#198: Socialism vs. Capitalism, Political Theory, & Marxism ft. Vijay Prashad
1 hr 19 min
What is socialism? How does it differ from capitalism? And what did Karl Marx actually mean when he envisioned a socialist society? In this episode of Know Time, we sit down with Vijay Prashad, Indian historian, Marxist intellectual, author and Executive Director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, for an introduction to socialism, Marxism, political theory and economics. We explore the intellectual foundations of socialism, examine Karl Marx's critique of capitalism, and discuss the economic and political ideas that have shaped socialist movements around the world. From class struggle and exploitation to private property, surplus value and imperialism, Vijay breaks down some of the most important concepts in Marxist theory and explains why these ideas continue to influence political and economic debates today. In this conversation: What is socialism, and what does it actually mean? What is the difference between socialism and communism? How does socialism differ from capitalism? Karl Marx's critique of capitalism explained What is historical materialism? Understanding class struggle and class conflict What is surplus value, and how does capitalism generate profit? The relationship between labour, capital and exploitationPrivate property, ownership and the means of production What did Marx envision for a socialist society? Why did the Soviet Union collapse, and what does it mean for socialism? Is Marxism still relevant in the 21st century? The relationship between socialism, imperialism and the Global South Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, journalist and author of numerous books, including The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World, The Poorer Nations and Red Star Over the Third World. He is the Executive Director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and Chief Correspondent for Globetrotter. Whether you're new to political theory or interested in understanding Marxism, socialism, capitalism and the history of economic...