Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.4, 2015

The Principles Running through Marx’s Thinking on Economic Globalization

(Abstract)

Lü Shirong

Marx’s thinking on economic globalization is contained in his view of philosophy and historical materialism and his theory of world history. The changes Marx wrought in philosophy provided the premise for his thinking on economic globalization; that is, breaking down the old philosophy’s ontological concepts and connecting philosophical research to reality. This changed philosophical approach made it possible for Marx to solve the riddle of the development of human society and to discover its laws and tendencies. Historical materialism reveals the sources and trends in the formation and development of world history; from it emerged Marx’s theory of world history. This theory reveals the origins, dynamics, and trends of human society’s transition from regional history to world history, provides a scientific analysis of the place and role of capitalism in world history, and offers an intellectual weapon for understanding economic globalization. Marx’s thinking on economic globalization reveals its nature and tendencies and emphasizes that it is the product of the global expansion of capitalism. In the context of economic globalization, the inherent contradictions of capitalism will continue to exist. Only a holistic perspective that starts from Marx’s new philosophy, historical materialism and the theory of world history can give us a clear understanding of the nature and developmental trends of economic globalization.