David Harvey, an important social theorist and geographer, has got the right idea. Take what you know. Teach it in the classroom. Capture it on video. Then distribute it to the world. Keep it simple, but just do it.
Harvey is now making available 26 hours of lectures, during which he gives a close reading of Karl Marx’s Das Kapital (1867). This work, often considered to be Marx’s masterpiece, is where he elaborated a critique of capitalism and laid the groundwork for an ideology that took the 20th century by storm. Harvey is no stranger to this text. He has taught this class for over 40 years now, both in universities (Johns Hopkins and CUNY) and in the community as well.
The first lecture, preceded by an introductory interview lasting roughly six minutes, appears above. The rest of the lectures can be accessed via Harvey’s web site, YouTube, and iTunes. Also, we have placed the course in our collection of Free Online Courses, which keeps on growing. Find it under the Economics section.
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The Crisis of Capitalism Animated (with David Harvey)
I have found that the best way to learn about Karl Marx is to speak with the former citizens of the Soviet Union who were fortunate enough to get out alive. You will know all you will ever need to about Mr. Marx.
@Hanoch-Don’t you agree that it’s time to have an open discussion about alternatives to and significant modifications of capitalism? That it’s time for an expansion of basic knowledge about politics and economics? I agree with you that a political and sociological history of the USSR would add to the discussion, but do you really believe that anecdote is sufficient?
@Preville. To answer your questions: 1. No, why would I? Free market capitalism has been the greatest source of wealth creation for the greatest number of people, hands down. 2. Yes. Perhaps if people were more educated, they would understand # 1 (and not being wedded to failed and destructive ideology would also help). 3. Yes. And if that example were not sufficient, observe any country that operates along Mr. Marx’s principles and see how they compare in wealth creation to those that operate under the principles of free market capitalism.
Isn’t it funny how the barely working college professors love the Marxist ideology? While they are certainly free to preach their screed in an open forum, I have a problem with them being paid to indoctrinate their students with the same message. As @Hanoch said above ” show me one place where it works” and don’t use China as an example. China’s rise is due to capitalist practices not Marxist ideology!
@Preville “Don’t you agree that it’s time to have an open discussion about alternatives to and significant modifications of capitalism?”
I’d be interested in hearing your definition of capitalism. Definitions change everything.
If one defines capitalism as a framework of completely free and voluntary trade between individuals, then there haven’t existed many “true” capitalist societies. Economic coercion always seems to be the undoing of capitalist societies. One could say that “alternatives to and significant modifications of capitalism” have existed for decades, even centuries.
I feel bad for people like this sad Hanoch character who is the very caricature one sees all over the internet from across the world with such a pathetically narrow, and, yet, comically distorted, view of “Mr. Marx”. It’s even more disappointing to see such silly people on such a lovely site as this.
1. We should remember that Karl Marx stated that he wasn’t a Marxist.
2. The course deals with dynamics of capitalism, not indoctrination into some sort of Stalinist thought.
3. Yes capitalism can generate the greatest wealth, but it also creates the greatest inequality. It also is the worst system for wealth distribution.
4. Rather than ideological tit-for-tat, let’s realize that we’re talking about free market capitalism (which has never existed anywhere in pure form) versus higher degrees of State-regulation of the economy. Even the US regulates its economy, but other countries have the State playing a larger role.
5. Those countries where “communism failed” did not exist in a vacuum. They could not perpetuate the system in part due to the exact opposite reason that the US IS ABLE to maintain its political economic system. Regional and international relations.