Training Workshop: Globalisation, State Theory, Financialisation, and the Labour Theory of Value (7 Nov 2018)

The International Initiative for Promoting Political Economy (IIPPE) and the Centre for the Study of Democracy (University of Westiminster) announce their next Workshop at the Small Lecture Theatre (University of Westminster, C1.52, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6XH) on 7 November 2018.

This Workshop will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students, junior academics and activists who have a particular interest in acquainting themselves with the relevance of Marxian political economy to the contemporary world.

The morning session (10am to 1pm):

Lucia Pradella, Global Marx, global struggle

Marx’s bicentenary has led to a flurry of publications about the relevance of his analysis of capitalism and its contradictions. But this recognition of the “scientific Marx” often goes together with the rejection of his political project. In my lecture I discuss the relevance of Marx’s critique of capitalist globalization for our understanding of the class struggle today. The main questions I am going to discuss are: did Marx develop a critique of capitalism as a global system? And does he provide us with tools for opposing imperialism, racism and gender oppression today?

Ozlem Celik, Understanding Spatiality of the State from a Marxist Perspective

This presentation focuses on the debate on the spatiality of the state by examining non-Marxist and Marxist approaches. The presentation follows a consideration of: (i) a definition of the state, of power in and over the state, and of how the state acts to make spatial decisions; and (ii) the spatiality of the state at different scales, for each approach.

The afternoon session (2pm to 5:30pm):

Ben Fine, From Financialisation to Neoliberalism: Or Is It Vice-versa?

An overview will be offered of the nature of financialisation and how it has been understood across Marxist and non-Marxist literature. Particular attention will be dedicated to the relationship between financialisation and neoliberalism, what it is and how it has been, and how it might evolve and be contested.

Simon Mohun, A Celebration of the Labour Theory of Value

This talk argues that the labour theory of value is central to the project of understanding capitalism. It proposes an interpretation which integrates the theories of exploitation and of competition, providing the basis for a progressive research agenda concerning the foundations of contemporary political economy.

Pre-registration is essential because of room capacity constraints.

Lunch will be provided free of charge, courtesy of the Centre for the Study of Democracy.

[Please note that we cannot cover travel costs.]

To learn about IIPPE, their activities, working groups and events, access www.iippe.org, join us on twitter @IIPPE_ and listen to our podcasts at https://soundcloud.com/iippe

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