Toward a Historical Materialist Universalism

Abstract

In light of the review of Marx’s conception of Oriental society and the comparative economic history debate over imperial China’s place in world history in Part I and the past, present, and potential future movement of modern China vis-à-vis global capitalism in Part II, some tentative reflections from a critical and self-reflexive Marxist standpoint are in order. Self-reflexivity is both an intrinsic mechanism and an open manifestation of the dynamics of historical materialism’s enduring relevance and rejuvenation.