The essays collected in this book examine the structure and potential of historical materialism as a general theory of social change. They draw on the lessons of the failure of Marxist crisis theory, and show how a rejuvenated notion of exploitation can illuminate the analysis of the class structure of welfare state capitalism or the assessment of international migration.
Van Parijs defends the notion of a 'capitalist road to communism', remaining true to the Marxian ideal while embracing capitalism.
