It all comes together – and falls apart, over and over. The conclusion to our briefing series shows how capitalism creates profits, expands, overproduces, and causes crises that only benefit the wealthiest.
SOCIALISM & CAPITALISM
Adam Smith and Karl Marx are just the beginning. This is a PROLE ACADEMY guide to socialism and capitalism in all their variety, explaining the never-ending struggle over what gets made, and who gets what.
AUTOMATION AND THE FUTURE OF WORK – Aaron Benanav
What if the robots and computer programs aren’t really coming for our jobs? Can we still have that sweet, post-scarcity, Star Trek future?
BREAKING THINGS AT WORK – Gavin Mueller
Work sucks – the Luddites knew. Gavin Mueller argues we need to decelerate the pace of technological change for workers’ sake.
BULLSHIT JOBS – David Graeber
Why you might feel your job is pointless, why you might be right, and why you shouldn’t take it anymore. This is one of the best reads yet.
WORK WON’T LOVE YOU BACK – Sarah Jaffe
“Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” people say. Who came up with that phrase, and can we beat them up?
What’s the Labor Theory of Value? | Marxism 101 | Briefing #4
“The Boss Needs You, You Don’t Need Him. Labor is Entitled to All it Creates.” This is the big one – how Marx believes the value of your labor is being stolen.
Capital, Commodities and Value | Marxism 101 | Briefing #3
“Socialism is about abolishing private property, right? Doesn’t that mean my house, or my car, or my Playstation?” No. In this briefing we cover what the fundamentals of Marxist economics – including capital, commodities, and value – actually mean.
DEMOCRACY AT WORK: A CURE FOR CAPITALISM – Richard Wolff
Professor Richard Wolff proposes a new way of organizing our workplaces. Is this a cure for capitalism’s ills, or will some of its worst symptoms remain?
What is Class? | Marxism 101 | Briefing #2
“Come and see the violence inherent in the system!” A look at the class division Marx sees between capitalists and workers, and how we got there.
Introduction | Marxism 101 | Briefing #1
Begin an overview of Marxist economics, breaking down the ideas behind all the talk of socialism & communism you hear in the news. Whether you firmly believe in the capitalist system or can’t stand it, understanding Marxism is no longer optional.
COMMUNISM FOR KIDS – Bini Adamczak
Possibly the simplest, most effective and endearing attempt to explain how capitalism works and how people have imagined communism as an alternative.
WHY MARX WAS RIGHT – Terry Eagleton
Professor Terry Eagleton skillfully refutes ten of the most common criticisms of Marxism. In the process, he exposes Karl Marx’s freedom-loving, creative and occasionally hard-partying qualities.
MARX’S CAPITAL ILLUSTRATED – David Smith & Phil Evans
A condensed version of Karl Marx’s big scary “Capital”, written in contemporary language, and with many helpful and frequently amusing comic illustrations. This is incredibly useful.
WAGE LABOUR AND CAPITAL & WAGES, PRICE AND PROFIT – Karl Marx
Two works by Karl Marx give us a crash course in the Labor Theory of Value and Marxist ideas on the nature of capitalism, what determines prices, and how your boss is screwing you over.
