A Contemporary Critique of Historical Materialism

About this book

This powerful critique of Marxs historical materialism - as a theory of power as an account of history and as a political theory -has been revised to take note of the profound intellectual and political changes that have occurred since the first edition was published. Reviews from the first edition Giddens draws upon a formidable knowledge of anthropology archaeology geography and philosophy to demonstrate the limitations of Marxism and to formulate his own interpretation of the history of societies . He does a masterful job of setting his theory within a historical and critical framework of writings on Marx. His clarity of thought and his deft and often humorous handling of the unavoidable jargon of sociology and Marxist political theory makes this book a critical work of the highest quality. Journal of International Law and Politics By contrast with many practictioners in the rather murky area of social theory Giddens clearly seeks to make himself understood and he has the useful quality of provoking one to argument. He has let light into some dark places. The Times Higher Education Supplement Although Marx Durkheim and Weber continue to fill more index space than any other authors Critique is Giddenss most explicit and committed statement of his own conceptualization of social theory . It is his most original and therefore most vulnerable book at once a cause for celebration and an invitation to critical reappraisal of the authors entire theoretical project. (Publisher)