The Formation of the Economic Thought of Karl Marx: 1843 to Capital

Description

In this republication of the 1971 original, Ernest Mandel traces the development of Marx's economic ideas from the Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts to the completion of the Grundrisse. In a series of focused chapters he provides an overview of debates and discussions of subjects that are central to Marxist economic theory. Mandel focuses on Marx's concept of "alienation" which gained much currency among Marxists in the twentieth century, traces the development of debates surrounding the labor theory of value, Marx's writings on communism and "crisis." These debates and discussions started by Marx have not ended and remain evermore pertinent to the present day. These writings are vital not just to academics but also to those who wish to interpret and to change the world.

Ernest Mandel (1923-95), historian, economist and activist, was a leading figure in the Fourth International from 1945 and was the author of a number of books, including Late Capitalism, Marxist Economic Theory, Long Waves of Capitalist Development, and The Meaning of the Second World War.

One of the most creative and independent-minded revolutionary Marxists of the post-war world. * Guardian * Late Capitalism is the answer to how Marx might view the complex economic phenomena of the 1970s. It is sophisticated, well written, impressively documented. This volume is, indeed, one of the major contributions of the last decade to Marxist economics. * Choice * I've learned a lot over many years from reading Mandel, and I have a lot of respect for his memory. -- Ken MacLeod