Abstract

The 2008 financial crisis revitalised the question of whether capitalism was working and how it might be overturned. More recently, the growth of new social movements across the globe are posing a threat to the economic and political status quo, with Marxist ideas rejuvenated for the 21st century.

In this provocative and critically engaged introduction, Ronaldo Munck applies Marx’s theories to the most pressing issues of our times: the environmental crisis, austerity, international development, religion, nationhood, the role of women and LGBTQ+ communities. Crucially, he shows the far-reaching contribution Marx can make to both contemporary debate and political action.

Accessible and wide-ranging, Marx 2020 is essential reading for anyone interested in the state of the modern world and the ideas needed for effective change.

Ronaldo Munck has written widely in the broad area of political sociology and political economy, including influential texts on politics and dependency, democratization in Latin America, and globalization and its discontents. His recent books include Rethinking Latin America: Development, Hegemony and Social Transformation. He is head of civic engagement at Dublin City University and senior researcher at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies of Latin America at the University of Buenos Aires. He is a lead author for the International Panel on Social Progress chaired by Amartya Sen, reporting in 2017.

‘In this intellectual tour de force, Ronaldo Munck revisits the Marxist enterprise as a radical, open, and resilient tradition. This book is for social movements as well as the classroom and personal libraries.’
Bob Jessop, author of The State: Past, Present, Future

‘This is an extraordinarily important book. It brings Marx fully to life, addresses key debates within and around Marxism, and deploys powerful insights. A revealing text, and an indispensable read.’
Alfredo Saad Filho, SOAS, University of London

'Lucid and engaging … a timely review of Marxism in theory and practice from an eclectic perspective that leans heavily on Marx and the Marxists yet also draws on a broader body of literature. I highly recommend Marx 2020 as a must read for those who want to engage in this debate on the potential and the limits of Marxism for today’s world.'
Global Discourse, William Robinson, Uni. California, Santa Barbara

'A new intellectual synthesis can be crafted by integrating Marxist theory with important insights from feminism, queer theory, ecological science, post-colonial literatures, Karl Polanyi and various contemporary left-wing thinkers ... Brilliant.'
Marx and Philosophy Review of Books