Marx & Co. De doctrine in discussie

Samenvatting

Marx and Co. The Doctrine in Discussion. The article deals with the rise and decline of the popularity of Marxism since the late 1960s, taking AST as an illustrative source. Marxist theory and practice ('praxis') were intensely discussed -- defended sometimes, but criticized more often -- in the journal from its inception in 1974. After 1980 however, Marxism was hardly an issue. This shift reflects broader ideological and social developments, including changes in the power balance between 'labor' and 'capital' in favor of the latter and the downfall of communism in Eastern Europe. The Marxian tradition was continued, to some extent and in certain respects, in other social theories, such as in particular the figurational approach which, as Elias stated, went 'beyond Marx'. Many articles on various topics in AST testify to the fruitfulness of this approach. A more direct continuation of Marxian thought is the theory of the modern world-system about which Wallerstein published several essays in AST. The article concludes by giving some reasons why critical power and class analysis -- not necessarily or even preferably Marxist -- is urgent in a world that has become more 'capitalist' since the 1970s. Adapted from the source document.