Class, Crisis and the State

“His ideas captured the imagination of audiences, intellectuals and activists across the globe … Wright reinvented the meaning of socialism.”—New York Times

A foundational work of twentieth-century socialist thought

The idea of “class interest”—the set of social objectives of a given class—has been well explored in socialist thought. But what about the ability to realize these objectives? The complex tension between class interest and achieving class objectives is the guiding theme of Class, Crisis and the State.

The book is composed of three lucid and bracing essays, focused on a trio of the most contentious problems of Marxist theory. The first chapter advances a new class map of the United States today, including a rigorous yet dynamic redefinition of the working class. The second part focuses on classical theories of economic crisis in the West, such as underconsumption and financial instability, and their relevance to contemporary economic downturns. A concluding chapter examines the problems of leftist governments coming to power in capitalist states.

As leftist forces regroup and ready themselves for new electoral challenges around the world, Class, Crisis and the State remains essential reading.