Concordia University
Department of Political Science
POLI 435/2 Marxist and Neo-Marxist Political Theories
Thursday: 9:00-11:30
Arslan Dorman
K202-SGW—848-2424-x-2134
Course Web Page: http://artsandscience.concordia.ca/poli435
Office Hours: Thursdays 12:30-14:30
Course Objective:
This course is designed to (a) trace chronologically the evolution of Marxian thought in its
elementary components; and (b) discuss how some of the followers of Marxian thought
interpreted pressing issues of their time under the influence of Marx and Engel’s thinking. In
that sense, students are expected to develop an understanding of the primary texts and how
they are utilized in subsequent theorization and critique.
Course Requirements and Evaluation:
Students will be evaluated on the basis of participation/presentation (30%), a mid-term test
(30%), and a final exam (40%).
Participation/Presentation:
Students are expected to make a number of presentations on assigned readings. Presenters
will be determined randomly in the first five minutes of each class; students are advised to be
ready to present the relevant set of readings at any given session. The quality of
presentations and the degree of your in-class engagement will determine your participation
mark. Students should note that a summary of readings would not constitute a ‘quality’
presentation. You need to engage with the readings, identify strengths and weaknesses of the
arguments made therein, and develop a constructive critique of those arguments. Similarly,
in-class participation should not be limited to an occasional remark. You will be marked on
the basis of your degree of contribution to the discussion in relevant terms.
Mid-Term Test:
Students will write a mid-term test on week 8 (October 23, 2003). The test will consist of
several short-answer questions.
Final: (Date TBA)
Students will write a final examination consisting of several short-answer questions (mainly
covering the material for weeks 9-13) and an essay question (covering all of the course
material).
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Required Text:
Robert C. Tucker (ed), The Marx-Engels Reader, Second Edition (New York: W.W. Norton&
Co., 1978). [Hereafter TR]
A Concordia University Course-pack. [Hereafter CP].
Course Outline:
Week 1. Introduction (September 4, 2003)
Week 2. The Manifesto (September 11, 2003)
K. Marx and F. Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party, TR, pp469-500.
E. Hobsbawm, “Introduction,” in The Communist Manifesto: A Modern Edition, (London:
Verso, 1998), pp.1-29. CP.
Shelia Rowbotham, “Dear Dr Marx: A Letter from a Socialist Feminist,” in Panitch L. and
C. Leys ed. The Communist Manifesto Now: The Socialist Register 1998, (Halifax: Fernwood,
1998), pp.1-17. CP.
Week 3. The Early Marx—Philosophy and Political Economy Writings (September
18, 2003)
K. Marx, “Preface,” A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, TR, pp.3-6.
K. Marx, “For a Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing,’ TR, pp.12-15.
K. Marx, “Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844,” TR, pp.70-93; 106-125
K. Marx, “Alienation and Social Classes,” TR, pp.133-135.
K. Marx, “Society and Economy in History,” TR, 136-142.
Week 4. Marx and The Critique of Capitalism I (September 25, 2003)
K. Marx, “Theses on Fuerbach,” TR, pp.143-145.
K Marx and F. Engels, “German Ideology: Part I,” TR, pp.147-200.
K. Marx, “Wage Labour and Capital,” TR, pp.203-217.
K. Marx, The Grundrisse, TR, pp.221-246; 261-276; and, 291-293.
Week 5. Marx and The Critique of Capitalism II (October 2, 2003)
K. Marx, Capital, (Selections from Volume I), TR, 294-361; and 373-384.
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Week 6 Marx and The Critique of Capitalism III (October 9, 2003)
K. Marx, Capital, (Selections from Volume I), TR, pp.388-438.
K. Marx, Capital, (Selections from Volume III), TR, pp.439-442.
K Marx, Theories of Surplus Value, TR, pp.443-465.
Week 7. Marx and Engels on Revolution: Theory and Critique (October 16, 2003)
F. Engels, “Working Class in Manchester,” TR, pp.579-585.
K. Marx, “Class Struggles in France, 1848-1850,” TR, pp.586-593.
K. Marx, “The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte,” TR, pp.594-617.
K. Marx, “The Civil War in France,” TR, pp.618-652.
Week 8. Mid-Term Test (October 23, 2003)
Week 9. Imperialism—The Highest Stage of Capitalism? (October 30, 2003)
K. Marx, “On Imperialism in India,” TR, pp.653-664.
V.I. Lenin, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism: a Popular Outline, (New York,
International Publishers, 1939), pp.6-15; 88-98; and, 109-128. CP.
Karl Kautsky, “Ultra-Imperialism,” New Left Review, 59, pp.41-46. CP.
Week 10. The Russian Revolution (November 6, 2003)
V.I. Lenin, What is to be done? [Online version,
http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/download/what-itd.pdf] pp.47-58; 70-81;
and, 85-97. CP.
V.I. Lenin, “The Economic Basis of the Withering Away of the State,” in The State and
Revolution, [Online version,
http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev/ch05.htm#s2] CP.
R. Luxemburg, “Fundamental Significance of the Russian Revolution,” in The Russian
Revolution, [Online version, http://www.marxists.org/archive/luxembur/works/1918/rusrev/ch01.htm]. CP.
R. Luxemburg, “The Problem of Dictatorship,” in The Russian Revolution, [Online version,
http://www.marxists.org/archive/luxembur/works/1918/rus-rev/ch06.htm] CP.
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R. Luxemburg, “Democracy and Dictatorship,” in The Russian Revolution, [Online version,
http://www.marxists.org/archive/luxembur/works/1918/rus-rev/ch08.htm] CP.
Week 11. The State in Capitalist Society—The Debate (November 13, 2003)
N. Poulantzas, “The Problem of the Capitalist State,” New Left Review, 58, pp.67-78. CP.
R. Miliband, “The Capitalist State—Reply to Nicos Poulantzas,” New Left Review, 59, pp.5360. CP.
D.A. Gold, C.Y.L. Ho and E.O. Wright, “Recent Developments in Marxist Theories of the
Capitalist State,” Monthly Review, 27:5, pp.29-43. CP.
D.A. Gold, C.Y.L. Ho and E.O. Wright, “Recent Developments in Marxist Theories of the
Capitalist State: Part 2” Monthly Review, 27:6, pp.36-51. CP.
Week 12. Monopoly Capital/Imperialism—Neo-Marxist Debate in the 1970s
(November 20, 2003)
P.A. Baran and P.M. Sweezy, Monopoly Capital, (New York, Monthly Review Press, 1966) viiix; 1-13; and, 178-217. CP.
P.M. Sweezy, “On the Theory of Monopoly Capitalism,” in Modern Capitalism and Other
Essays, (New York, Monthly Review Press, 1972) pp.25-52. CP.
H. Magdoff, “Is Imperialism Necessary? Part One,” Monthly Review, 22:5, pp.1-14 CP.
H. Magdoff, “Is Imperialism Necessary? Part Two,” Monthly Review, 22:6, pp.1-11 CP.
Week 13. Globalization, the State and Neo-Imperialism (November 27, 2003)
L. Panitch and S. Gindin, “American Imperialism and Euro-Capitalism: The Making of
Neoliberal Globalization, (Forthcoming, Studies in Political Economy,) pp.1-37. CP.
Samir Amin, “Imperialism and Globalization,” Monthly Review, 53:2, pp.6-24 (2001). CP.
J.B. Foster, “The Rediscovery of Imperialism,” Monthly Review, 54:6, pp.1-16 (2002) CP.
Plagiarism:
The Department has zero tolerance for plagiarism.
1. What is plagiarism? Any form of cheating, plagiarism, personation, falsification of a
document as well as any other form of dishonest behaviour related to the obtention of
academic gain or the avoidance of evaluative exercises committed by a student is an
academic offence under the Academic Code of Conduct. To find out more about how to
avoid plagiarism, see the Concordia University Student Learning Services at
http://cdev.concordia.ca/CnD/studentlearn/Help/handouts/WritingHO/AvoidingPlagiari
sm.html
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2. What are the consequences of getting caught? One of the following sanctions may be
imposed: i) a written reprimand; ii) piece of work be re-submitted; iii) specified community
service at the University of up to ten (10) hours per week for a specified period of time; iv) a
failing grade for the piece of work in question or for the course if applicable; v) a failing
grade and ineligibility for a supplemental examination or any other evaluative exercise for the
course; vi) the obligation to take and pass courses of up to twenty-four (24) credit in addition
to the total number of credits required for the student’s program as specified by the
Academic Hearing Board. If the student is registered as an Independent student, the
sanction will be imposed only if he or she applied and is accepted into a program. Complete
regulations can be found on page 61 of the University calendar.
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