Institute of Sociology NASU

K. Marx’s view on the role of capitalism in shaping world-historical relationships

stmm. 2019 (1): 73-91

UDC 316.4+930.008

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2019.01.073

ANDRII MALIUK

Abstract. The central theme of this research paper is the reconstruction of the Marxian vision of the place and role of capitalism in shaping worldwide, global relationships and interconnections, as well as in setting the historical limits of globality (which, in turn, is a product of capitalism itself). It is
shown that from Marx’s viewpoint capitalism is formed inseparably from the system of global interconnections and a global system of societal relationships. By the same token, the system of global relationships is a natural result of capitalist development. The world has been involved in the system of global interconnections due to (and through) a historically specific form of productive forces and societal relationships, which has been capitalistic. Capitalism is a global system by nature. Globality and universality constitute the very essence of capitalism, which Marx understood as inherently expansionist, as striving to spread limitlessly — and this is what exactly
characterises the global system. Such an understanding derives from the nature of capital, which is predicated upon striving for unlimited and ever-increasing accumulation, for self-growth.

Keywords: Marx, materialist conception of history, capitalism, world capitalist system, theory of a global historical process, social theory, globalisation

Publication in: ukr | rus

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