As austerity measures are put into place the world over and global restructuring is acknowledged by all as an attempt to bolster the economic system that lead to the crash, there is a great need to come to grips with the economic, political and philosophical legacy of Marx. Of particular interest are Marx's analyses of alienation and the cycles of boom and bust thought to be integral to the functioning of capitalism. Moreover, as the Cold War drifts into the history books, it is possible to reconsider the lasting impact of Marx's analyses without the shadows cast by the Soviet version of communism. Equally, though, scholars are increasingly turning to Marx for insight into the rise of religion and the corresponding demise of political ideologies that seems to mark the contemporary age. Are we witnessing 'the return of Marx'?
Few scholars have done as much to tease out the intricacies of Marx, ideology and religion and their overlapping concerns as the eminent writer and Marx biographer, Professor David McLellan. This book brings together a group of internationally renowned academics to reflect upon, develop and criticise McLellan's analyses of these three themes with a view to contributing more broadly to scholarly debates in these fields. This exciting and timely analysis will be of interest to scholars of political theory, the history of political thought (including historical methodology), Marx and Marxism, sociology of knowledge (particularly in relation to discussions of ideology), religion and theology more widely.
Taking inspiration from David McLellan's impressive body of work, the contributors engage directly with the relationship between Marx, ideology and religion in order to further scholarly debate and discussion on these three major themes of contemporary domestic and international politics.
'At a time when Pope Francis at one extreme and ISIS on the other have forced us to reconsider our views on what religion is and can be, Marx's easily misinterpreted writings on religion deserve another - and, this time, closer - reading. And who better to guide us through them than the greatest living scholar on this subject, David McLellan - with the kind of balanced critical help he receives from the impressive group of authors represented in this volume? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.' - Professor Bertell Ollman, Dept. of Politics, NYUAuthor of Alienation: Marx's ConceptionofManinCapitalist Society, Dialectical Investigations, and Dance of the Dialectic: Steps in Marx's Method
