Description
Book SynopsisExamining how Marxist theory is lacking but much needed in a variety of analytical contexts, this book traces the theoretical maze in which Marxism currently finds itself, and from which it is trying to exit while remaining epistemologically intact. Scholar Tom Brass cogently argues that when Marxism is stripped of any or all of its core elements—such as class formation/consciousness/struggle, and a socialist transition—it ceases to be recognizable as Marxism at all. Consequently, the book constitutes an attempt by Marxist political economy to extricate itself from mistaken attempts to conflate it with the cultural turn, identity politics, bourgeois economics, or varieties of populism and nationalism, while grappling with the danger of not mapping Marxism in relation to those discourses.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Marxism Missing – Presumed Dead? How Marxism Went Missing Why Marxism Went Missing As Clear as Mud(de) Essentializing Rurality? Marxism Missing, but ... Themes PART 1 Marxism Missing 1 Marxism(s) within/beyond the Nation Introduction The External/Eternal ‘Other’ The Source of Social Miracles Because the Country Is Hungry Winning the Peasantry? A Huge Part of the People Class Solidarity and/or Cultural Autonomy Nationalism beyond the Nation Privileged Sections, Cheap Immigrants An Indispensable Attribute Conclusion 2 From Marxism to the Cultural Turn (via Social History) Introduction Marxism and Third World Development Populism, Social History, and Third World (Non-)Development Enemy of the (Capitalist) State? History, Methods, Politics Social History and/as the ‘Cultural Turn’ Ambiguity + Authenticity = Absent Marxism Conclusion 3 From Marxism to Nationalism (via Imperialism) Introduction The Authenticity of Populism The Inapplicability of Marxism Down the Drain (Once Again) India’s Chief Curse Populism, Nationalism, Postmodernism What Did the Romans Ever Do for Us? Conclusion 4 From Marxism to Agrarian Populism (via the Cultural Turn) Introduction Peasants, Marxism, Populism The ‘Cultural Turn’ and/as the ‘New’ Populist Postmodernism Russia Then, India Now Old Believers? Farmers, Peasants, Kulaks Old/New Agrarian Populism? A Sense of Robust Realism? Conclusion PART 2 Missing Marxism 5 From Marxism to Late Antiquity (via Postmodernism) Introduction The World beyond Citizens, State and Economy Not Death but Resurrection Postmodernizing Premodernity Conclusion 6 From Modern to Ancient Capitalism (via Bourgeois Economics) Introduction Capitalism, Capitalism Everywhere Money Makes the World Go Round? Fear of Feudalism All Modes Lead to Rome Had Marx Lived ... Marginalism Is Not Marxism Building Castles in the Air Conclusion 7 From Class Struggle to Identity Politics ( via ‘Otherness’) Introduction Film, Sameness, Otherness To Keep Them Divided Solidarity, Struggle, Socialism Magical (Un-)Realism Diasporic Discourse On the Shoulders of Giants? Placid Multiculturalism Celebrating Otherness? Conclusion 8 Great Replacement, or Reaping the Capitalist Whirlwind ( via Populism/Nationalism) Introduction: The Last Taboo White Fright, White Fight Demography, Culture, Civilization Who/What Is Responsible? Rival Ethnicities, Rival Populisms Political Economy and/as Great Replacement Migration and/as Surplus Labour Marxism and the Industrial Reserve Conclusion Conclusion Beyond Marxism, What? Bibliography Author Index Subject Index
