Marx's Capital, Capitalism and Limits to the State: Theoretical Considerations

Marx's Capital, Capitalism, and the Limits to the State explores the capitalist state in the abstract, illustrating its functions in relation to commodity relations, private property, and the production of surplus value. It argues that the state cannot meet the pressing needs of the masses significantly and sustainably, as it is inherently capitalist. The book combines Marxism from the 19th and 20th centuries and is suitable for scholars researching state-society/economy relations, university students, and established scholars in sociology, political science, heterodox economics, human geography, and international development.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Inc

Marx's monumental work, "Capital: Capitalism and Limits to the State," delves into the abstract nature of the capitalist state, exploring its manifestations in advanced capitalism and peripheral capitalism. Through a wealth of evidence from both the North and the South, Marx vividly illustrates his ideas, shedding light on the functioning of the capitalist state in relation to commodity relations, private property, and the crisis-ridden production of surplus value within the capital circuit (M-C-M'). The volume also examines the political and geographical forms of states, challenging the notion that the state can be fully autonomous regardless of its level of development. It argues that, despite its purported independence, the state cannot effectively address the pressing needs of the masses on a sustainable basis. This is not solely due to so-called capitalist constraints, but rather because the state itself is inherently capitalist.

Each chapter in "Capital" begins with an insightful introduction, setting the stage for the subsequent discussions. Furthermore, each chapter concludes with theoretical and practical implications that challenge existing state theories, emphasizing the need for the masses to establish a new transitional democratic state. The book goes beyond Marx's framework, drawing upon the combined Marxism of the 19th and 20th centuries to provide a comprehensive analysis of the state-society/economy relations.

This work will be of immense interest to scholars engaged in research on state-society/economy relations. It is also suitable for university students, as well as established scholars in sociology, political science, heterodox economics, human geography, and international development.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815347958