Marxism and World Politics

This book brings together internationally-distinguished scholars from History, Philosophy, Development Studies, Geography, and International Relations (IR) to examine recent developments in Marxist approaches to world politics. Offering original and stimulating analyses of subjects traditionally at the forefront of Marxist studies of world politics, the collection also considers issues which have yet to be fully explored within a number of disciplines. Examining a wide array of topics ranging from the imperialism-globalization debate, the connections between social structures and foreign relations, the role of identity and imperialist norms in world politics, to the relationship between Marxist and Realist IR Theory, the contributors seek to further theoretical discussions and their implications for emancipatory radical politics. These contributions are structured around two major themes:• The relationship between capitalist modernity and the states-system in explaining the changing patterns of inter-state conflict and cooperation;• The debates within Marxist and IR discourses on the theoretical significance of ‘the international’, covering topics including uneven and combined development and passive revolution.An impressive collection that seeks to advance dialogue and research, Marxism and World Politics will be of interest to students and scholars of IR, International Political Economy, Political Science, and Historical Sociology.

‘Over the past few years, a distinctly Marxian approach to the study of international relations has been steadily gathering steam. This volume brings together a number of the most interesting proponents of that approach. Unlike most edited volumes, this one coheres remarkably well, owing largely to the common framework that binds the essays together. But Anievas also uses great judgment in choosing essays that that show the tensions and debates within this resurgent Marxist theorizing. This is a volume that will appeal to all scholars interested in the evolution and current dynamics of the interstate system.’ - Vivek Chibber, New York University, USA‘This collection does an admirable job in moving uneven and combined development to the centre of any convincing Marxist account of "the international". I thoroughly recommend it.’ - Ray Kiely, Professor of International Politics, Queen Mary University of London, UK‘Easily the best introduction to the diversity and richness of contemporary Marxist theory in International Relations and an important resource for anyone seeking to make sense of the relations between capitalism and geopolitics today.’ - Mark Laffey, SOAS, University of London, UK‘This is a lively, timely, and important contribution to a fundamental and controversial theme in the study of international relations. The significance of the topic is matched by the wide range of contributions, the clarity of the critiques of mainstream approaches, and the thought-provoking nature of the debates among the contributors themselves. This exciting collection will become a crucial reference point for further critical inquiry into international relations and geo-politics more broadly. It will also contribute to the overdue renaissance of historical materialism in period where much more than ideas are at stake in the field of world politics. I recommend this text with great enthusiasm.’ - Robert Jessop, Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies, Lancaster University, UK‘Marxist thinkers have been intensively revisiting the field of international relations in recent years. This excellent reader brings together some key texts of the most recent crop, thus offering an indispensable reference for any inquiry into the Marxist interpretation of contemporary IR and the debates that it elicits among Marxists.’ - Gilbert Achcar, SOAS, University of London, UK‘A lively, iconoclastic , but above all intelligent set of essays that shows that the marginalization of Marxism within the academy is not only politicaly unjustifiable, but intellectually counterproductive as well. A must read for those who once claimed that Marx and all his dubious thoughts had finally been consigned to the proverbial trash heap of history back in 1989.’ - Professor Michael Cox, Co-Director, IDEAS, LSE

Alexander Anievas is a PhD candidate at the Centre of International Studies, University of Cambridge, UK. He is also currently the managing editor of the Cambridge Review of International Affairs and member of the Editorial Board of Historical Materialism: Research in Critical Marxist Theory.