Aims

This course provides students with an introduction to the Marxist analysis of capitalist society, and to the economic elements in particular.

Main themes

More accurately, the course has the following objectives:

systematically and rigorously analysing the basics of Marxist economic theory;

instead of constructing pure theoretical models, demonstrating the relevance of Marxist economic theory for the purposes of an analysis of real present-day phenomena (e.g. technical progress, concentration, subcontracting, globalisation, crises and unemployment);

developing students' critical mind: showing them that the same socio-economic phenomena may be analysed using other methods and perspectives than those presented in other courses and/or the mass media.

Content and teaching methods

Content
The course will address the following issues:
1. the fundamental role of labour in economic activity;
2. the Marxist theory of labour value;
3. the theory of surplus value;
4. competition for the distribution of surplus value;
5. relations between capitalist production and non-capitalist forms of production (e.g. public enterprises, independent enterprises, non-commercial public and private services, voluntary associations and households);
6. the fundamental tendencies and contradictions of capitalist growth (e.g. mechanisation, concentration, merchandisation, ecological problems, crises and unemployment);
7. the causes and consequences of adopting neo-liberal policies from 1980 onwards.
Method
'Ex cathedra' course interspersed with exchanges with the students.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

A course in political economy.



Unseen individual oral examination.


Each chapter of a 'self-sufficient' handbook (J Gouverneur, 'Découvrir l'économie: phénomènes visibles et réalités cachées', Ed. Contradictions, Brussels, 1998, 320 pp) contains a range of pedagogical appendices (summary, concepts to be assimilated, theoretical questions, and questions to be applied to the present day).

Programmes in which this activity is taught