An introduction to Karl Marx / Jon Elster.

Includes bibliographical references.

-- Preface -- 1: Overview -- Introduction -- Marx: Life and writings -- Marx and Engels -- Marxism after Marx -- Editions of Marx's writings -- Bibliography -- 2: Marxist Methodology -- Introduction -- Methodological individualism -- Marxism and rational choice -- Functional explanation in Marxism -- Dialectics -- Bibliography -- 3: Alienation -- Introduction -- Alienation: Lack of self-realization -- Alienation: Lack of autonomy -- Alienation: Rule of capital over labor -- Fetishism -- Bibliography -- 4: Marxian Economics -- Introduction -- Labor theory of value -- Reproduction, accumulation, and technical change -- Crisis theory -- Bibliography -- 5: Exploitation -- Introduction -- Exploitation, freedom, and force -- Exploitation in history -- Exploitation and justice -- Bibliography -- 6: Historical Materialism -- Introduction -- Development of the productive forces -- Base and superstructure -- Stages of historical development -- Bibliography -- 7: Class Consciousness And Class Struggle -- Introduction -- Concept of class -- Class consciousness -- Class struggle -- Bibliography -- 8: Marx's Theory Of Politics -- Introduction -- Capitalist state -- Politics in the transition to capitalism -- Politics in the transition to communism -- Bibliography -- 9: Marxist Critique Of Ideology -- Introduction -- Political ideologies -- Economic thought as ideology -- Religion as ideology -- Bibliography -- 10: What Is Living And What Is Dead In The Philosophy Of Marx? -- Introduction -- What is dead? -- What is living?

From the Publisher: A concise and comprehensive introduction to Marx's social, political and economic thought for the beginning student. Jon Elster surveys in turn each of the main themes of marxist thought: methodology, alienation, economics, exploitation, historical materialism, classes, politics, and ideology; in a final chapter he assesses 'what is living and what is dead in the philosophy of Marx'. The emphasis throughout is on the analytical structure of Marx's arguments and the approach is at once sympathetic, undogmatic, and rigorous.