“Marxist approach to the study of international relations has lost its relevance in the post-cold war era.” Comment. (UPSC CSE Mains 2021 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 2)
- Robert W. Cox has divided IR theories into two categories: Problem Solving and Critical Theory. The problem-solving theories include realism and liberalism, while critical theories encompass a broad range of theories like Marxism, feminism, postmodernism and postcolonialism. Marxist approach of world politics is not limited to the ideas of Karl Marx. A wide range of theorists such as Vladimir Lenin, Antonio Gramsci, Andre Gunder Frank, Robert Cox, Stephen Gill, Justin Rosenberg, Andrew Linklater and Mark Rupert have contributed to the development of Marxist approaches.
- The Marxist approach to international relations provides a framework for understanding global politics through the lens of class struggle, capitalism, and imperialism. It highlights economic inequality, exploitation, and structural constraints as crucial factors in shaping international relations.
- Imperialism has been a keen area of interest for Marxists. Earlier Marxists have linked the origin and development of imperialism with the advancement of capitalism. However, based on the analysis of imperialism presented by Marxists after Lenin, it can be said that to have a proper understanding of the Marxist theory of imperialism, we necessarily need to go beyond Hobson and Lenin and include neo-Marxist and globalisation era Marxist account of imperialism in our study. Taking inspiration from Marxism, three variants of neo-Marxism have significantly enhanced our understanding of world politics.
- The dependency theory explains how unfair terms of trade between developed and newly independent states lead to exploitation of post-colonial states by the developed capitalist states. The neo-Gramscian approach has splendidly shown how the powerful state establishes and maintain their hegemony and suggested the way to end it. Going a step further, the critical theory has underscored the need and way to end the exploitation of human being and realise their emancipation.
- Marxists make the connection between globalisation, capitalism and the impoverishment of the third world. They argue that all protection from the looting of the worlds poor by global capital is being dismantled. Even the decision-making of the enforcers of global capitalism; WTO, IMF, and World Bank; is directed by the advanced capitalist countries.
- However, the Marxist approach faces criticisms for over-simplifying complex phenomena, neglecting non-class issues, and underestimating the role of agency in global politics. It is important to critically engage with these perspectives and consider alternative theoretical frameworks to gain a comprehensive understanding of international relations.
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