This second volume of Christian Fuchs' Media, Communication and Society book series outlines key concepts and contemporary debates in critical theory.

The book explores the foundations of a Marxist-Humanist critical theory of society, clarifying and updating key concepts in critical theory - such as the dialectic, critique, alienation, class, capitalism, ideology, and racial capitalism. In doing so, the book engages with and further develops elements from the works of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Rosa Luxemburg, Max Horkheimer, Theodor W. Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, David Harvey, Michael Hardt, Antonio Negri, C.L.R. James, Adolph L. Reed Jr., and Cornel West.

Written for a broad audience of students and scholars, this book is an essential guide for readers who are interested in how to think critically from perspectives such as media and communication studies, sociology, philosophy, political economy, and political science.

About the Author

Christian Fuchs is a critical theorist of communication and society. He is co-editor of the journal tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique. He is author of many publications, including the books Social Media: A Critical Introduction (third edition 2021), Communication and Capitalism: A Critical Theory (2020), Marxism: Karl Marx's Fifteen Key Concepts for Cultural & Communication Studies (2020), Nationalism on the Internet: Critical Theory and Ideology in the Age of Social Media and Fake News (2020), Rereading Marx in the Age of Digital Capitalism (2019), Digital Demagogue: Authoritarian Capitalism in the Age of Trump and Twitter (2016), Digital Labour and Karl Marx (2014), and Internet and Society (2008).

Reviews

Encyclopedic in nature, authoritative, and up to date, Foundations of Critical Theory is a seminal text on critical theory. Covering everyone from Adorno to Zizek, Fuchs focuses upon the humanistic aspects of Marxist theory and the works of modern and contemporary critical theorists. A monumental achievement and an essential book for anyone interested in critical theory.

Arthur Asa Berger, San Francisco State University

The global pandemic has revealed in stark contrast the flaws and failures of neoliberal capitalism. Through a careful revisiting of key elements of and debates in critical theory, Christian Fuchs provides readers with a roadmap for understanding how this approach can inform our search for a more humanist and socialist post-pandemic future.

David Fasenfest, Editor, Critical Sociology

Book Information
ISBN 9781032057897
Author Christian Fuchs
Format Paperback
Page Count 268
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 394g