The Dissenter

#1221 Richard Wolff: Marxism, Dialectical Materialism, and Science

Feb 27, 2026
Guest
Richard Wolff
Richard Wolff, economist and co-founder of Democracy at Work, discusses Marxism as capitalism’s self-critique. He explores dialectical materialism as a scientific method and contrasts state-centered versus workplace-centered Marxist traditions. Conversations cover workplace democracy, capitalism’s historical cycle, the need for scientific humility, and why Marxism is resurging today.
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INSIGHT

Marxism As Capitalism's Self Critique

  • Marxism is the self-criticism of capitalism focused on improving the existing system rather than rejecting its technological gains.
  • Richard Wolff frames Marxism as a global, historical critical tradition born from workers and critics who believed society could be organized better than capitalism.
INSIGHT

Capitalism Is Workplace Autocracy

  • Capitalism is defined by workplace organization: a minority (employers/CEOs) controls decisions while a majority (employees) sells labor and is controlled.
  • Wolff argues this employer-employee autocracy is undemocratic and central to Marxist critique and the push for workplace democratization.
ADVICE

Democratize Workplaces With One Person One Vote

  • Do pursue democratizing enterprises by replacing top-down control with one-person-one-vote workplace governance.
  • Wolff envisions factories and offices deciding production, technology, and distribution by majority rule as the path beyond capitalism.
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