UNDERSTANDING MARXISM – Richard Wolff

This is a fantastic introduction to the basic concepts of Marxist economics.  Richard Wolff writes plainly and clearly when dealing with such a complicated subject.  Yet when he’s through, you may feel as if the core of Marxism is pretty simple.  To begin, Wolff gives us a tour of what economies looked like before the advent of capitalism. He explains how the relationship of peasants to their land changed when capitalism arose. We see how early capitalists deprived millions of people in Europe of their land and tools. Then, capitalists corralled landless people into factories and plants. They did this through a mixture of intimidation, theft and violence.  Wolff explains the value that capitalism has as a system, as well as its many drawbacks. Whether you’re a skeptic or critic of capitalism or not (yet), it does do some things very well. 

Wolff exposes the relationship between employer and employee, which we accept as a given, as neither just nor wise. It is not natural, inevitable, or in the end necessary.  You’ll get a sense of what visions could come next by reading this book. In doing so, Wolff hints at why there’s so much variation and possibility in the movements that Karl Marx inspired.  I’ll be doing a deep dive into Marxist economics soon, so I won’t drag this one out.  To sum up: this is one of the best books I could recommend to anyone who wants to understand socialism and communism. It provides context for the ideas that have motivated figures from Mao Zedong to Huey Newton, and from MLK to Bernie Sanders. All of these people have called themselves socialists of one type or another. Their ideas and influence – along with Marx’s – have stayed with us. Understanding them is essential.