Political Economy – Capitalism

Political Economy – Capitalism
Publisher: Progress Publishers
Edition: First Edition, 1977
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 551
Size: 3.5 inch x 5.5 inch

Published in 1977 by Progress Publishers, Moscow—a renowned Soviet publishing house known for its emphasis on Marxist-Leninist scholarship—Political Economy – Capitalism is a comprehensive exploration of the capitalist economic system through a distinctly Marxist lens. This first edition hardcover, comprising 551 tightly packed pages in a compact 3.5 x 5.5 inch format, offers a rich, ideological analysis of capitalism’s structures, contradictions, and role in the broader historical development of societies.

Rooted in dialectical materialism, the book provides a detailed framework for understanding:

• The evolution of capitalist production, from its early stages to its monopolistic phase.

• The laws of surplus value and exploitation, central to Marxist critique.

• The class antagonisms between bourgeoisie and proletariat, and how these conflicts shape economic and political systems.

• The instability and crises inherent to capitalist economies, along with forecasts of its decline and transition to socialism.

This work was not only a standard text in Eastern bloc education systems but also served as a foundational guide for understanding the ideological and practical underpinnings of capitalist economies in contrast to socialist systems. Despite its compact size, the book is intellectually dense, making it a valuable resource for students of economic theory, political science, and history, especially those interested in comparative economic systems or Soviet-era interpretations of Western capitalism.

The clarity of exposition—supported by structured chapters, conceptual definitions, and economic illustrations—makes it accessible to readers unfamiliar with advanced economic terminology while offering profound insights for those well-versed in political economy.

As a historical artifact, it also reflects the cold-war intellectual climate, when academic resources like this one were crafted not just for instruction but as instruments of ideological clarity and critique.

• Title: Political Economy – Capitalism

• Publisher: Progress Publishers, Moscow

• Edition: First Edition, 1977

• Binding: Hardcover

• Pages: 551

• Size: 3.5 inch x 5.5 inch – compact, pocket-sized reference

• Focus: Marxist analysis of capitalism’s evolution, structure, and contradictions

• Language: English translation from original Soviet academic texts

• Useful for: Students of economics, political science, and socialist thought

• Highlights: Surplus value, capitalist crises, class conflict, and historical materialism

• A key text reflecting the intellectual and ideological currents of the late Cold War period