Analytical Marxism

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive survey of the literature on Analytical Marxism (AM) and analyses its relevance for social theory. AM is precisely defined and distinguished from Rational Choice Marxism (RCM). The different substantive implications of the two approaches are discussed: according to RCM, the role of Marxism in the social sciences is exhausted, whereas AM has reconstructed a set of propositions that aim to provide the foundations of a distinctive approach in social theory. The methodological debate around and within AM is analysed and the shortcomings of methodological individualism and rational choice theory are stressed, raising doubts on the claim that RCM is the only scientific approach to Marx's theory. Yet, wholesale rejections on a priori methodological or exegetical grounds are questioned. A focused, immanent critique of RCM is developed, which emphasizes the lack of an adequate analysis of structural constraints and endogenous preferences in RCM models. It is argued that the analysis of endogenous preferences and structural constraints is consistent with an anti-reductionist AM approach and it may provide the outline of a fertile, distinctive research programme in explanatory social theory that builds on the core of Marxism identified by AM.

(Neo‑)Marxistische Politische Ökonomie als Gegenprogramm zur Standardökonomik

“…Eine recht umfangreiche Literatur amerikanischer Provenienz kann über die methodische Beschränktheit allerdings nicht hinwegtäuschen. In einem neueren Artikel versucht Roberto Veneziani sich von der extremen Variante eines "Rational Choice Marxism (RCM)" zu distanzieren und plädiert für einen offeneren "Analytical Marxism (AM)" (Veneziani 2010). Bei Betrachtung von Venezianis Definition von AM zeigt sich aber sofort, dass auch dieser noch tief im neoklassischen Denken verhaftet ist.…”

Rotinas Evolucionárias: Identificação De Um Framework a Partir Do Resgate Do Individualismo Metodológico, Do Path Dependence E Da Memória Organizacional

“…Isso abriu espaço para os marxistas analíticos, pela carência de conhecimento em nível de micro fundamentos. Os marxistas analíticos ou marxistas subjetivos ou de escolha racional, não reducionistas, estudam a dinâmica da Marx a partir de microanálises (Chafim & Krivochein, 2011;Veneziani, 2012). Em decorrência da teoria marxiana tratar da dialética, é necessário que esta seja concebida por meio do individualismo metodológico, estudando o indivíduo como transformador da história.…”

Analytical Marxism

“…Rather, analytical Marxists view a competent, inventive, and critical use of these tools as an essential ingredient of any effective strategy both for refining and, if necessary, amending Marx's claims and for challenging the political status quo. There is, moreover, substantial disagreement among analytical Marxists as to what the proper methodological tools are (see, e.g., Bertram (2008) and Veneziani (2012) for a map of the differences between analytical Marxism proper and its 'rational choice' variant).…”

“…This development has arguably brought analytical Marxism considerably closer to left liberal social thought than to the bulk of explicitly Marxist thought. Much contemporary work on analytical Marxism asks whether there are any distinctive Marxist (as opposed to egalitarian liberal) commitments in the realm of social and political theories and, if so, what these are (e.g., Levine, 2003;Veneziani, 2012).…”