Guglielmo Carchedi

Carchedi delves into the intricacies of Marxist economic theory by focusing on how the falling rate of profit serves as a catalyst for capitalist instability. His work not only defends Marx’s value theory but also critiques prevalent academic Marxist perspectives for their inherent class bias and tendency to minimize the role of class struggle and voluntarism. By rejecting Engels’ approach to naturalistic dialectics, Carchedi emphasizes a dialectical method grounded in Marx’s social theory, thereby offering a critical lens on capitalist crises and recovery.\n\nHis notable contribution, "On the Economic Identification of Social Classes," provides a significant analysis of how social classes are defined by their roles in production and distribution within capitalist systems. Another important book, "Behind the Crisis: Marx’s Dialectic of Value and Knowledge," delves into the application of Marx’s dialectics to understand economic crises, including an exploration of the 2007 financial crisis. These works reflect Carchedi’s broader interest in how knowledge, shaped under capitalism, might be reoriented for a transition to socialism, thereby addressing the social dimensions of knowledge and consciousness.\n\nFor readers interested in the dialectical materialist analysis of capitalist economies, Carchedi’s books offer profound insights into the nature of value, crises, and class struggle. By dissecting the economic conditions that underpin wars and recovery, his work provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the potential pathways to socialism. His academic career, notably at the University of Amsterdam and the United Nations in New York, further amplifies the impact of his critical Marxist political economy, making his bio a valuable resource for scholars and students delving into economic theory.