Welcome to the website of Dr Brian McGrail, covering my personal blogs, reviews of books I am reading, and some open educational resources (OERs) related to courses I have taught in ‘open studies’, mainly on the critique of political economy (CPE) and utopianism. I have taught social sciences in UK higher education since 1992, with an interest in adult returner education and widening participation.
Latest from Articles and Blogs
- Economics and the Value of Nations: Why Adam Smith Still Matters
Adam Smith remains relevant because he analysed and criticised the foundations of modern commercial society: covering wage labour, class, value, and productivity. Engaging with Mercantilism and Physiocracy, Smith argued human labour creates value across all sectors. While his theory of value contained unresolved contradictions (confusing value and wealth), his insights into class relations, exchange, worker exploitation, and economic development still provoke debate today. - What Do We Mean by “Class”? One of Sociology’s Most Misunderstood Concepts
The concept of social class encompasses various interpretations, from income and occupational status to cultural identity and power dynamics. Different sociologists highlight distinct aspects, such as Marx’s focus on exploitation, Weber’s emphasis on social honour, and Bourdieu’s multiple forms of capital. Ultimately, class remains integral to understanding contemporary societal inequalities and relationships. - Utopia Lost in Language: Rethinking the Politics of Possibility
Utopia should not be viewed as an unattainable ideal but as a dynamic process of collective imagination and critique. This perspective broadens our understanding of social possibilities and encourages active engagement in shaping the future. Embracing diverse forms of utopian thinking is crucial for democratic life and addressing societal challenges. - AI? Should any Student ever Trust it?
Students (indeed, everyone) should be cautious about trusting AI. Using a monastic library metaphor, this post highlights how AI (like librarians and search engines) filters and distorts knowledge. Generative AI can, just like a human librarian, fabricate information and reproduce errors, risking intellectual dependence and undermining critical thinking, judgement, and genuine academic learning. - Theses on the Mirage of “Left” Unity
The analysis contends that disunity among the “Left” hinders effective opposition to rising authoritarianism and the Far Right, highlighting three fundamental positions: State Takers, State Makers, and State Breakers. Each advocates different methods to challenge capitalism, yet their inherent contradictions create perpetual disunity, questioning the possibility of a cohesive Left identity and meaningful calls for unity. - Trump’s Trade Deals with History
‘Make America Great Again’ – the slogan oozes with nostalgia. Its central motif is not “back to the future” but, rather, “forward to the past”. But, this leaves the suspended question of: whatever happened to the (‘our’ / ‘anyones’ /… Read more: Trump’s Trade Deals with History - Racism and Fire: Capitalism’s Role in the Persistence of Race
October is Black History Month, and both of my institutional employers have emailed me with offers of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training as part of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), though not mandatory sessions. Edinburgh University led the way (1st… Read more: Racism and Fire: Capitalism’s Role in the Persistence of Race - “Fascism” and the Myth of a Good Capitalism
With the rise of contemporary authoritarian regimes (including those of Duterte, Bolsonaro, Orbán, and Erdoğan) in notional, or prior, ‘liberal democracies’ and especially with the revival of Trump in the US, the term ‘Fascist’ has become a popular and widely… Read more: “Fascism” and the Myth of a Good Capitalism - History produces nothing but Barbarism
In a recent video interview for publisher Unherd, Yanis Varoufakis asked the question: “Why is the Left the loser of history?’ He went on to argue that the Left failed to “take its opportunity” in the wake of the crisis… Read more: History produces nothing but Barbarism - Marx’s Anarchism and the Politics of Capitalism
On the relevance of Marx in times of ‘Zombie Capitalism?’ Studying an author hermeneutically refers to understanding a writer by standing in their shoes and seeing the world from their perspective. Studying political writings in such a manner was advanced… Read more: Marx’s Anarchism and the Politics of Capitalism - AI? The Technology of Small Boat Vagabondage
In 16th century England laws were enacted to prevent dispossessed peasants from roaming the countryside and pouring into town centres. Rules against beggars were enforced using draconian measures such as cutting or branding miscreants, and deporting them to their place… Read more: AI? The Technology of Small Boat Vagabondage - On Becoming a Critical Thinker?
There are many courses within higher education (HE) which claim to turn students into “critical thinkers”. The focus is on skills and techniques students can learn, adopt, or adapt such that they “become” a critical thinker, as if such a… Read more: On Becoming a Critical Thinker?
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