The Different Marxist Traditions of Manuel Castells and Jean Lojkine: Althusserianism and State Monopoly Capitalism

Abstract

The works of Manuel Castells and Jean Lojkine are written within different Marxist traditions and it is necessary to understand these traditions in order to assess their work. Castells’s work — at least that written prior to 1983 (see Castells, 1983a, pp. 289–336) — is located within the Althusserian framework, while that of Lojkine is located within the framework of state monopoly capitalism (although in one place Castells attempts to combine elements of both frameworks — see Castells and Godard, 1974). Each of these frameworks will be briefly outlined as they impinge upon the work of Castells and Lojkine respectively.