Course Description
This course on Marx covers five issues: revolutions, the transition from feudalism to capitalism, industrial and monopoly capitalism, women and capitalism, and contemporary capitalism. Includes extensive readings from Marx and Engels along with selections from later Marxists.
Athena Title
MARX & MARXISM
Non-Traditional Format
Course will be discussion intensive; there will not be formal lectures.
Prerequisite
Permission of Honors
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Write a 15-20 page term paper, testing out a proposition found in the readings, based on primary sources. Think critically about the utility of (and problems with) classical Marxist theories. Understand how 20th and 21st century scholars and commentators have critiqued and/or utilized Marxist theories. Think critically about the historical relationship between Marxist and mainline economic, political, and social theories.
Topical Outline
Why should we care about Marx and Marxist history? Marx the Revolutionary and Marx on Political Revolutions Imperialism and capitalism Marx and Engels as Historians Transition from Feudalism to Capitalism Industrial and monopoly capitalism Engels and other Marxists on women and the state