techno-feudalism. In that sense, this paper aims to contribute to the critical political economy of the media and the study of platforms by bringing previously neglected theoretical approaches to the centre stage and unpacking platforms as social forms of production and circulation in contemporary capitalism.

Hortense Spillers and the Ungendering of (Re)productive Racial Capitalism

Abstract This article theorizes the reproductive dimensions of racial capitalism. It begins by bringing into conversation Black Marxist theories of racial capitalism and Marxist feminist theories of social and biological reproduction proffered by Cedric Robinson and Silvia Federici respectively. It demonstrates that since its inception, racial capitalism has depended on processes of racialized (re)productive accumulation that are ongoing but not yet fully theorized. At the center of the essay is a close reading of Hortense Spillers’s 1987 contribution “Mama’s Baby, Papa’s Maybe: An American Grammar Book.” Though Spillers is not generally regarded as either a Black Marxist or a Marxist feminist, the essay argues that she ought to be recognized as a theorist of racialized (re)productive accumulation—a process that begins aboard the slave ship, persists on the plantation, and endures into the present. Racialized (re)productive accumulation exploited she whom Spillers often denotes as “the captive female,” and, also, paradoxically, ungendered her. Ultimately, through examination of the process of ungendering in Atlantic slavery, the essay suggests that Spillers opens up new ways to think about the history of racial capitalism, (re)productive dispossession, and the possibility of its refusal. The article concludes by considering how Spillers’s complex insights about the process of ungendering might yet be mobilized to secure truly substantive forms of reproductive justice.

Extrapolation of Marx's Theory of Value — Based on the Economic Manuscripts 1857-1858

Extrapolation of Marx's Theory of Value — Based on the Economic Manuscripts 1857-1858

Проблема происхождения права в концепции общей теории права Г. Ф. Шершеневича

The article is devoted to the concept of the origin of law of one of the famous theorists of Russian law at the beginning of the twentieth century, G.F. Shershenevich. The author evaluates the arguments of criticism by G.F. Shershenevich approaches to this problem of the school of natural law, the historical school of law, the Marxist theory of law, as well as R. Iering and S.A. Muromtseva. A special place in the article is occupied by the characteristics of the concept of G.F. Shershenevich, which, according to the author, was influenced by the ideas of other approaches.

Time Background and Theoretical Pursuit: Comparison of Arendt's and Marx's views of labor

Marx's and Arendt's views of labor are rooted in different contexts. Marx's theory originated in the 19th century during the industrial revolution and the rise of capitalism in Europe, and by inheriting Hegel's dialectic, he developed a historical materialist approach, focusing on the elimination of exploitation under capitalism and the struggle for the emancipation of the working class. Arendt's view of labor was formed in the twentieth century during the crisis of modernity in the West, and, drawing from the European tradition of political philosophy, attempted to rebuild the community and reestablish the freedom of the individual through a call to political action. Although the two thinkers had different theoretical aims, together they demonstrated a deep reflection on human labor and social institutions.

Phases of Filipino Proletarianism in the 20th Century Dagling Tagalog: A Critique Using Pierre Macherey’s Theory of Gaps and Silences

Self-image is deeply rooted in one’s place in society, as manifested in one’s involvement in its facets and realities which are spoken of in literature, and yet it is the “unspoken” or the “unsaid”– the gaps and silences in the texts– that exposes the ‘unconscious’ of the work where lies a text’s repressed historical narrative and discourse. Accordingly, this study was targeted toward the deep understanding of how Filipinos see themselves and each other as Filipinos (self-image and self-identity) during the American colonization in the Philippines in the 20th century, specifically as proletarians, through the examination of the textual gaps and silences in dagling Tagalog texts written and published in the early 20th century. Using the post-structuralist Marxist theory of gaps and silences by Pierre Macherey, this paper discusses the subject formation of Filipino characters into the image of a proletarian and the phases of Filipino proletarianism. The results indicate that there are three phases to which Filipino proletarians are subjected: from False Consciousness to Recognition of Oppression, and finally to Revolution or Self-emancipation through carrying the “duty.” The study concludes that the texts are propagandist literature, with anti-government, anti-capitalist, and anti-colonial sentiments hiding behind the mask of fiction and satire, emerging through the gaps and silences. Additionally, the portrayal of the Filipino proletariat in the texts is shaped by Marxist ideals of revolution, hence the inclination of the literary production of the texts towards the communist ideology.

Philosophical Critique and Decoding Path of Rosa's New Alienation

The theory of alienation occupies a very important position in Marx's theoretical system. In the Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, Marx criticizes classical political economy in England starting from alienated labor and puts forward four aspects of alienated labor. The Frankfurt School further developed Marx's theory of alienation and conducted comprehensive investigations on technological alienation, cultural alienation, consumer alienation, and other aspects of modern society's culture, politics, and art. In the new turn of late modern society, the fourth generation Frankfurt School scholar Hartmut Rosa, starting from time analysis, analyzes the growth logic and dynamic stability of modern society's overall crisis through the theory of social acceleration critique, and proposes the social pathologies of "acceleration" and the solution of "resonance", attempting to achieve a better life for people in the present era through the adaptive mode of resonance theory. Based on Hartmut Rosa's works and related research, this article explores the theoretical origins of Rosa's theory of social acceleration critique, the historical background and ideological elements, elaborates on Rosa's analysis of the phenomenon of social acceleration, the new forms of alienation under the background of accelerated society, and the resonant solutions to the problem of new alienation. Finally, this article examines the theoretical value and shortcomings of his theory.

The Historical Evolution and Enlightenment of Marx's View of Civil Society

In-depth study of young Marx's civil society theory has important academic and practical significance. In terms of academic theory, "civil society" is a red line that runs through the gradual formation of Marx's materialist view of history. Clarifying the development vein of young Marx's view of civil society and clarifying the connotation and characteristics of civil society is helpful to understand the focus of young Marx's philosophical research, so as to grasp the evolution of his ideological history more carefully. In reality, it is of great significance to construct the road of socialist modernization governance with Chinese characteristics to absorb and draw on the theoretical essence which accords with China's national conditions.

Capitalism as “the best of all possible worlds”: a marxist critique of Boaventura de Sousa Santos' postmodern political thought

The general aim of this work is to critically analyse certain conceptions and political positions of Boaventura de Sousa Santos on the problems of Western modernity and postmodernity. For the Portuguese sociologist, Western modernity is going through an unprecedented crisis of civilisation that can be identified through three fundamental dimensions: the epistemological dimension (the problem of Western scientific knowledge), the theoretical dimension (the problem of the Marxist theory of social emancipation) and the political dimension (the problems of the liberal social contract, social fascism and the disunity of left-wing forces). Postmodernity, however, represents the possibilities and opportunities for overcoming that crisis in view of the epistemological (the ecology of knowledge), theoretical (the new emancipatory political culture) and political (high-intensity democracy) renewals that are underway. The main hypothesis to be presented is that Boaventura Santos' political conceptions and positions – in parallel with his limited understanding of Marxism, the main interlocutor and target of his often mistaken criticism – correspond to the postmodern ideology, which can be characterised, according to Marxism, by epistemological scepticism, contempt for history and political defeatism. In this vein, the theoretical framework adopted here necessarily comes from Marxism, understood, according to Michael Löwy, as a social worldview, that is, an organic, articulated and structured set of values, representations, ideas and cognitive orientations about man in his relationship with nature, society and history, internally unified by a determined perspective and a certain socially conditioned point of view.

Fostering Economic Sustainability within Rural Families in South Africa through Visual Arts and Crafts

This paper investigated interventions that can restore the importance of visual arts and crafts in fostering economic sustainability within rural families, in particular, young rural community members. Prior to colonization, visual arts and crafts played a significant role in providing economic subsistence for many households in South Africa. During the inception of formal education, that practice was replaced by scholastic education, prioritizing theoretical knowledge over practical experiential learning, leading to a gradual decline in the subsistence lifestyle. Marxism Theory (1848), which underpins this study, posits that within a capitalist economic framework, workers are exploited whilst company owners amass additional money. Craft manufacturing has the potential to augment self-generated income, making a valuable contribution to economic growth whilst avoiding any form of exploitation. The qualitative convenient sample comprised fifteen school dropouts and graduates from both South Africans and foreign nationals and was studied through face-to-face and telephonically informal conversations. The findings revealed that insufficient application of traditional visual arts and crafts skills in elementary education; inadequate delivery of government services to promote visual arts and crafts entrepreneurship; and the divergent perspectives in defining the concept of “civilization and freedom” impede efforts to achieve economic sustainability. The study recommended that community members should not only rely on government support services but instead utilize government grants to acquire knowledge, develop skills, and adopt subsistence lifestyles that rely on natural resources for sustainable economic growth. The government should also support the establishment of training centres where skilled individuals can impart knowledge and skills to the younger generation and monitor the efficacy of non-governmental organizations. This study not only enhances the well-being of people and communities but also offers valuable material for academic research in several fields. It strengthens comprehension of cultural, economic, and social phenomena within the framework of sustainable development. Keywords: Visual Arts and Crafts, Economic Development, Skills Development, Rural Families

Hegel contra Hegel: Eurocentrism, Colonialism, and Progress

Abstract This study aims to investigate whether some of the Eurocentric and colonialist contents of Hegel's thought are open to criticism with elements of his own philosophy. First, I intend to show that some of these contents can be organized around the connection between ‘spirit’ and ‘progress’. I then construct an interpretation of Hegel's notion of spirit, based upon which I discuss its possibly pro-colonialist tendencies, arguing that disconnected from the philosophy of history it establishes a connection of autonomy and critique crucial even for anti-colonialist thought. Furthermore, following Adorno's criticism of Hegel, I investigate the possibility of finding in the ‘progress in the consciousness of freedom’ an experiential dimension capable of capturing its regressive moments. This analysis then leads to a discussion of colonization in the reconstruction of capitalist society presented in the Philosophy of Right, which reveals an important discrepancy, so I argue, concerning the Eurocentrism of the Philosophy of History. Finally, I propose a comparison of Hegel's discussion of colonization with Marx's theory of ‘primitive accumulation’, and evaluate thereby the pertinence of Hegel's connection between imperialism and the critique of capitalism.

Beating the Untrodden Paths: Computers, Artificial Intelligence and Quanta in Marxist Theory

Abstract The fulcrum of this work is knowledge: what it is and how it is generated within the context of a capitalist society. First, Marx’s analysis of the objective labour process is extended to the mental labour process. Then, objective and mental labour processes are defined in terms of objective and mental transformations, with consideration paid to which of the two types of transformation is determinant. This requires a discussion of dialectical logic and formal logic. Within dialectical logic, two types of processes are introduced: open ended and pre-determined. It is argued that computers (both traditional and quantum) and Artificial Intelligence cannot generate new knowledge, because they (a) rely on formal logic, i.e. they cannot engage in open-ended dialectical processes, and (b) are impervious to social determination. Connectedly, Artificial Intelligence systems such as ChatGPT cannot be a substitute for human thought or writing, because of the inevitability of ‘model collapse’. Next, focus is shifted to a specific form of knowledge: the ‘Copenhagen interpretation’ of quantum mechanics. It is shown that this interpretation is steeped in irrationalism and that it is a variant of pro-capitalist ideology. Finally, the social-historical roots of this ideology are revealed.

Theoretical formation in the field of critique: a critical reading of Chinese architectural anti-waste campaign in 1955

ABSTRACT This study appraises the ideological criticism that emerged in the Chinese architectural sphere during the anti-waste campaign of 1955, which marks a pivotal moment in the history of modern Chinese architecture. Within this timeframe, architects and architectural scholars such as Chen Gan, Shui Fengman, and Liu Dunzhen, respectively questioned, defended, and criticized Liang Sicheng’s architectural ideas. Their articles were published in prominent Chinese publications including People’s Daily, Wenyi Bao [Art News], Jianzhu Xuebao [Journal of Architecture], and Xin Jianshe [Journal of New Construction]. By delving deep into the conceptual framework and the logical structure of these long-neglected critique articles, this study unveils the intricate debates in Chinese architectural practice and theoretical concepts during the 1950s. The findings highlight that the ideological critique during the anti-waste campaign not only reflects the infiltration of politicized rhetoric into the architectural domain but also assumes a profound significance in terms of the early attempts of Chinese architects to re-evaluate architectural historiography through the lens of Marxist theory. This pivotal event laid the foundation for the gradual formation and consolidation of a series of discursive patterns within the Chinese architectural community, exerting a lasting influence on contemporary architectural discussions and writings in multifarious ways.

Notes on Dialectics: C. L. R. James's Hegel

AbstractHegel's philosophy has been a fundamental reference point for a broad network of mid-twentieth century anticolonial thinkers and activists, a major inspiration for figures such as W. E. B. Du Bois, Frantz Fanon, C. L. R. James, Martin Luther King Jr. and Angela Davis, among others. James's Notes on Dialectics (1948) constitutes one of the most significant textual engagements with Hegel from within that internationalist tradition. Even though James considered Notes to be his most important work and one of his lasting contributions to Marxist theory, it remains the least read and studied of his books. In comparison to the abovementioned thinkers, all of whom drew inspiration from Hegel's social and political philosophy, in his monograph, James turns instead to Hegel's most difficult text, the Science of Logic, as the true locus of Hegel's critical theory. Situating James's study within the Marxist philosophical tradition, this essay explores how James interprets, appropriates and makes use of Hegel's dialectic.

Navigating the Divide A Marxist Analysis of The White Tiger

This study conducted a Marxist analysis of Arvind Adiga’s The White Tiger The study aims to demonstrate how desire shapes the protagonist, Balram and influences broader societal dynamics within the framework of Marxist theory. By deploying this theory as its lens, the paper seeks to unveil the underlying structures perpetuating social inequalities in the depicted Indian milieu. The narrative unfolds through a dual exploration of two distinct social classes: privileged ‘haves’ in the India of Light and the marginalized ‘have nots’ in the India of Darkness. Through meticulous examination of specific instances in the novel, the analysis reveals the illicit use of state resources by political and economic elites, showcasing the intricate interplay between desire, corruption, and societal structures. The study illuminates how Adiga portrays the extreme and practical facets of Indian society, providing a nuanced understanding of the character’s motivations and the broader socio-economic context. This exploration contributes to a deeper comprehension of the novel’s socio-political commentary, elucidating the complex connections between individual aspirations, systemic corruption, and class divisions. In conclusion, the analysis not only enriches our understanding of The White Tiger, but also augments the broader discourse on literature, ideology, and societal critique.

How to Realize the Effective Dissemination of Marxist Theory Under the Network Environment

How to Realize the Effective Dissemination of Marxist Theory Under the Network Environment

Research and application of adverse effects of TikTok[ This refers specifically to the Chinese version of Tiktok.] ecology under Marxist contradiction theory

This paper adopts the marxist theory of social contradiction and research questionnaire data empirical analysis of combining, through the TikTok ecosystem of social properties and characteristics, in the form of background to the TikTok ecosystem of the process, and then to Marx's perspective of social contradiction, grasp the social contradiction movement, in-depth analysis of three kinds of specific internal and external contradictions, make theoretical interpretation. Finally, in view of the adverse effects of TikTok system ecology on the mental health , it is proposed to play the role of multiple subjects, such as school and government, in order to minimize the adverse effects of TikTok system ecology.

The Study of Jadidism in Soviet and Russian Historiography

The article provides an overview of the history of the study of Muslim reformism, known in the scientific literature as Jadidism, in the works of Soviet and Russian researchers. At first, it included only the reform of Islamic education, and later it began to be understood as a broader movement of “Muslim enlightenment” aimed at reforming the entire Muslim society. The study of the history of Jadidism in Russia began in the 1920s. Soviet scientists through the prism of the Marxist theory of the development of socio- economic formations. In the post-war years, Soviet historians and social scientists wrote critically about Jadidism. During the years of Khrushchev’s “thaw”, scholars tried to reconsider the essence of Jadidism in the socialist context of historical research through the reinterpretation of Islam as a specific Tatar national cultural heritage, called “mirasism”. A new stage of Russian historiography in matters of Jadidism began in the post- Soviet period, when Jadidism began to be seen as a social movement of Russian Muslims aimed at forming a nation of the European type. In general, it can be said that studies in Russian and Soviet historiography on the history of Jadidism in the Crimea, the Volga-Ural region, Central Asia and the Caucasus are distinguished by different methodologies and conceptual approaches, while works on the history of the Jadid movement in the Volga-Ural region are more complete. Despite the fact that there is no common understanding of the phenomenon of Jadidism in the Volga-Ural region, nevertheless, scientists of different directions (historians, philologists, Islamic scholars) have done a lot of work in studying this issue. In this regard, the history of Muslim reformism in the North Caucasus, in particular in Dagestan, is practically not studied. As well as there is no special work on this region.

The Relationship between Modern Theatre and Society According to Henrik Ibsen’s Plays: Rosmersholm, The Wild Duck, and A Doll’s House

Henrik Ibsen is considered one of the greatest writers on society and its problems in the modern era, as his works deal with society in all its forms in a realistic way, in which he presents the motives and consequences of social problems and their impact on society to study these problems through them to and propose solutions through theatre. Most of his writings were very serious about addressing these social issues. The method of collecting information in the study came through reviewing a group of sources related to realistic theater and social theory, then reading the plays covered in a critical and analytical reading. Based on that, the method of writing this study came and used a group of sources that directly relate to the subject. Thus, this study addresses the following questions 1) Does the theater have a human function? 2) Is there a direct relationship between modern theatre and society? The importance of this study is in dealing with social issues, which makes the aim of this study to analyze the impact of each of these concepts on society and what results from them. This study is an interpretation of these themes that Ibsen wanted to deal with in a literary way according to the Marxist theory as a literary theory. This study provides literary objectives and realistic study in realistic theatre based on the aforementioned theatrical works Rosmersholm (1886), The Wild Duck (1884), and A Doll’s House (1879).