Historian and political thinker Ellen Meiksins Wood argues that theories of "postmodern" fragmentation, "difference", and contingency can barely accommodate the idea of capitalism, let alone subject it to critique. In this book she sets out to renew the critical programme of historical materialism by redefining its basic concepts and its theory of history in original and imaginative ways, using them to identify the specificity of capitalism as a system of social relations and political power. She goes on to explore the concept of democracy in both the ancient and modern world, examining its relation to capitalism, and raising questions about how democracy might go beyond the limits imposed on it.

A magnificent recasting of historical materialism which highlights capitalism's intrinsically antagonistic relationship to democracy

About the Author
Ellen Meiksins Wood, for many years Professor of Political Science at York University, Toronto, is the author of many books, including The Pristine Culture of Capitalism, The Origin of Capitalism, Peasant-Citizen and Slave, Citizens to Lords, Empire of Capital and Liberty and Property.

Reviews
Reading a Wood essay is a shock to the system, demanding the reader take a position, often leaving you invigorated and slightly bruised in the process. -- Michael Watson * Red Pepper *



Book Information
ISBN 9781784782443
Author Ellen Meiksins Wood
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Verso Books
Publisher Verso Books
Weight(grams) 365g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 21mm