1) Volume I Group: 'Machinery and Modern Industry'
The previous Volume I reading session introduced by Dan Swain on 'Relative Surplus-value, Co-operation, the Division of Labour & Manufacture' is available here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/455178841/KCLReadingCapital_28_Mar_2011.mp3
Our next session will be on Chapter 15: 'Machinery and Modern Industry'. The discussion will be introduced by Tony Phillips - All welcome!
Wednesday 11th May
6:30pm
Room C16, German Dept.
Strand Campus
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapter 15 for this session.
"In manufacture, the revolution in the mode of production begins with the labour-power, in modern industry it begins with the instruments of labour. Our first inquiry then is, how the instruments of labour are converted from tools into machines, or what is the difference between a machine and the implements of a handicraft?"
"The machine, which is the starting-point of the industrial revolution, supersedes the workman, who handles a single tool, by a mechanism operating with a number of similar tools, and set in motion by a single motive power, whatever the form of that power may be. Here we have the machine, but only as an elementary factor of production by machinery."
"An organised system of machines, to which motion is communicated by the transmitting mechanism from a central automaton, is the most developed form of production by machinery. Here we have, in the place of the isolated machine, a mechanical monster whose body fills whole factories, and whose demon power, at first veiled under the slow and measured motions of his giant limbs, at length breaks out into the fast and furious whirl of his countless working organs."
- - -
2) Upcoming events:
Marxism Festival PROGRAMME NOW AVAILABLE:
Marxism 2011 Festival, Central London, 30 June to 4 July
The full timetable for this year’s Marxism is now online.
Check it out at http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/2011/timetable%20grid.pdf
With over 200 workshops, panels, film showings and rallies Marxism is by far the biggest event of its kind in Britain, and one of the biggest in the world. Forward this timetable to friends, contacts and colleagues to give them a sense of what a great event Marxism is.
For more updates and information follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/marxismfest and
Twitter: www.twitter.com/marxismfestival
Over 2,000 people have already booked for Marxism. Have you? Go to www.marxismfestival.org.uk to book now.
Monday, 9 May 2011
Friday, 11 March 2011
'The Working Day' & Upcoming Events
1) Volume I Group: 'The Working Day'
The previous Volume I reading session introduced by Tony Phillips on 'Labour & Valorization - Constant Capital and Variable Capital' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/450488365/KCLReadingCapital_23_Feb_2011.mp3.
Our next session will be on "The Working Day": the chapter in which Marx analyses the class struggle over the length of the working day and the process that gave rise to the factory acts.
The discussion will be intoduced by Simon Behrman (author of Shostakovich: Socialism, Stalin and Symphonies) - All welcome!
Monday 14th March
6:30pm
Room S2.31
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapter 10 for this session.
"The capitalist has his own views of this ultima Thule [the outermost limit], the necessary limit of the working-day. As capitalist, he is only capital personified. His soul is the soul of capital. But capital has one single life impulse, the tendency to create value and surplus-value, to make its constant factor, the means of production, absorb the greatest possible amount of surplus-labour."
"Capital is dead labour, that, vampire-like, only lives by sucking living labour, and lives the more, the more labour it sucks. The time during which the labourer works, is the time during which the capitalist consumes the labour-power he has purchased of him."
"We see then, that, apart from extremely elastic bounds, the nature of the exchange of commodities itself imposes no limit to the working-day, no limit to surplus-labour. The capitalist maintains his rights as a purchaser when he tries to make the working-day as long as possible, and to make, whenever possible, two working-days out of one. On the other hand, the peculiar nature of the commodity sold implies a limit to its consumption by the purchaser, and the labourer maintains his right as seller when he wishes to reduce the working-day to one of definite normal duration. There is here, therefore, an antinomy, right against right, both equally bearing the seal of the law of exchanges. Between equal rights force decides. Hence is it that in the history of capitalist production, the determination of what is a working-day, presents itself as the result of a struggle, a struggle between collective capital, i.e., the class of capitalists, and collective labour, i.e., the working-class."
- - -
2) Volume II Group:
The Volume II group is moving on to read Part III on 'The Reproduction and Circulation of the Aggregate Social Capital'. We will not be holding fortnightly meetings for the time being, but hope to return with a special event later in the year.
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- REVOLUTION IN THE 21st CENTURY
A special event on the Arab revolts with Gigi Ibrahim, Wassim Wagdy, Alex Callinicos, Peyman Jafari, Judith Orr & Mohamed Tonsi
http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/2011/rev21info.html
Sunday 13 March
11am – 4pm
The Camden Centre, Judd Street, London WC1H 9LZ
Nearest tubes: King’s Cross & Euston
£10 waged / £5 unwaged
Hosted by the Socialist Workers Party in association with Marxism 2011
Plenary sessions:
· Eyewitnesses to the revolutions
· Revolution in the 21st Century
Workshops:
· Imperialism and the Arab states
· Permanent revolution
· Prospects for Iran
· Palestine and the Arab revolts
Gigi Ibrahim – Egyptian activist. She was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on the BBC’s Newsnight, leading to the memorably exchange: Paxman: “Do you have an ideology?” Gigi: “Of course. I'm a revolutionary socialist.” Watch the interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ptu7rnk2IQ
Mohamed Tonsi – Eyewitness to both the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.
Wassim Wagdy – Egyptian activist. Wassim’s speeches on the Egyptian revolution have been widely circulated online. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hBV0ApIh_4
Alex Callinicos – Professor of European Studies at Kings College London & editor of International Socialism www.isj.org.uk Alex is the author of several books, including Imperialism and Global Political Economy, Bonfire of Illusions: The Twin Crises of the Liberal World, An Anti-Capitalist Manifesto and Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx.
Judith Orr – Editor of Socialist Worker www.socialistworker.co.uk who wrote eyewitness reports on the revolution from Tahrir Square. Judith is also the author of Sexism and the System: A Rebel’s Guide to Women’s Liberation.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
- Education Activist Network: TEACH-IN FOR THE RESISTANCE
Wednesday 16 March 4-8pm
KCL & LSE
After the increase in tuition fees and abolition of EMA, a mass demonstration on 26 March could reinvigorate the fight for education – as could a lecturers’ strike, and protests and student action on Budget Day. But our movement also faces new challenges.
Universities have accepted blood money from dictators and invested heavily in the arms trade - and a student occupation has forced the LSE to use the money it accepted from Saif Gaddafi into a scholarship fund for Libyan students http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/mar/01/lse-libya-scholarship-fund. Multiculturalism is under attack by those who would divide and undermine our movement, and students have been the target of horse charges, dawn raids, pepper spray and kettling for daring to protest for education.
Join students, education workers, academics, journalists and campaigners to debate the challenges facing our movement and the strategies to overcome them.
4pm The fight for Education – Learning from Wisconsin– LSE
Live video link-up with student and teacher from Wisconsin. Doors open 3:30pm
5pm Workshops – KCL
- Defending the Right to Protest
Hosted by Stop Kettling Our Kids and Defend the Right to Protest – includes Alfie Meadows and a speaker from Liberty
- The role of social media in the movement
Panel debate with Laurie Penny (journalist), Richard Seymour (blogger) and Aaron Peters (UK Uncut)
- Defending Multiculturalism
Don’t let David Cameron divide us! With Liz Fekete, Institute for Race Relations and Martin Smith, Love Music Hate Racism
- Building Universities of International Solidarity
With speakers from the LSE occupation in solidarity with Libya and the campaign for BDS in support of Palestine.
6:30pm Rally – KCL Lucas Theatre
- March 26th – Building for our Day of Anger
With Fightback author Guy Aitchinson, Egyptian revolution eyewitness Wassim Wagdy, activists from UCU and the Villiers School student strike and Billy Hayes, CWU General Secretary.
Download a poster and leaflet for the event that you can print, copy and distribute – and don’t forget to join the event on Facebook.
http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/march-16-poster.pdf
http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/march-16-leaflet.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129712310434156
The previous Volume I reading session introduced by Tony Phillips on 'Labour & Valorization - Constant Capital and Variable Capital' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/450488365/KCLReadingCapital_23_Feb_2011.mp3.
Our next session will be on "The Working Day": the chapter in which Marx analyses the class struggle over the length of the working day and the process that gave rise to the factory acts.
The discussion will be intoduced by Simon Behrman (author of Shostakovich: Socialism, Stalin and Symphonies) - All welcome!
Monday 14th March
6:30pm
Room S2.31
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapter 10 for this session.
"The capitalist has his own views of this ultima Thule [the outermost limit], the necessary limit of the working-day. As capitalist, he is only capital personified. His soul is the soul of capital. But capital has one single life impulse, the tendency to create value and surplus-value, to make its constant factor, the means of production, absorb the greatest possible amount of surplus-labour."
"Capital is dead labour, that, vampire-like, only lives by sucking living labour, and lives the more, the more labour it sucks. The time during which the labourer works, is the time during which the capitalist consumes the labour-power he has purchased of him."
"We see then, that, apart from extremely elastic bounds, the nature of the exchange of commodities itself imposes no limit to the working-day, no limit to surplus-labour. The capitalist maintains his rights as a purchaser when he tries to make the working-day as long as possible, and to make, whenever possible, two working-days out of one. On the other hand, the peculiar nature of the commodity sold implies a limit to its consumption by the purchaser, and the labourer maintains his right as seller when he wishes to reduce the working-day to one of definite normal duration. There is here, therefore, an antinomy, right against right, both equally bearing the seal of the law of exchanges. Between equal rights force decides. Hence is it that in the history of capitalist production, the determination of what is a working-day, presents itself as the result of a struggle, a struggle between collective capital, i.e., the class of capitalists, and collective labour, i.e., the working-class."
- - -
2) Volume II Group:
The Volume II group is moving on to read Part III on 'The Reproduction and Circulation of the Aggregate Social Capital'. We will not be holding fortnightly meetings for the time being, but hope to return with a special event later in the year.
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- REVOLUTION IN THE 21st CENTURY
A special event on the Arab revolts with Gigi Ibrahim, Wassim Wagdy, Alex Callinicos, Peyman Jafari, Judith Orr & Mohamed Tonsi
http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/2011/rev21info.html
Sunday 13 March
11am – 4pm
The Camden Centre, Judd Street, London WC1H 9LZ
Nearest tubes: King’s Cross & Euston
£10 waged / £5 unwaged
Hosted by the Socialist Workers Party in association with Marxism 2011
Plenary sessions:
· Eyewitnesses to the revolutions
· Revolution in the 21st Century
Workshops:
· Imperialism and the Arab states
· Permanent revolution
· Prospects for Iran
· Palestine and the Arab revolts
Gigi Ibrahim – Egyptian activist. She was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on the BBC’s Newsnight, leading to the memorably exchange: Paxman: “Do you have an ideology?” Gigi: “Of course. I'm a revolutionary socialist.” Watch the interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ptu7rnk2IQ
Mohamed Tonsi – Eyewitness to both the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.
Wassim Wagdy – Egyptian activist. Wassim’s speeches on the Egyptian revolution have been widely circulated online. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hBV0ApIh_4
Alex Callinicos – Professor of European Studies at Kings College London & editor of International Socialism www.isj.org.uk Alex is the author of several books, including Imperialism and Global Political Economy, Bonfire of Illusions: The Twin Crises of the Liberal World, An Anti-Capitalist Manifesto and Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx.
Judith Orr – Editor of Socialist Worker www.socialistworker.co.uk who wrote eyewitness reports on the revolution from Tahrir Square. Judith is also the author of Sexism and the System: A Rebel’s Guide to Women’s Liberation.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
- Education Activist Network: TEACH-IN FOR THE RESISTANCE
Wednesday 16 March 4-8pm
KCL & LSE
After the increase in tuition fees and abolition of EMA, a mass demonstration on 26 March could reinvigorate the fight for education – as could a lecturers’ strike, and protests and student action on Budget Day. But our movement also faces new challenges.
Universities have accepted blood money from dictators and invested heavily in the arms trade - and a student occupation has forced the LSE to use the money it accepted from Saif Gaddafi into a scholarship fund for Libyan students http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/mar/01/lse-libya-scholarship-fund. Multiculturalism is under attack by those who would divide and undermine our movement, and students have been the target of horse charges, dawn raids, pepper spray and kettling for daring to protest for education.
Join students, education workers, academics, journalists and campaigners to debate the challenges facing our movement and the strategies to overcome them.
4pm The fight for Education – Learning from Wisconsin– LSE
Live video link-up with student and teacher from Wisconsin. Doors open 3:30pm
5pm Workshops – KCL
- Defending the Right to Protest
Hosted by Stop Kettling Our Kids and Defend the Right to Protest – includes Alfie Meadows and a speaker from Liberty
- The role of social media in the movement
Panel debate with Laurie Penny (journalist), Richard Seymour (blogger) and Aaron Peters (UK Uncut)
- Defending Multiculturalism
Don’t let David Cameron divide us! With Liz Fekete, Institute for Race Relations and Martin Smith, Love Music Hate Racism
- Building Universities of International Solidarity
With speakers from the LSE occupation in solidarity with Libya and the campaign for BDS in support of Palestine.
6:30pm Rally – KCL Lucas Theatre
- March 26th – Building for our Day of Anger
With Fightback author Guy Aitchinson, Egyptian revolution eyewitness Wassim Wagdy, activists from UCU and the Villiers School student strike and Billy Hayes, CWU General Secretary.
Download a poster and leaflet for the event that you can print, copy and distribute – and don’t forget to join the event on Facebook.
http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/march-16-poster.pdf
http://educationactivistnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/march-16-leaflet.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129712310434156
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Egypt/Tunisia Meeting & Next Volume I group
1) Volume I Group: 'Labour & Valorization - Constant Capital and Variable Capital'
Last week's Volume I reading session introduced by Ruth Lorimer on 'The Transformation of Money into Capital' is available at:
http://rapidshare.com/files/447362601/KCLReadingCapital_09_Feb_2011.mp3
Next week we have Tony Phillips intoducing a discussion on 'Labour & Valorization - Constant Capital and Variable Capital' - All welcome!
Wednesday 23rd February
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 7-9 for this session.
"The labour-process, resolved as above into its simple elementary factors, is human action with a view to the production of use-values, appropriation of natural substances to human requirements; it is the necessary condition for effecting exchange of matter between man and Nature; it is the everlasting Nature-imposed condition of human existence, and therefore is independent of every social phase of that existence, or rather, is common to every such phase."
"The labour-process, turned into the process by which the capitalist consumes labour-power, exhibits two characteristic phenomena. First, the labourer works under the control of the capitalist to whom his labour belongs...Secondly, the product is the property of the capitalist and not that of the labourer, its immediate producer."
"It must be borne in mind, that we are now dealing with the production of commodities, and that, up to this point, we have only considered one aspect of the process. Just as commodities are, at the same time, use-values and values, so the process of producing them must be a labour-process, and at the same time, a process of creating value."
"That part of capital then, which is represented by the means of production, by the raw material, auxiliary material and the instruments of labour does not, in the process of production, undergo any quantitative alteration of value. I therefore call it the constant part of capital, or, more shortly, constant capital."
"On the other hand, that part of capital, represented by labour-power, does, in the process of production, undergo an alteration of value. It both reproduces the equivalent of its own value, and also produces an excess, a surplus-value, which may itself vary, may be more or less according to circumstances. This part of capital is continually being transformed from a constant into a variable magnitude. I therefore call it the variable part of capital, or, shortly, variable capital."
- - -
2) Volume II Group:
Our previous session discussing Vol.II chapter 17: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value' will be available on the blog soon.
The Volume II group is moving on to read Part III on 'The Reproduction and Circulation of the Aggregate Social Capital'. We will not be holding fortnightly meetings for the time being, but hope to return with a special event later in the year.
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- Egypt, Tunisia and Revolution in the 21st Century
International Socialism seminar - hosted by the quarterly journal of socialist theory
Revolution in the 21st century is a reality. In less than two months, two dictators have been overthrown. In both revolutions, the entrance of the working class onto the stage of history proved decisive. The myths that the Arab world is incapable of democracy and that regime change can be achieved only through foreign intervention lie in tatters.
with Gilbert Achcar
(Professor SOAS, author of The Arabs and the Holocaust and The Clash of Barbarisms)
and Anne Alexander
(Research fellow Cambridge, author of Nasser: His Life and Times and contributor to Egypt: the Moment of Change)
Tuesday 22 February, 6.30pm
Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church,
235 Shaftesbury Avenue,
London, WC2H 8EP
Near Tottenham Court Road Tube (http://www.bloomsbury.org.uk/about/location.html)
Free entry - All welcome
www.isj.org.uk
- Birkbeck Reading Capital Meeting:
Friday February the 18th at 6:30 pm
Nicole Pepperell (author of a forthcoming book on Marx's Capital and of the blog roughtheory.org and researcher at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology).
Her paper will discuss, among other things, Marx’s “standpoint of critique” – that is, whether and how Marx is able to engage immanently with the object of critique. It will touch lightly on the narrative structure of the first four chapters of Volume I of Capital and give us the latest on Nicole's research for her forthcoming book.
There will be some wine served up. Could you let samdolbear@gmail.com know know if you would like to attend?
- Eric Hobsbawm on his latest book:
How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism.
7pm, Friday 25th February 2011.
Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street.
Send your details to Stefan.dickers@bishopsgate.org.uk to confirm your place.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
- - -
Best,
KCL Reading Capital
Last week's Volume I reading session introduced by Ruth Lorimer on 'The Transformation of Money into Capital' is available at:
http://rapidshare.com/files/447362601/KCLReadingCapital_09_Feb_2011.mp3
Next week we have Tony Phillips intoducing a discussion on 'Labour & Valorization - Constant Capital and Variable Capital' - All welcome!
Wednesday 23rd February
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 7-9 for this session.
"The labour-process, resolved as above into its simple elementary factors, is human action with a view to the production of use-values, appropriation of natural substances to human requirements; it is the necessary condition for effecting exchange of matter between man and Nature; it is the everlasting Nature-imposed condition of human existence, and therefore is independent of every social phase of that existence, or rather, is common to every such phase."
"The labour-process, turned into the process by which the capitalist consumes labour-power, exhibits two characteristic phenomena. First, the labourer works under the control of the capitalist to whom his labour belongs...Secondly, the product is the property of the capitalist and not that of the labourer, its immediate producer."
"It must be borne in mind, that we are now dealing with the production of commodities, and that, up to this point, we have only considered one aspect of the process. Just as commodities are, at the same time, use-values and values, so the process of producing them must be a labour-process, and at the same time, a process of creating value."
"That part of capital then, which is represented by the means of production, by the raw material, auxiliary material and the instruments of labour does not, in the process of production, undergo any quantitative alteration of value. I therefore call it the constant part of capital, or, more shortly, constant capital."
"On the other hand, that part of capital, represented by labour-power, does, in the process of production, undergo an alteration of value. It both reproduces the equivalent of its own value, and also produces an excess, a surplus-value, which may itself vary, may be more or less according to circumstances. This part of capital is continually being transformed from a constant into a variable magnitude. I therefore call it the variable part of capital, or, shortly, variable capital."
- - -
2) Volume II Group:
Our previous session discussing Vol.II chapter 17: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value' will be available on the blog soon.
The Volume II group is moving on to read Part III on 'The Reproduction and Circulation of the Aggregate Social Capital'. We will not be holding fortnightly meetings for the time being, but hope to return with a special event later in the year.
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- Egypt, Tunisia and Revolution in the 21st Century
International Socialism seminar - hosted by the quarterly journal of socialist theory
Revolution in the 21st century is a reality. In less than two months, two dictators have been overthrown. In both revolutions, the entrance of the working class onto the stage of history proved decisive. The myths that the Arab world is incapable of democracy and that regime change can be achieved only through foreign intervention lie in tatters.
with Gilbert Achcar
(Professor SOAS, author of The Arabs and the Holocaust and The Clash of Barbarisms)
and Anne Alexander
(Research fellow Cambridge, author of Nasser: His Life and Times and contributor to Egypt: the Moment of Change)
Tuesday 22 February, 6.30pm
Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church,
235 Shaftesbury Avenue,
London, WC2H 8EP
Near Tottenham Court Road Tube (http://www.bloomsbury.org.uk/about/location.html)
Free entry - All welcome
www.isj.org.uk
- Birkbeck Reading Capital Meeting:
Friday February the 18th at 6:30 pm
Nicole Pepperell (author of a forthcoming book on Marx's Capital and of the blog roughtheory.org and researcher at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology).
Her paper will discuss, among other things, Marx’s “standpoint of critique” – that is, whether and how Marx is able to engage immanently with the object of critique. It will touch lightly on the narrative structure of the first four chapters of Volume I of Capital and give us the latest on Nicole's research for her forthcoming book.
There will be some wine served up. Could you let samdolbear@gmail.com know know if you would like to attend?
- Eric Hobsbawm on his latest book:
How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism.
7pm, Friday 25th February 2011.
Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street.
Send your details to Stefan.dickers@bishopsgate.org.uk to confirm your place.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
- - -
Best,
KCL Reading Capital
Friday, 4 February 2011
Next Sessions & Upcoming Events
1) Volume I Group: 'The Transformation of Money into Capital'
We are pleased to announce that the next Volume I reading session will be introduced by Ruth Lorimer on 'The Transformation of Money into Capital'. All welcome, especially as this is a good place to join us if you have missed the first couple of sessions (N.B. Some people will be attending the Contemporary Marxist Seminar immediately prior to this, see Upcoming Events below).
Wednesday 9th February
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
"Value therefore now becomes value in process, money in process, and, as such, capital. It comes out of circulation, enters into it again, preserves and multiplies itself within its circuit, comes back out of it with expanded bulk, and begins the same round ever afresh."
"In order to be able to extract value from the consumption of a commodity, our friend, Moneybags, must be so lucky as to find, within the sphere of circulation, in the market, a commodity, whose use-value possesses the peculiar property of being a source of value, whose actual consumption, therefore, is itself an embodiment of labour, and, consequently, a creation of value. The possessor of money does find on the market such a special commodity in capacity for labour or labour-power."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 4-6 for this session.
- - -
2) Volume II Group: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value'
Our next session will be discussing Vol.II chapters 17: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value':
Monday 14th February
6pm
Ground Floor Room 3
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be rading chapter 17 of Vol.II for this discussion.
Recordings of our previous two sessions are now available here and on the blog:
http://rapidshare.com/files/445183678/KCLReadingCapital_17_Jan_2011.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/445886503/KCLReadingCapital_31_Jan_2011.mp3
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- MARXISM & PHILOSOPHY Society
Workshop on the Notes on James Mill
2-6pm, Saturday 5 February 2011
The London Knowledge Lab, 23-29 Emerald Street, London WC1
Andrew Chitty and Martin McIvor will lead a discussion of this fascinating early text by Marx.
English and German parallel text of the Notes on James Mill [Word].
- LONDON SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY MARXIST THEORY
9th February, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Marxism: A Realism of the Abstract?
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos: alex.callinicos [at] kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis: stathis.kouvelakis [at] kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas: PeterD.Thomas [at] brunel.ac.uk
- MARXISM IN CULTURE
Friday 11 February
The Marxism of Raymond Williams
Peter Thomas (Brunel University)
5.30pm, Wolfson Room, Institute of Historical Research
Senate House, Malet St, London.
For further information, contact Warren Carter, at: w.carter@ucl.ac.uk
or Esther Leslie at: e.leslie@bbk.ac.uk
- Eric Hobsbawm on his latest book:
How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism.
7pm, Friday 25th February 2011.
Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street.
Send your details to Stefan.dickers@bishopsgate.org.uk to confirm your place.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
We are pleased to announce that the next Volume I reading session will be introduced by Ruth Lorimer on 'The Transformation of Money into Capital'. All welcome, especially as this is a good place to join us if you have missed the first couple of sessions (N.B. Some people will be attending the Contemporary Marxist Seminar immediately prior to this, see Upcoming Events below).
Wednesday 9th February
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
"Value therefore now becomes value in process, money in process, and, as such, capital. It comes out of circulation, enters into it again, preserves and multiplies itself within its circuit, comes back out of it with expanded bulk, and begins the same round ever afresh."
"In order to be able to extract value from the consumption of a commodity, our friend, Moneybags, must be so lucky as to find, within the sphere of circulation, in the market, a commodity, whose use-value possesses the peculiar property of being a source of value, whose actual consumption, therefore, is itself an embodiment of labour, and, consequently, a creation of value. The possessor of money does find on the market such a special commodity in capacity for labour or labour-power."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 4-6 for this session.
- - -
2) Volume II Group: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value'
Our next session will be discussing Vol.II chapters 17: 'The Circulation of Surplus-Value':
Monday 14th February
6pm
Ground Floor Room 3
Strand Building
King's College London
N.B. We will be rading chapter 17 of Vol.II for this discussion.
Recordings of our previous two sessions are now available here and on the blog:
http://rapidshare.com/files/445183678/KCLReadingCapital_17_Jan_2011.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/445886503/KCLReadingCapital_31_Jan_2011.mp3
- - -
3) Upcoming events:
- MARXISM & PHILOSOPHY Society
Workshop on the Notes on James Mill
2-6pm, Saturday 5 February 2011
The London Knowledge Lab, 23-29 Emerald Street, London WC1
Andrew Chitty and Martin McIvor will lead a discussion of this fascinating early text by Marx.
English and German parallel text of the Notes on James Mill [Word].
- LONDON SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY MARXIST THEORY
9th February, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Marxism: A Realism of the Abstract?
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos: alex.callinicos [at] kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis: stathis.kouvelakis [at] kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas: PeterD.Thomas [at] brunel.ac.uk
- MARXISM IN CULTURE
Friday 11 February
The Marxism of Raymond Williams
Peter Thomas (Brunel University)
5.30pm, Wolfson Room, Institute of Historical Research
Senate House, Malet St, London.
For further information, contact Warren Carter, at: w.carter@ucl.ac.uk
or Esther Leslie at: e.leslie@bbk.ac.uk
- Eric Hobsbawm on his latest book:
How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism.
7pm, Friday 25th February 2011.
Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street.
Send your details to Stefan.dickers@bishopsgate.org.uk to confirm your place.
- Taking Control Conference:
SOAS, University of London 12th March 2011
Keynote: Professor Jodi Dean
Other speakers include: Professor Peter Hallward, Dr Alberto Toscano,
Dr Paul Blackledge
For more information see http://takingcontrol2011.wordpress.com
Friday, 7 January 2011
Welcome back - All welcome
1) Welcome back - All welcome:
Here's hoping that everyone had a relaxing holiday and perhaps found some time to read! Please feel free to come along to any of our meetings this term, whether you want to join the reading groups themselves (Are you thinking about reading Capital? Have a look at the links below), or come to one of the meetings organised by the Contemporary Marxist Theory Seminar (Full timetable available at http://www.kclreadingcapital.blogspot.com)
Wage Labour and Capital:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/wage-labour/index.htm
Capital Volume I:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/
Capital Volume II:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1885-c2/index.htm
- - -
2) Volume II Group: 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Ricardo' & 'The Working Period, Time of Production and Time of Circulation'
The recording of the discussion from our last meeting on 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Smith and the Physiocrats' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/438786805/KCLReadingCapital_20_Dec_2010.mp3.
Our next session will be discussing Vol.II chapters 11-14 on 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Ricardo' & 'The Working Period, Time of Production and Time of Circulation':
Monday 17th January
6pm
Ground Floor Room 3
Strand Building
King's College London
"It is evident at the outset that the definition of capital invested in labour-power as circulating or fluent capital is a secondary one, obliterating its differentia specifica in the process of production. For in this definition, on the one hand, the capitals invested in labour are of the same importance as those invested in raw material, etc. A classification which identifies a part of the constant capital with the variable capital does not deal with the differentia specifica of variable capital in opposition to constant capital."
- - -
3) Volume I Group: 'Exchange and Money, or the Circulation of Commodities'
The discussion from the previous session on 'The Fetishism of Commodities' is available to download here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/434577032/KCLReadingCapital_01_Dec_2010.mp3
The Volume I reading group will return on Wed 26th Jan 6:30pm, Room S3.32, with a discussion on 'Exchange and Money, or the Circulation of Commodities':
Wednesday 26th January
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
"All commodities are non-use-values for their owners, and use-values for their non-owners. Consequently, they must all change hands. But this change of hands is what constitutes their exchange, and the latter puts them in relation with each other as values, and realises them as values. Hence commodities must be realised as values before they can be realised as use-values."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 2-3 for this session.
- - -
4) LONDON SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY MARXIST THEORY
"In Search of the Young Marx's Politics"
- David Leopold (University of Oxford)
- Stathis Kouvelakis (King's College, London)
19th January, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos: alex.callinicos [at] kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis: stathis.kouvelakis [at] kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas: PeterD.Thomas [at] brunel.ac.uk
- - -
5) Internation Socialism Journal 129 out now:
- A quarterly journal of socialist theory -
Analysis
The student revolt and the crisis
Mad as hatters? The Tea Party movement in the US
Megan Trudell
Police killings and the law
Simon Behrman
Labourism and socialism: Ralph Miliband’s Marxism
Paul Blackledge
...and more.
http://www.isj.org.uk/
Here's hoping that everyone had a relaxing holiday and perhaps found some time to read! Please feel free to come along to any of our meetings this term, whether you want to join the reading groups themselves (Are you thinking about reading Capital? Have a look at the links below), or come to one of the meetings organised by the Contemporary Marxist Theory Seminar (Full timetable available at http://www.kclreadingcapital.blogspot.com)
Wage Labour and Capital:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/wage-labour/index.htm
Capital Volume I:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/
Capital Volume II:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1885-c2/index.htm
- - -
2) Volume II Group: 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Ricardo' & 'The Working Period, Time of Production and Time of Circulation'
The recording of the discussion from our last meeting on 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Smith and the Physiocrats' is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/438786805/KCLReadingCapital_20_Dec_2010.mp3.
Our next session will be discussing Vol.II chapters 11-14 on 'Theories of Fixed and Circulating Capital - Ricardo' & 'The Working Period, Time of Production and Time of Circulation':
Monday 17th January
6pm
Ground Floor Room 3
Strand Building
King's College London
"It is evident at the outset that the definition of capital invested in labour-power as circulating or fluent capital is a secondary one, obliterating its differentia specifica in the process of production. For in this definition, on the one hand, the capitals invested in labour are of the same importance as those invested in raw material, etc. A classification which identifies a part of the constant capital with the variable capital does not deal with the differentia specifica of variable capital in opposition to constant capital."
- - -
3) Volume I Group: 'Exchange and Money, or the Circulation of Commodities'
The discussion from the previous session on 'The Fetishism of Commodities' is available to download here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/434577032/KCLReadingCapital_01_Dec_2010.mp3
The Volume I reading group will return on Wed 26th Jan 6:30pm, Room S3.32, with a discussion on 'Exchange and Money, or the Circulation of Commodities':
Wednesday 26th January
6:30pm
Room S3.32
Strand Building
King's College London
"All commodities are non-use-values for their owners, and use-values for their non-owners. Consequently, they must all change hands. But this change of hands is what constitutes their exchange, and the latter puts them in relation with each other as values, and realises them as values. Hence commodities must be realised as values before they can be realised as use-values."
N.B. We will be reading Vol.I chapters 2-3 for this session.
- - -
4) LONDON SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY MARXIST THEORY
"In Search of the Young Marx's Politics"
- David Leopold (University of Oxford)
- Stathis Kouvelakis (King's College, London)
19th January, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos: alex.callinicos [at] kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis: stathis.kouvelakis [at] kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas: PeterD.Thomas [at] brunel.ac.uk
- - -
5) Internation Socialism Journal 129 out now:
- A quarterly journal of socialist theory -
Analysis
The student revolt and the crisis
Mad as hatters? The Tea Party movement in the US
Megan Trudell
Police killings and the law
Simon Behrman
Labourism and socialism: Ralph Miliband’s Marxism
Paul Blackledge
...and more.
http://www.isj.org.uk/
LONDON SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY MARXIST THEORY
In Search of the Young Marx's Politics
19th January, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
David Leopold (University of Oxford)
Stathis Kouvelakis (King's College, London)
The global economic and financial crisis has witnessed a deepening of
interest in different forms of critical and radical thought and
practice. This seminar will explore the new perspectives that have
been opened up by interventions of contemporary Marxist theory in this
political and theoretical conjuncture. It involves collaboration among
Marxist scholars based in several London universities, including
Brunel University, King’s College London, and the School of Oriental
and African Studies. Guest speakers – from both Britain and abroad –
will include a wide range of thinkers engaging with many different
elements of the various Marxist traditions, as well as with diverse
problems and topics. The aim of the seminar is to promote fruitful
debate and to contribute to the development of more robust Marxist
analysis. It is open to all.
2010/11 Seminar Series
9th February, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Marxism: A Realism of the Abstract?
23rd March, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, room TBA
Esther Leslie (Birkbeck College)
Flat Screens and Liquid Crystals: On the Politics of Aesthetics and
Vice Versa
18th May, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, K.3.11 Raked Lecture Theatre
Gail Day (University of Leeds)
Dialectical Passions: Art Theory, Art History and Marxism
Additional seminars in Spring 2011 will be announced in due course.
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos, European Studies, King's: alex.callinicos [at]
kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis, European Studies, King's: stathis.kouvelakis [at]
kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas, Economics, SOAS: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas, Politics and History, Brunel: PeterD.Thomas [at]
brunel.ac.uk
19th January, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
David Leopold (University of Oxford)
Stathis Kouvelakis (King's College, London)
The global economic and financial crisis has witnessed a deepening of
interest in different forms of critical and radical thought and
practice. This seminar will explore the new perspectives that have
been opened up by interventions of contemporary Marxist theory in this
political and theoretical conjuncture. It involves collaboration among
Marxist scholars based in several London universities, including
Brunel University, King’s College London, and the School of Oriental
and African Studies. Guest speakers – from both Britain and abroad –
will include a wide range of thinkers engaging with many different
elements of the various Marxist traditions, as well as with diverse
problems and topics. The aim of the seminar is to promote fruitful
debate and to contribute to the development of more robust Marxist
analysis. It is open to all.
2010/11 Seminar Series
9th February, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, S2.28
Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Marxism: A Realism of the Abstract?
23rd March, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, room TBA
Esther Leslie (Birkbeck College)
Flat Screens and Liquid Crystals: On the Politics of Aesthetics and
Vice Versa
18th May, 5pm
King's College London, Strand Campus, K.3.11 Raked Lecture Theatre
Gail Day (University of Leeds)
Dialectical Passions: Art Theory, Art History and Marxism
Additional seminars in Spring 2011 will be announced in due course.
For further information, please contact:
Alex Callinicos, European Studies, King's: alex.callinicos [at]
kcl.ac.uk
Stathis Kouvelakis, European Studies, King's: stathis.kouvelakis [at]
kcl.ac.uk
Costas Lapavitsas, Economics, SOAS: cl5 [at] soas.ac.uk
Peter Thomas, Politics and History, Brunel: PeterD.Thomas [at]
brunel.ac.uk
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