Marx and Globalization: Uncommon Reflections on an Apparently Paradoxical Connection

Abstract

As the phrase “apparently paradoxical,” in the later part of my title evinces, I am, of course, aware of the incompatibility, at least on the superficial level, between the two terms at the beginning of my title, i.e. “Marx” and “globalization”. Perhaps, one may even feel that “Marxism” might be a better theme for enquiry instead of “Marx”. But there are at least two reasons why I prefer Marx to Marxism. For one thing, Marxism cannot be thought of as a singular noun at present, considering the bewildering varieties and versions of it that are available now. In comparison, I feel, the discussion of Marx would be relatively less inchoate and more productive. Moreover, as Melvin Rader states persuasively at the very beginning of his book on Marx’s historical thought, Marxists cannot claim any monopoly of Marx. Notwithstanding these subtle differences, we cannot ignore the reality that any discussion related to Marx or Marxism in the intellectual ethos dominated by postmodernism, poststructuralist, or post-colonialism and such post-isms may seem, at best, a matter of antiquarian intellectual interest and, at worst, doctrinaire fanaticism. On the other hand, “globalization,” the second keyword in my title enjoys a great popularity in the discourses of modern academia to the extent that we can safely consider it the most frequently invoked word either by academicians or others. Despite the awareness of this apparent dichotomy between Marx and globalization, the present essay attempts to argue that in a way they are mutually complementary to one another and an intrinsic and beneficial connection between the two could be established on further probing. I envisage this endeavor as a modest attempt, more in the predominantly imaginative Mandevillan tradition rather than the rigorous, analytic Baconian tradition. Thus, what is hinted at here is only a line of thinking that is capable of further development rather than a comprehensive theory or view.