Overview

Richard D. Wolff masterfully explains why Karl Marx's analysis of class struggle is fundamental to a proper understanding of capitalism and explores how to build a more sustainable democratic society. Class struggle is everywhere, and it influences everything and everyone in our society. Marx is the person who first explained this struggle systematically. For Marx, capitalism signified not the end of history, but rather the latest phase of human development that leads ordinary people to rid themselves of 'all the muck of ages and become fitted to found society anew.' Marx's theories are deeply prescient and relevant in our efforts to understand and cope with the crises of our time. Every day, we see more evidence that the capitalist system is both undermining itself and those whose labour it depends on, as Marx predicted. Understanding Marxismis an essential resource for looking at the power and usefulness of Marx's criticism of the capitalist economic system and how we can move beyond it to a truly sustainable and democratic society based on workers' self-management.

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Reviews

""This is an excellent little book and will be a good read for anyone wanting to introduce themselves to Marx’s key ideas, particularly around the issues of democracy, or to anyone wanting to refresh their understanding."" —Graham Kirkwood, Counterfire ""For someone new to Marxism, Understanding Marxism could be, at first, a flashlight illuminating a pathway through a dark hallway. For someone gaining familiarity with Marxism (possibly the same reader just described, some time later), this book could be a floor plan of the overall layout of the theory’s structure."" —Zoe Sherman, Dollars & Sense

""This is an excellent little book and will be a good read for anyone wanting to introduce themselves to Marx's key ideas, particularly around the issues of democracy, or to anyone wanting to refresh their understanding."" --Graham Kirkwood, Counterfire ""For someone new to Marxism, Understanding Marxism could be, at first, a flashlight illuminating a pathway through a dark hallway. For someone gaining familiarity with Marxism (possibly the same reader just described, some time later), this book could be a floor plan of the overall layout of the theory's structure."" --Zoe Sherman, Dollars & Sense

Author Information

Richard D. Wolffis Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Visiting Professor at the New School University in New York. Wolff's recent work has concentrated on analysing the causes and alternative solutions to the global economic crisis. His groundbreaking bookDemocracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalisminspired the creation of Democracy at Work, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to showing why and how to make democratic workplaces real. Wolff hosts the weekly hour-long radio program 'Economic Update', which is syndicated on public radio stations nationwide, and he writes regularly forThe GuardianandTruthout. Wolff appears frequently on television and radio to discuss his work, with recent guest spots includingReal Time with Bill Maher, with Chris Hayes on MSNBC, andDemocracy Now!He is also a frequent lecturer at colleges and universities across the country.

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