HIST 301B(S) Historical Materialism: The Theory and Evolution of Marxist History

This course is intended to give each student a command of Karl Marx's theory of history. The literature includes classical materialism, communist propaganda, Marxist economics, and Marxist and neo-Marxist histories. Central to our examination is an in-depth look at Marx's economic theory and his political philosophy (which culminated in the dictatorship of the proletariat). Marx used history to provide a context for his political and intellectual work, and to bridge the distance between the two; however, Marxism has been used to analyze social relations well beyond the world and moment that its author envisioned. We will end by exploring the applicability of Marxist historical philosophy to contemporary human affairs.
Evaluation will be based on class participation, two papers and a final exam.
Restricted to Junior History Majors.

Hour: WILDER