Beyond Regulation: Towards a Cultural Political Economy of Complexity and Emergence

B. van Heur*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Drawing on and contributing to materialist state theory, the regulation approach and institutional economics for more than three decades, Bob Jessop can certainly be considered one of the foremost Marxist political economists of our time. Recently, he has taken on board the cultural turn in social analysis by developing a highly original cultural political economy of the knowledge-based economy. As a contribution to the further development of a cultural political economy that is sensitive to the cultural dimensions of social life while retaining an emphasis on capital accumulation and state regulation, this article directs attention to the limits of Jessop's approach and suggests possible amendments to the theory. In particular, the article highlights the need to move beyond a concern with regulation towards a cultural political economy of complexity and emergence.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)421-444
JournalNew Political Economy
Volume15
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2010

Cite this