Advanced Introduction to Marxism and Human Geography: (Elgar Advanced Introductions series)

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world’s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. The Advanced Introduction to Marxism and Human Geography explores the fundamental aspects of Marx‘s conceptualization of capital and of capitalist development, including value theory, the class relation, accumulation and the development of the capitalist division of labor. Kevin Cox goes beyond simplistic analysis to further engage with key concepts, and how their relationships with one another can illuminate the human geography of the world. Key features include: Comparative insights into human geography and Marx‘s theory A detailed discussion of capitalism and Marxism, covering topics such as capitalist geography, the capitalist city and urbanization A focus on core concepts of the field as well as looking more broadly at Marxist approaches to topics such as geopolitics and difference and uneven development. This engaging work will be valuable reading for students and scholars of human geography and Marxist geography.

Table of Contents:
Contents: PART I FOUNDATIONS 1. From historical materialism to historical geographical materialism 2. Marx and capital: an overview 3. Marx’s theory of value 4. Surplus value 5. The capital accumulation process 6. Capital’s development 7. ‘The factor(s) of cohesion’: ideology and state under capitalism PART II GEOGRAPHY AND MARXISM 8. The urbanization of capital and struggles around the capitalist city 9. Marxism, nature and human geography 10. Capitalist geography and difference 11. Geographies of uneven development 12. The geopolitics of capitalism Afterword Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Kevin R. Cox, Emeritus Distinguished University Professor, Department of Geography, The Ohio State University, US

Review :
‘This book achieves much more than humbly engaging readers in Marxist human geography. Rather, it illuminates the totality of our world; the multiplicity of conditions that make it so, and conclusively, the geographies embedded within our social relations.’ ‘Cox should be applauded for writing a succinct, approachable introduction. The author’s reflections and connections will be helpful to novice and experienced students of Capital and human geography. It can be used in and outside the classroom as an introduction and commentary on the topic. Above all, this book would be helpful to geography graduate students who, themselves, are trying to wade through these issues and want a guiding commentary.’ 'When I tell ordinary people I’m a Marxist Geographer, I often get puzzled looks. Kevin Cox's comprehensive Advanced Introduction to Marxism and Human Geography shows why such a sub-discipline is not only possible but necessary to understanding the political economy of capitalism. He offers a concise and expert overview of Marx’s core theories, and shows how they apply to core geographical issues such as urbanization, social difference, and geopolitics. I very much look forward to teaching with this text!' 'Cox explains in clear language the central categories of classical Marxism, before showing how urbanization, environmental destruction, difference, uneven development, and geopolitics have evolved under capitalism and help reproduce capitalist social relations. This book not only introduces the interrelations between geography and social structures, but is also an exemplary demonstration of how to delve beyond the ''facts of the matter'' to reveal their foundations and interconnections.' 'Clearly written, this book provides an excellent introduction to key concepts from Marx. It demonstrates their continuing relevance to understanding the political economies of capitalisms and their varied geographies via a range of contemporary examples. It should be of interest to all students of human geography and ought to be compulsory reading for them.'