DeepSummary
The episode is focused on providing an introduction to Marxist political economy, covering its history, key concepts, and its significance in understanding capitalism and formulating a successful proletarian revolution. The hosts discuss the origins of political economy, tracing it back to thinkers like Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill, and how Marx built upon and critiqued their ideas. They also explain core Marxist economic concepts like the means of production, surplus value, commodity fetishism, and the labor theory of value.
The hosts emphasize that Marxist political economy is deeply intertwined with Marxist philosophy and cannot be separated from the revolutionary goals of Marxism. They argue that a proper diagnosis of capitalism through Marx's economic analysis is necessary to understand the world's current crises and formulate a path towards overthrowing the capitalist system. The episode aims to provide a solid foundation for listeners to delve deeper into Marxist political economy.
Throughout the episode, the hosts engage in discussions, provide quotes from relevant sources, and respond to potential questions and misunderstandings. They encourage listeners to further explore the texts and ideas discussed, emphasizing the continued relevance and importance of Marx's critique of capitalism in the modern world.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Marxist political economy is deeply intertwined with Marxist philosophy and revolutionary theory, and cannot be separated from the goal of overthrowing capitalism.
- Marx's analysis of capitalism, including concepts like the means of production, surplus value, and commodity fetishism, provides a scientific diagnosis of the capitalist system and is necessary for formulating a successful proletarian revolution.
- Marx built upon and critiqued the ideas of earlier political economists like Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill, while rejecting their assumptions about human nature and the legitimacy of capitalism.
- Marxist political economy seeks to understand capitalism through the lens of class struggle and the contradictions inherent in the capitalist mode of production.
- The hosts aim to provide a solid introduction to Marxist political economy, encouraging listeners to further explore the texts and ideas discussed in order to deepen their understanding.
- The concepts and analysis provided by Marxist political economy offer a framework for comprehending the world's current economic and political crises, and for envisioning a path towards a post-capitalist society.
- The episode emphasizes the continued relevance and importance of Marx's critique of capitalism in the modern world, and the necessity of grappling with his economic analysis for those seeking revolutionary change.
Top Episodes Quotes
- โMarx even suggests that if it wasn't for alienation imposed by class society, humans might not resent labor, but rather be able to find joy and expression through it.โ by Allison
- โSo Marx therefore argues that the theory of humanity that's proposed by the political economists is not only incorrect, but what they're seeing and describing as, like, universal human nature is actually just a description of the kind of deformed beings that capitalism turns us into.โ by Allison
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Episode Information
Revolutionary Left Radio
Revolutionary Left Radio
4/30/22
[Originally released Feb 2021]
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[5:00] Definition: Political economy as the study of economics as played out in reality. Economics in relation to society, production, culture, politics, etc.
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[12:28] History: Adam Smithโs development of economics in the wealth of nations, alongside Millโs principles of political economy.
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[20:05] So what does Marxism have to do with political economy?
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[33:31] Critique of capitalist economics today
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[74:43] Why does this matter? If Marxism is about revolution, what's the deal with all this abstract economic analysis?ย
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[78:13] Marxian economics vs Marxism: what's the difference, is there an issue with the former?
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