I refer to this page as a collection of ‘articles’ rather than just ‘blogs’ since many posts are ‘longer reads’ (consisting of several thousand words). Sometimes I add in traditional Harvard style citations and references, where these are useful. But other posts are shorter and more in line with ‘blogs’ (a few hundred words).
- 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’ / ‘everyones’) future? If the capitalist system (mode of production) was thriving, then year-on-year Money (M) would be turning… 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 October) by presenting a one-hour workshop on a range of different groups and activities undertaking anti-racism activities (including… 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 applied descriptive term – a quick means of summing up both recent changes and the possible dangers that… 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 of capitalism in 2008. Consequently, the ground remained wide-open, only to be filled by the politics of the… 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 in the mid-20th century by scholars like those in the ‘Cambridge School’ of history of political thought. When… Read more: Marx’s Anarchism and the Politics of Capitalism
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