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Marxism and economic determination: clarification and defence of an "old-fashioned" principle

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  • Paul Wetherly

    (Leeds Metropolitan University, Cavendish Hall, Beckett Park, Leeds, LS6 3QS, UK; Tel.: 44-113-2831743; fax: 0113-283-7512 p.wetherly@lmu.ac.uk)

Abstract

This paper clarifies and defends economic determination as a defining principle of explanation of Marxist political economy and state theory. Economic determination is a principle of causation or explanation which involves the claim that "politics" is "explained" by "economics" in a relevant sense of those three terms. This principle is refined by clarifying the meaning of each of these terms, particularly focusing on "determination." A defense is mounted on theoretical grounds by showing that Jessop's critique of "reductionism" and related argument for "contingency" does not succeed. Economic determination is defined as a strong tendency but consistent with a notion of the relative autonomy of the state.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Wetherly, 2001. "Marxism and economic determination: clarification and defence of an "old-fashioned" principle," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 33(3), pages 273-279, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:reorpe:v:33:y:2001:i:3:p:273-279
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