Analytical Marxism and Democratic Socialism in the 21st Century

Since his passing in 2009, Cohen has been subject to sustained scrutiny and praise as his influence continues to grow. This companion volume situates Cohenian thinking in contemporary debates about capitalism, liberalism, libertarianism, liberal socialism and democratic socialism. This book will be essential reading for scholars of political philosophy, political economy and critical theory, in particular those with a focus on Marxism and socialist thought.

The book presents both well-established and up-and-coming scholars’ readings of Cohen, offering generational perspectives on his work and its contemporary implications. The book is divided into three parts, with the first part focusing solely on Cohen’s defense of Marx and his foundation of analytical Marxism, in particular his classic book Karl Marx’s Theory of History: A Defense. The second part examines the normative ‘turn’ of Cohen’s work later in life, in particular his deep engagement and complex relationship with the tradition of liberal egalitarianism, while the third part broadens the scope of the book to a discussion of Cohen’s relationship with more distant theoretical traditions.