The History and Ideas of Marxism: The Relevance for OR
Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol.59(12), pp.1573-1590, 2008
Posted: 22 Apr 2016
Date Written: 2008
Abstract
The paper examines the origins of Marxism in Europe in the second half of the 19th century in the context of the industrial and political revolutions of the previous century. The philosophical, economic, social and ethical ideas of Marxism are explained and critiqued. It is suggested that although many of Marx’s predictions have proved wrong and the application of his ideas often disastrous, his concern for the exploited and his emphasis on the dynamic of change still has relevance today for OR. The paper explores where that relevance lies and how advantage might be taken of the insights Marx’s analysis of society offers.
Keywords: Philosophy of OR, History of Ideas, Marxism, Process of OR
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation