Blockbuster Marxism. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agger, Ben; Luke, Timothy W.
• Is Part Of: Critical sociology. Volume 41:Number 2(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 335
• Page End: 348
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: capitalism -- economic inequality -- fast capitalism -- flash capitalism -- neo-Marxism -- political economy -- political science -- social state -- sociology; Sociology -- Periodicals; 301.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0896920514564089
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0896-9205

Abstract

Thomas Piketty's critique of capitalism, Capital in the 21st Century (2014), is examined in light of earlier Marxist and neo-Marxist analyses. It is noted that Piketty's important main finding, that inequality has increased under capitalism, is not matched by his solution, the 'social state', which hinges on a tax on capital and is not a fundamental rethinking of capitalism. Alternative analyses of a global 'flash capitalism' are explored.