This course offers a comprehensive examination of Marx's Capital through a series of video lectures led by Professor David Harvey. Participants will engage in a close reading of the text, analyzing its key themes and arguments.
Course highlights include:
The page numbers referenced in the lectures correspond to the Penguin Classics editions, ensuring consistency throughout the course.
This initial module introduces the foundational themes of Marx's Capital, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of its critical analysis of capitalism. David Harvey emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context surrounding Marx's work.
In the second module, the focus shifts to key concepts introduced in the first chapter. The complexities of labor and value are examined, highlighting Marxâs critique of the capitalist system and its implications for workers.
This module continues with a detailed examination of the commodity form, its dual nature of use-value and exchange-value, and how this contradiction drives capitalist dynamics. Understanding this section is crucial for grasping subsequent arguments.
This module discusses the process of capital accumulation, exploring how value is generated and the impact of this process on social relations. David Harvey contextualizes these ideas within contemporary economic frameworks.
In this module, the focus is on the role of money in capitalism. Harvey explores how money serves as both a measure of value and a means of circulation, emphasizing its critical function within the capitalist system.
This module examines the dynamics of labor power and its relationship to capital. The lecture delves into the exploitation of labor and the resulting conflicts that arise within capitalist societies.
In this module, David Harvey discusses the concept of surplus value. The implications of surplus value generation and its centrality to capitalist production are analyzed, shedding light on the inherent inequalities of the system.
This module focuses on the role of the state and its relationship to capital. Harvey explores how state mechanisms support capitalist interests, influencing economic policies and social structures.
In this module, the interplay between global capitalism and local economies is analyzed. Harvey contextualizes Marxâs ideas within the framework of globalization, examining the effects on local labor markets and production.
This module continues the exploration of Marx's critique of capitalism by analyzing the contradictions within capitalist production. Harvey discusses how these contradictions can lead to economic crises, impacting workers and the broader society.
This module reviews the impact of technological advancements on labor relations and capitalist production. Harvey examines how technology can both enhance productivity and deepen exploitation within the workforce.
The twelfth module delves into the environmental implications of capitalist production. Harvey discusses how the pursuit of profit often leads to ecological degradation, intertwining economic and environmental issues.
This module focuses on the potential for resistance and transformation within capitalist societies. Harvey emphasizes the importance of collective action and solidarity among workers as a means to challenge capitalist structures.
The fourteenth module shifts to Marx's Capital Volume 2, where the focus is on the circulation process of capital. Harvey outlines how this circulation affects production and reproduction of capital.
In this module, the complexities of capital reproduction are explored further. Harvey discusses how the capitalist system perpetuates itself and the implications this has for economic stability and worker conditions.
This module emphasizes the role of credit and finance in the capitalist system. Harvey highlights how financial mechanisms influence production and the economy, often leading to instability and crises.
The final module synthesizes the key themes of Marx's Capital, reflecting on its relevance today. Harvey encourages participants to apply the insights gained throughout the course to contemporary socio-economic issues.