Critique of Capitalism and Patriarchy: Gender, Production and Labor
Revisiting the Domestic Labor Debate The debate on the nature of domestic labor within Western Marxism and feminism in the 1970s was very important from the perspective of the development of the Marxian critique of political economy, as well as for the programmes of anti-capitalist revolutionary movements. However, the implications of the debate have yet to be examined. Indeed, even by many progressives the domestic labor debate has been treated like a ‘lost debate’, and dismissed as an episode pass? no longer having any theoretical or political relevance. This paper explores a common theoretical ground for left coalition politics of Marxist anti-capitalism and feminism through a critical evaluation of this debate. This paper shows that Marxian labor theory of value cannot provide a framework for the thesis of ‘exploitation of unpaid domestic labor → increase of profits’, based on the dual systems of capitalism and patriarchy and shared by most debate participants. This thesis is nothing else than the partial reflection of the contradictory dynamics of capitalist development. However, this paper also argues that the failure of the domestic labor debate and resultant ‘divorce’ of Marxism and feminism could have been avoided if they had been properly situated within the Marxian critique of political economy. (Seongjin Jeong) Criticism on Patriarchal Production and Work This article attempts to criticize patriarchal system of production and work as a part of building a theory of patriarchal system. It surveys two previous theories of patriarchy: first, that production-work of patriarchy is separate from that of capitalism, and second that patriarchal production is a form of reproduction. This article maintains that these two positions have some limitations: the first does not explain the relationship between patriarchal and capitalist production and the second does not see the patriarchal production as production. This article suggests a new theory of ‘the patriarchal system-regime’ which criticizes the capitalist-imperialistic-militaristic sex-gender-sexuality complex. ... (Gaphee Ko) The Extension of Marx’s Thoughts into Historical-Geographical Ecological Science and Its’ Intercourse with Socialist Feminism Chaos theory suggests that the subjective practice of “the butterfly effect” has a great effect on a system in flux. In an era of global transition, when American hegemony is under threat of destruction, it is increasingly significant to focus on the interaction of two, apparently distinct levels: macro globalized capitalism and micro active practices. These two levels are overlaid with series of crises: capital accumulation, global ecology and subjectivity. The consilience (jumping together) of historical materialism, scientific ecology and feminism are urgently needed to reconcile indifference and antagonism to each other. ... (Shim, Kwang Hyun) Critical Review of Choi Jang-jib's Studies and Discourse on Labor Movement(Politics) This article considers the historical facts and context of Choi Jang-jib’s studies and discourse on labor movement(politics). In particular, this article examines the reason why the existing constraints between his studies and interventions in real politics are intensified, and finally exploded, as well as the boundaries of his progressiveness. ... (Lee Kwang-Il) The Power Cartel and the Progressive Party between the State and the Party Historically, the progressive parties of South Africa and South Korea were anti-capitalist and engaged in political action to build socialism. Since the Communist Party of Korea was founded in 1925, many progressive parties have formed and joined radical social movements. Since the South Africa Communist Party’s formation in 1921, many progressive parties have formed radical social movements with the ANC (African National Congress). The most important strategy of the South African and South Korean progressive parties was to dominate state power. Along the way, they entered national assemblies and became absorbed in election politics. ... (Kim, Young Su) The Reconstruction of Classical Imperialism Based on Grossman’s Theory and Lenin’s Concept of Uneven Development This paper is composed of four parts. First, an interesting feature of Grossman’s treatment of counter-tendencies is how he integrates imperialism into tendency of the rate of profit to fall and economic crisis. This can be proved through an empirical study of data on organic composition of capital and on rate of profit during 1885~1949. Second, this paper asserts that it is possible to overcome the limitations of Hobson’ and Hilferding’s theory of imperialism and recuperate Lenin’ and Bukharin’s theory through the use of Grossman’s work. ... (Eojin Kim ) Freedom, Individual and Association in the Association of Free Individuals In his recent book, Professor Kim Soo-Haeng showed how the association of free individuals could be part of an alternative future society. The aim of this paper is compare this association with capitalist society. ... (Ji-Ung Park ) The Nature of the 18th Presidential Election and Future Prospects Park Geun-hye has won the 2012 18th Presidential Election of South Korea. It’s a hard result to take, given the public’s expectations of the transfer of authority and the ‘new politics’ of the ‘Ahn Cheol-soo phenomenon’. ... (Min Taek Ko ) On the Validity and Invalidity of the Same Evidence Principle As an expression of the law of causality, the Same Evidence Principle is a basic epistemological principle that informs daily life. Both Sceptical problems and the Gettier problem make use of this principle to posit doubt about whether we have certain knowledge or not. The universal validity of the Same Evidence Principle could be demonstrated by transcendental deduction. The non-universal invalidity of this principle could be demonstrated by applying practical materialism. Using the theory of Marxism’s epistemology, we seek here the answer to the Sceptical problems and the Gettier problem. (Lv Xulong)
