In this concise and comprehensive book, one of the world's leading social theorists, Göran Therborn, explores the trajectories of Marxism in the 20th century and the relevance of its legacy to radical thought in the 21st century. Addressing the history of critical theory from a contemporary perspective defined by postmodernism, post-Marxism, and the critique of Eurocentrism, he examines current theoretical trends—including the legacy of Slavoj Žižek, Antonio Negri, and Alain Badiou—and engages with the changed intellectual, political, and economic contexts. In light of these discussions, Therborn moves on to a large-scale examination of the parameters of 21st-century politics.
The book is a major final assessment of Marxism in the modern era and will be of interest to both specialists and a wider audience.