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Is Historical Materialism a Deterministic Approach? The Democratic Firm and the Transition to Socialism

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  • Bruno Jossa

Abstract

Determinism is considered to be the doctrine teaching that a particular aspect or part of the social whole has a predominating influence on all the others. Several authors hold that economic determinism reflects the idea of a linear causality, i.e . of direct relations between a paramount economic cause and the effects that passively flow from it. Due to this linear notion of causality—they argue—the economic base is the necessary and, in itself, sufficient cause, whereas the super-structure is stripped of its autonomous role and production relations are the direct offshoot of the prevailing state of technology. In fact, this conception is typical of mechanistic, rather than Marxian, materialism, and as it tends to obliterate the role of super-structural factors, it is unable to account for the rise of existing forms of society and their different characteristics. The author’s arguments against the characterization of historical materialism as a deterministic approach are linked to his claim that socialism can be implemented by creating a system of democratically managed firms. JEL classification: P2, P5, D4, B14

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno Jossa, 2018. "Is Historical Materialism a Deterministic Approach? The Democratic Firm and the Transition to Socialism," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 50(1), pages 82-98, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:reorpe:v:50:y:2018:i:1:p:82-98
    DOI: 10.1177/0486613416635055
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ben-ner, Avner, 1988. "The life cycle of worker-owned firms in market economies : A theoretical analysis," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 287-313, October.
    2. Hicks, J. R., 1969. "A Theory of Economic History," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198811633.
    3. Bruno Jossa, 2012. "A system of self-managed firms as a new perspective on Marxism," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 36(4), pages 821-841.
    4. Geoffrey M. Hodgson, 2000. "What Is the Essence of Institutional Economics?," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(2), pages 317-329, June.
    5. Bruno Jossa, 2012. "Cooperative Firms as a New Mode of Production," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(3), pages 399-416, July.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    democratic firms; historical materialism; transition to socialism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P2 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies
    • P5 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems
    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design
    • B14 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Socialist; Marxist

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