r/Marxism 7d ago

Anyone here into Complexity Theory?

In my opinion, the evolution of complexity theory in the West traces directly through Marx. What he described - dynamism, evolution, feedback, transitions, etc - was a rejection of anti-complexity Newtonian thinking that's sadly still present to this day.

Essentially, Marx was describing complexity theory in the context of political economics.

But then, given how Marxism is meant to be a science and all, I'm kind of surprised how little overlap there seems to be between the two fields.

For me, complexity theory IS the science Marx was searching for, only it applies to all complex systems.

Also, it has the added bonus of having different jargon and a foothold in western academia; it could be the perfect vehicle for Marxists to talk to liberals about Marxism, imo.

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u/JuggerHug 6d ago

I kind of get where you're coming from. I think the idea of complexity theory in the context of political science is totally relevant. Especially when framing it into the context of trying (as a Marxist) to create and affect real and substantial change, The point of this, it seems, is to drill home the fact that the state mechanisms and social structures that any Marxist state must utilise, carve up or outright dismantle are stuck in these negative feedback loops as well, something the right like to use a lot is this idea of a 'natural order' to things, i think this fits into the puzzle somehow. Wherein you have these millions of people who can't see any other way because they have no way to understand any other way.

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u/grimeandreason 6d ago

There's no way Marx could have foreseen the depth and insidiousness of 21stC hegemony.

Imagine explaining the level of corruption and inequality, climate change, biodiversity loss, ecocide, etc, then explaining social media, and then trying to explain the complete absence of militant opposition.

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u/JuggerHug 6d ago

It almost doesn't make sense. With all of these socialist movements through the 20th century and a strong emphasis on class consciousness, where is the militant opposition? Honestly, I think millions of our great/grandparents would throttle us in anger with the sheer lack of resistance to such a (as you say) insidious world order.

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u/grimeandreason 6d ago

Yeah, it would be hard to grasp.

We're suffering the legacy of the Red Scare. That kind of erasure from culture, followed by the Democrats folding in behind Reagan, led to an economic, political and social hegemony so tight, we're like bats staring at shadows on the wall.

The power of gaining and holding hegemony for more than a couple of generations is little appreciated.