In the most complete, accurate and accessible presentation of Karl Marx’s theory of capitalism to date, Johan Fornäs presents a guide for anyone who wants to understand how today’s crisis-ridden society has emerged and is able to sustain and intensify its own deep inner contradictions. Capitalism clearly explains these contradictions, which are so relevant again today in the wake of the financial crisis.
This clear and engaging guide explains capitalism for absolute beginners. Fornäs situates Marx’s ideas in context, remaining faithful to the concepts and structure of his work. This complete introduction to Marx’s economy critique covers all three volumes of Capital. It explores all the main aspects of Marx’s work – including his economic theory, his philosophical sophistication and his political critique – introducing the reader to Marx’s typical blend of sharp arguments, ruthless social reportage and utopian visions.
This book will be of interest to students throughout the social sciences and humanities, including those studying sociology, social theory, economics, business studies, history, cultural studies, and politics.
1. Introduction 2. Method 3. Commodity and Money 4. From Money to Capital 5. Surplus 6. Production 7. Accumulation 8. Primitive Accumulation 9. Circulation of Capital 10. Reproduction of the Total Capital 11. The Rate of Profit 12. Crises 13. Trade, Banks and Land 14. Mystifying Realities 15. Futures. Postscript. References
Biography
Johan Fornäs is Professor of Media and Communication Studies at Södertörn University in Stockholm and Editor of Culture Unbound: Journal of Current Cultural Research. His books include Cultural Theory and Late Modernity (1995), In Garageland (1995), Digital Borderlands (2002), Consuming Media (2007) and Signifying Europe (2011).
"In this companion to Marx’s three volumes of Capital the author Johan Fornas traces closely the original text thereby producing an "easy to follow" and accessible discussion of what is arguably still the most important and comprehensive analysis of modern industrial capitalism. For those unfamiliar with Marx’s three volume oeuvre Das Kapital this book is an excellent ‘reader’s digest’ version that takes the reader from the first chapter of the first volume – on the commodity – to the final part of Capital III, the trinity formula and the illusion created by competition."— Detlev Zwick, Schulich School of Business
