Ellen Meiksins Wood was an American-Canadian Marxist historian and scholar. Alongside Robert Brenner, she articulated the foundations of Political Marxism, a strand of Marxist theory that places history at the core of its analysis. Her work provoked a turn away from structuralisms and teleology towards historical specificity as a contested process and lived praxis. Wood's writings, sometimes in collaboration with her husband Neal Wood, emphasized historical contingency and the struggle inherent in social transformation, offering a deep engagement with the dynamics of history.
A survey of influential trends in contemporary Marxist theory which examines the relationship between class, politics and ideology. The introduction discusses the relevance of the text in a post-Soviet world and argues for a re-examination of class politics.
This work offers a contemporary reinterpretation of Marxism, arguing that it remains a powerful lens for critically analyzing capitalism. It delves into the relevance of Marxist theory in understanding modern economic structures and social dynamics, highlighting its strengths in addressing contemporary issues. The author presents a compelling case for why Marxism continues to be a vital framework for critique and discussion in today's capitalist society.
The foundations of Athenian democracy
The controversial thesis at the center of this study is that, despite the importance of slavery in Athenian society, the most distinctive characteristic of Athenian democracy was the unprecedented prominence it gave to free labor. Wood argues that the emergence of the peasant as citizen, juridically and politically independent, accounts for much that is remarkable in Athenian political institutions and culture.From a survey of historical writings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the focus of which distorted later debates, Wood goes on to take issue with recent arguments, such as those of G.E.M. de Ste Croix, about the importance of slavery in agricultural production. The social, political and cultural influence of the peasant-citizen is explored in a way which questions some of the most cherished conventions of Marxist and non-Marxist historiography. This book will be of great interest to ancient historians, classicists, anthropologists and political theorists, as well as to a wider reading public.
A sweeping and nuanced materialist history of Western political thought
The formation of the modern state, the rise of capitalism, the Renaissance and Reformation, the scientific revolution and the Age of Enlightenment have all been attributed to the “early modern” period. Nearly everything about its history remains controversial, but one thing is certain: it left a rich and provocative legacy of political ideas unmatched in Western history. The concepts of liberty, equality, property, human rights and revolution born in those turbulent centuries continue to shape, and to limit, political discourse today. Assessing the work and background of figures such as Machiavelli, Luther, Calvin, Spinoza, the Levellers, Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau, Ellen Wood vividly explores the ideas of the canonical thinkers, not as philosophical abstractions but as passionately engaged responses to the social conflicts of their day.
This book presents a groundbreaking perspective on the evolution of political theory, challenging traditional narratives and interpretations. It delves into the influences that have shaped political thought throughout history, examining key figures and movements that have redefined the landscape of governance and power. By integrating a diverse range of sources and methodologies, it offers fresh insights and connections that illuminate the complexities of political ideologies and their impact on contemporary society.
The Origin of Capitalism was one of those 'Aha!' moments. Wood was an extraordinarily rigorous and imaginative thinker, someone who breathed life into Marxist political theory and made it speak-not to just to me but to many others-at multiple levels: historical, theoretical, political. -Corey Robin, Jacobin The writing is so supple and accessible, and the argument so persuasive, it's like watching a cloudy mixture of ideas being turned into a clear solution. -Adrienne Rich This extremely valuable book offers an insightful tour of the historical debates surrounding the transition from feudalism to capitalism ... a must-read for anyone with even the remotest interest in the origins of capitalism, or economic thought in general, from undergraduates through professionals. - Choice Brilliant book ... Into the central thread of her argument, Ellen Meiksins Wood has woven a wonderfully rich texture of comment on the arguments and debates that preceded her ... not just a valuable new interpretation of an old history, it carries important lessons for our own times. - Spokesman
Ellen Meiksins Wood challenges most existing accounts of capitalism's origins, arguing that they fail to recognize its distinctive attributes as a social system by making its emergence seem natural and inevitable
What does imperialism mean in the absence of colonial conquest and imperial rule?
