Chapter 17: 21st century Marxist thought: violence, dispossession and the new imperialism Flashcards
What has been the focus of a growing body of Marxist literature in the last two decades regarding capitalism and state violence?
The focus has been on re-examining the relationship between capitalism and state violence, particularly through revisiting Marx’s theory of primitive accumulation.
What concept has David Harvey (2005) popularized in his work regarding capitalism and violence?
David Harvey has popularized the concept of “accumulation by dispossession” to describe the violence inherent in neoliberalism.
He also argues that “accumulation by dispossession” has become a central feature of the global political economy under neoliberalism.
What criticism has David Harvey’s (2005) work faced regarding the relationship between capitalism and violence?
Harvey’s work has faced critique for potentially obscuring the permanent role of racism, colonialism, and sexism in the history of capitalism.
How does Harvey describe the crisis that neoliberalism addresses?
Harvey describes the crisis as one of overaccumulation, where surplus capital lacks profitable outlets for investment.
What are examples of accumulation by dispossession as outlined by David Harvey?
Examples include the privatization of social services and resources, financialization, predatory lending, violent economic policies in the Global South, and the weakening of labour rights and unions.
How does Harvey’s concept of “accumulation by dispossession” relate to Marx’s theory of primitive accumulation?
Harvey’s concept builds on Marx’s theory by arguing that dispossession, rather than being relegated to an “original stage,” continues to be a central feature of contemporary neoliberal capitalism.
According to thinkers within the black radical tradition, what is the core logic of capitalism?
Accumulation by dispossession has always been a core logic of capitalism.
How do proponents of the black radical tradition view the relationship between capitalism and racial and colonial projects?
They argue that capitalism began and continues as a racial and colonial project, with phenomena like plantation slavery, indigenous dispossession, and resource theft being central to its operations.
Why is capitalism considered racial according to Jodi Melamed (2015)?
Jodi Melamed argues that capitalism is racial because processes of capital accumulation are predicated on the devaluation of black and other non-white bodies, with racial differences being constitutive of capitalism.
What is the black radical tradition
The Black Radical Tradition refers to a diverse intellectual and political movement within African American thought that emerged in the 20th century. It encompasses a range of perspectives, including Marxism, Pan-Africanism, Black nationalism, feminism, and anti-colonialism. Scholars and activists within this tradition have critiqued capitalism, racism, imperialism, and other forms of oppression, while advocating for social justice, liberation, and empowerment for Black communities.
Du Bois, Fanon, Angela Davis, etc
What is the focus of Marxist feminist scholarship on primitive accumulation?
Marxist feminist scholarship on primitive accumulation focuses on the relation between productive and reproductive labor, particularly in the context of capitalism.
How does Silvia Federici (2004) contribute to the understanding of primitive accumulation?
Silvia Federici argues that the transition to capitalism involved the demonization of birth control and non-procreative sexuality, as evidenced by the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries.
What role did the witch hunts play in the transition to capitalism, according to Federici (2004)?
Federici argues that the witch hunts were integral to the transition to capitalism as they enforced norms of procreative sexuality and subjugated women, contributing to the formation of the passive, obedient, and chaste ideal woman.
How does Nicola Smith (2020) deepen the analysis of capitalism’s gendered and sexual history?
Nicola Smith demonstrates how the criminalization of sex work contributed to the formation of the heteronormative bourgeois family, reinforcing the sexual division of labor and the ideal of marriage.
What conclusions do scholars like Federici (2004) and Smith (2020) draw from their analysis?
Scholars like Federici and Smith argue that patriarchy is not transhistorical but is directly linked to capitalism, and that gender and sexuality are critical terrains in the class struggle against capitalism.
