'State Capitalism'

A Marxist critique of a false theory

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the restoration of capitalism there and in the countries of Eastern Europe may seem to have rendered the theory of ‘state capitalism’ irrelevant. But this false theory continues to mislead its proponents. They remain deeply hostile to the Cuban revolution and its leadership.

This pamphlet presents some key materials refuting this anti-Marxist theory. Barry Sheppard looks at what has happened in Russia since the demise of the old USSR and shows that it cannot be explained as simply a transition from ‘state capitalism’ to normal capitalism. Ernest Mandel subjects the theory of ‘state capitalism’ to a withering critique. An appendix looks at how the theory of ‘state capitalism’ fails to make any sense in regard to revolutionary Cuba.