Western Marxism and the Myth of Capitalism’s Adamantine Chains Review of the Month
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Western Marxism and the Myth of Capitalism’s Adamantine Chains

In this talk from the inaugural conference of the Society for Peace, Internationalism, and Ecology, John Bellamy Foster relates the story of Prometheus, as presented in the plays of Aeschylus, to Western Marxism's "dialectic of defeat," in which capitalism is portrayed as an unbreakable bond the working class. Instead, Foster says, we must recognize Prometheus as a subject who is freed from the seemingly inescapable fetters imposed upon him.
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February 2026 (Volume 77, Number 8)

February 2026 (Volume 77, Number 8)
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The Slave Trade and the Industrial Revolution Debate: A Look at the Numbers Article

The Slave Trade and the Industrial Revolution Debate: A Look at the Numbers

Using historical databases and quantitative analysis, Thomas E. Lambert calls into question the assertion that the trans-Atlantic slave trade can be considered a separate phenomenon, rather than a major supporting factor in, the Industrial Revolution in England. Asserting otherwise, he writes, is a to deny "a horrifying and inhuman part of the global history of capitalism."
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The Palestinian Question as a Framework for a Century of Tunisian Mobilization Article

The Palestinian Question as a Framework for a Century of Tunisian Mobilization

In this illuminating article, Hèla Yousfi explores the history of solidarity of the Tunisian left and labor movements with the struggle for Palestinian liberation. Through this recounting, Yousfi is able to map out a history of how the brutal occupation of Palestine has influenced political consciousness not only in Tunisia, but throughout the Arab world.
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Mauritius at a Geopolitical Crossroads Article

Mauritius at a Geopolitical Crossroads

Despite its relatively small size, the Mauritius increasingly is looming large in the geopolitical jostling in the Indian Ocean region. Tracing the country's often overlooked role in global affairs from the sixteenth century up until the present day, Stefan Gua provides readers with an insightful account of how politics both inside and outside of Mauritius reflect broader debates about colonialism, militarism, and self-determination.
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Eco-Marxism and the Reconstruction of Materialist Dialectics Article

Eco-Marxism and the Reconstruction of Materialist Dialectics

Speaking before at the Opening Ceremony of the Fourth World Conference on Marxism in Beijing, John Bellamy Foster discusses the development of eco-Marxism and its relation to Marxist theory. Here, Foster argues, "eco-Marxism as we know it today is not simply another branch of Marxism," but is a pathway to the projects of complete socialism and ecological civilization.
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My daily poison Poetry

My daily poison

A new poem by Marge Piercy.
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Insectopolis and the Fantastic Peter Kuper Review

Insectopolis and the Fantastic Peter Kuper

Paul Buhle reviews Insectopolis: A Natural History, a new graphic novel by Peter Kuper. In the book, Kuper, a prolific producer and publisher of left-wing comics, spins a tale of two siblings who find themselves in a world of insects. Through encounters with butterflies, beetles, ants, and more, Kuper reveals the deep entanglements between human society—at its best and worst—and the creatures of its living environment.
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Introduction to the Updated Edition of Arghiri Emmanuel’s ‘Unequal Exchange’ Review of the Month

Introduction to the Updated Edition of Arghiri Emmanuel’s ‘Unequal Exchange’

In this Introduction to the updated edition of Unequal Exchange by Arghiri Emmanuel, published by Monthly Review Press, John Bellamy Foster and Brett Clark offer readers insight into the continuing influence of Emmanuel's seminal work. Through both deep understanding thoughtful critique, the authors deftly situate Emmanuel's text as an indispensable part of an enduring tradition of Marxist analysis of the global dynamics of labor.
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Epidemics and Social Metabolism: Nature, Capitalism, and Rifts Article

Epidemics and Social Metabolism: Nature, Capitalism, and Rifts

David E. Perlman and Ashly Vigneault explore the linkages between humanity's metabolic rift with nature and the accelerating emergence of epidemics, which are fundamentally related to the capitalist mode of production and concomitant alienated social metabolism. Using historical and epidemiological research that extends from the rise of the bubonic plague to the emergence of COVID-19, Perlman and Vigneault are able to deftly tie these concepts to the breach of planetary boundaries that threatens all of humanity.
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The Shale Revolution, U.S. Energy Imperialism, and Mexico’s Dependence Article

The Shale Revolution, U.S. Energy Imperialism, and Mexico’s Dependence

Mateo Crossa delineates the history of U.S. imperialism in Mexico through the lens of its domination of the fossil fuel industry, particularly by way of the Shale Revolution and the advent of fracking. "By engineering new regional dependencies and reshaping energy alliances to suit is strategic ambitions," Crossa writes, "the United States weaponized its command over natural gas to deepen its grip on the global fossil energy system and reinforce its imperial reach."
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Robert W. McChesney (1952–2025): A Personal and Political-Intellectual Memoir Memorial

Robert W. McChesney (1952–2025): A Personal and Political-Intellectual Memoir

John Bellamy Foster introduces our special issue celebrating the life and work of MR former coeditor and MR Press author Robert W. McChesney. In his recounting of over 50 years of close friendship and collaboration, Foster paints a portrait of McChesney as a visionary intellectual and activist whose work will reverberate through the communication field for decades to come.
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Bob McChesney: A Life Well Lived Memorial

Bob McChesney: A Life Well Lived

In this deeply personal essay, communication scholar Inger Stole shares with readers a glimpse into her life with Robert W. McChesney, her husband of 37 years. Stole reveals the depth of feeling with which McChesney approached all aspects of life, from his work as an intellectual and advocate to his role as a father and life partner.
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A Democratic Socialist in Our Age Article

A Democratic Socialist in Our Age

John Nichols, Robert W. McChesney's longtime collaborator and frequent coauthor, celebrates McChesney's near-clairvoyant thought and scholarship. Nichols notes that McChesney's impressive foresight enabled him to see the pitfalls of the digital age long before the Internet became a tool for the worst impulses of the elites under capitalism.
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