Economic Determinism is a form of determinism that explains social structure and culture as a product of the social and technical organization of economic life. Karl Marx has been described, many claim incorrectly, as an economic determinist. Economic determinism is the theory that economic relationships are based on social and political arrangements in society. According to economic determinism societies are divided into competing economic classes. Marx's views were really unidimensional in regard to economic determinism. Max Weber and other influential sociological and economic thinkers did not believe that economic determinism was a vulgar interpretation of Marx, but regarded this to be the explicitly stated and true interpretation of Marx.
Friends and enemies of Marx have caricatured his economic interpretation of history. With historical examples we show how Marx used his economic variables, technology, productive forces, and mode of production, in understanding the evolution of society. Was Marx a technological determinist? What does it mean to say that the economic base explains the superstructure "in the last analysis"? Does Marx's model of economic change help us to understand the history of ancient classical civilization? Is the materialist conception of history a theory or a method? - Donald Hodges, Ross Gandy, People's Research Center, Mexico.
Jean-Paul Sartre rejected the notion of 'economic determinism' and embraced the notion of
'conditional freedom' in the realm of economics. - Nader Nazmi.
Sartre identified more with Marxian
economics and criticized classical and neoclassical economics. Sartre could not envision
human beings whose decisions and activities were solely determined by economic laws.
Sartre
rejected the notion of 'economic determinism' and embraced the notion of 'conditional
freedom' in the realm of economics.
Economic Determinism and the Ottoman Greek Community
Ross A. Rearick, Dr. Cole Woodcox. This paper, through the use of historic and academic sources, attempts to shed light on
the phenomenon of religious tolerance within the Ottoman Empire specifically towards the
Ottoman Greek community.
A critique of the
Engels-Soviet version of Marxian economic determinism
James P. Scanlan.
Abstract In softening Marx' economic determinism, Engels appears to have rescued it from
absurdity. In fact, he has condemned it to vacuity: it seems to explain everything, while
in fact explaining nothing.
Lifelong Learning and the Limitations of Economic Determinism.
Bagnall, Richard G.
Abstract: Analysis of economic determinist discourses about lifelong learning finds
progressive, liberatory viewpoints marginalized or excluded. Economic discourse lacks
social vision and commitment to equity and commodifies education as a private good.
Educators with liberatory views must point the way to culturally progressive change.
Varieties of Economic Determinism
Marx's Theory of History by William H. Shaw.
Techno-Economic Determinism and the Work of Marx on Pre-Capitalist Societies
Josep R. Llobera.
Abstract: This article challenges the received belief that Marx's conception of history
can be reduced to techno-economic determinism. To that effect, it considers the context in
which this particular interpretation of the Marxian social totality appeared and shows its
lasting influence in two anthropological traditions. Finally, with reference to the
recently published work of Marx on primitive society, it argues that his explanations are
free from techno-economic determinism.
Economic Determinism and the Natural and Mathematical Sciences - Paul
Lafargue 1906.
"I may remark, in conclusion, that Marx did not present economic determinism as a
doctrine, but as a tool for historical research, valuable only according to the ability of
him who uses it. In his hands it has given us the theory of the class struggle, which
explains the political history of human society. If after an essay with economic
determinism Bax finds it defective, it is because, like all metaphysicians, he has been
unskilful in applying it, and, like the bad workman, he ascribes his own want of skill to
the tools."
Economic determinism: a model of the political economy of medical care.
- Helt EH.
The political economy of the welfare state in developed capitalist countries.
- Navarro V.
The article analyzes the social, economic, and political changes taking place in developed
capitalist countries that are affecting their welfare states, in particular the changes in
the family, in people's life cycles, in economic and social structures, and, most
importantly, in the political contexts. Questioning this
economic determinism, the article recovers the importance of politics, putting politics at
the center of the explanation of what is happening in the welfare states of the developed
capitalist countries, including the neoliberal aggression against them.