Re: [Marxism] Adam Smith

[Dogan Gocmen <dgn.gcmn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mehmet Cagatay:
To my knowledge, whenever Malthus expresses 
something that evokes free market economy it almost
always indicates the freedom of labor market, the
antithesis of feudal monopoly:

Dogan:
Mehmet, Malthus writes in the age of what Marx called industrial capitalism, 
that is, almost in the same as D. Ricordo. Marx commentin on his population 
theory said that Malthus is applying Darwins theory of evolution/selection to 
society. Unlike Malthus, Smith had the worry about feudal monopoly because he 
wrote all his works before the great French Revolution of 1789. 

Mehmet Cagatay:
In contrast, Malthus envisages strictly regulatory 
measures as regards to the question how these freed 
men would be employed:

Dogan:
Mehmet, free trade does not reject regulation as such. It rejects regulations 
in favour of working classes to give full freedom to capitalists. 
   

Mehmet Cagatay:
Actually, in his speech "On the Question of Free Trade", 
Marx rigoriously criticises the supporters of free trade:

"Do not imagine, gentlemen, that in criticizing freedom 
of trade we have the least intention of defending the 
system of protection. One may declare oneself an enemy of 
the constitutional regime without declaring oneself a 
friend of the ancient regime." 

His last remarks about its revolutionary character is
a bitter sarcasm:

"It is in this revolutionary sense alone, gentlemen, 
that I vote in favor of free trade."

Dogan:
Mehmet, I suggest you read Marx's speech again. The first quotation supports my 
claim.
In my paper I sent you on these issues there are some other sources pointed 
out. Marx criticises free trade. He criticises also protectionism. According to 
Marx protectionism is conservative as  he refers to Friedrich List and free 
trade is distructive. But he thinks at that time that the implementation of 
free trade will bring capitalism in its purest sense to the fore and show 
people around the world what system they live in. Therefore, he thinks, it will 
prepare the social revolution to overcome capitalism as soon as possible, 
whereas protectionism is a artificial measure to creat bougeoisie in any given 
particular country.  



________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: 
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40archives.econ.utah.edu