Zombie Capitalism: Global Crisis and the Relevance of Marx

by Chris Harman

The author's concept is that Marxian capitalism explains how the present state of the world has developed over the past 150 years, and that 21st century capitalism is a defunct system that does not allow human achievement, often causing disruption of human achievement around the world. An interesting read.

Genres: Economics, Politics, Nonfiction, History, Philosophy, Zombies, Sociology

425 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2009

About the author

British journalist and political activist for the Socialist Workers Party.

Harmann was involved with activism against the Viet Nam war but became controversial for denouncing Ho Chi Minh for murdering the leader of the Vietnamese Trotskists.

Harman's work on May 1968 in France and other student and workers uprisings of the late 1960s, The Fire Last Time, was recommended by rock band Rage Against the Machine in their album sleeve notes for Evil Empire.

Reviews

[ben engel · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is awesome. a really well written book that destroys the economic theories that seek to defend capitalism (in both its keynesian and neoclassical flavours). gives a marxist account for the last 100 years of capitalism and how the economic crises of the time are endemic to capitalism as a whole. particularly insightful are harman's analysis of the eastern bloc countries, and how they were just as bound to 'accumulation for accumulation's sake' as the west.

[Hayley Rahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very compact breakdown of capitalism throughout the 21st century and all of its transformations and restructurings in many different nation-states, how the great depression in 1930 and the second long boom after ww2 can be explained by Marxist economics. tbh the first few chapters laying out Marxist economics in depth went over my head a little bit but as Harman continues to apply it to various historical crises I picked it up better through context (eg the organic composition of capital and the tendency for the rate of profit to decline.) Overall I thought it was a really useful book in helping me to understand the inter-dependence between capitals and states, the significance of military-industrial complex in offsetting economic crisis, globalisation, even a bit about climate change towards the end. Would recommend!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harman's magnificent book has literally nothing to do with zombies (I don't believe the word is mentioned even once anywhere in the book), but it is one of the most compelling and thoroughly researched scholarly analyses of the history of capitalism.

[Freya Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't understand Marxist economics until I read this. A clear timeline of how capitalism creates financial crisis again and again.

[Sam Whitehill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good overview of the global economy, from a Marxist perspective. Harman begins with an introduction to Marxist concepts, then focuses in on the idea of the “falling rate of profit.” He then shows how this concept explains the crisis prone history of modern capitalism, right up to the Great Recession of 2008, and ends with a discussion of potentialities for resistance. This review accurately describes maybe a dozen books I’ve read in my life, but they are all good so no point deductions here. 4 stars.

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book offering an integrated argument about the function of Marx and Marxist though to understanding the credit crunch and crash.

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good introduction to Marx economic concepts (it really goes in depth to be honest).

The problem is the philosophical and political takes: there is no mention about dialectics nor Marx's critique to Feuerbach and Hegel (which is really important if you are trying to introduce marxist thought/theory). Also, despite agreeing with Marx's critique of capitalism, there is almost no mention about the revolutionary duty nor the necessity of a proletarian party to overcome the social and material contradictions we lived/are living.

Also, antistalinism and some hot takes like "Marcuse was a revolutionary" (p. 331).

So yeah, if you want to refine your economic knowledge, read only the first part.

[Joshie Kummerow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that every Marxist should read at some point

[Michael Kulyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

The late Chris Harman's last and probably greatest work. Chris combined Marx's methodological presentation from Capital vol 1-3 (the ascent from the abstract to the concrete) with Lenin's theory of Imperialism and these with Marx's theory of the tendency of the rate of profit to fall. The result was a breath takingly brilliant insight into the depth of the Bourgeoise mode of production. And he wrote this in such a way that the book was accessible to workers and not just middle and upper class academics. His untimely death was a great loss to the workers movement but he lives on as his ideas continue to take root.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a leftist I agree with most of this book. But damn, once again a leftist doesn't know how to write an engaging book without over the top academic wording. I am pretty well educated but this book took me forever to read, mainly bc it was so dense and difficult. Leftists love evidence and being precise and that is amazing but to convince people we really need to learn to sacrifice a little of that for some readability.

[!Tæmbuŝu]

Reviewed by Blogcritics

[Dan Sharber · Rating 4 out of 5]

very well written and encompassing. explains a lot of the key economics of marxism and the dynamics of the system today. recommend.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, a must read. Longer review to follow soon.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Repent sinners! You might have a comfortable life, but your soul is sick." Same discourse, different church.