Accounting for History in Marx's Capital: The Missing Link

(Hardback)

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Accounting for History uses the accounting interpretation of Marxs theories of history and value to explain and defend his prediction of the inevitability of socialism as the end of history. In addition to the technological and institutional development of advanced capitalism, Bryer argues that the key necessary conditions, are that workers see through capitalist ideology, understanding that Marxs theory of value explains why the phenomenal forms appearing in capitalist accounts are distortions of the underlying social reality, and that demystified accounting is integral to his concept of socialism on Day One. To get to Day One, the book concludes, Marx left Marxists the tasks of critical accounting.

Reviews

I greatly enjoyed this book which covers the development of Marxs theory over his lifetime; how the theory has been interpreted by subsequent authors and can be reconciled to historical knowledge unavailable to Marx during his life, or to events following his death; testing the viability of his theory against the extant accounting evidence; historical analysis ranging from the ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians to the 1984-85 miners strike in Britain; and arguing in favor of a more coherent and proactive challenge to social injustice by critical accounting scholars mobilizing Marxs theory of value. A fantastic read that will stimulate much debate. -- David Oldroyd, Newcastle University
Rob Bryers writings on the history of accounting are always compelling and thought provoking. In his latest book he presents a convincing accounting interpretation of Marxs theory of history that draws on illustrations from ancient civilizations to the pre-capitalist world. His findings will intrigue students of Marxs philosophy, diverse communities of historians, and critical accountants. -- Steve Walker, University of Edinburgh Business School
Accounting for Value is a fascinating, optimistic book, of significant contemporary importance. Its argument that Marx is the original critical accountant and theorist of world accounting history, is genuinely ground-breaking. The importance of accounting to Marxs oeuvre, set out in the book, enables a more complex appreciation of Marxs theories, as well as demonstrating their empirical validity. Its explanation that accounting-technologies control the production of surplus-value, makes accounting, the invisible-hand in Marxs theory of capitalism. Accounting could be, the missing-link in many peoples understanding of Marxs theory of history and its end in socialism. A dynamic, detailed, must-read book. -- Christine Cooper, University of Edinburgh Business School
"With capitalism once again at a crossroads, its defenders rely, more than ever, on methods for obfuscating the real underlying economic relationships. In Accounting for History, Rob Bryer exposes how accounting obscures these relationships, and the true nature of value. Building on Accounting for Value, he traces the evolution of accounting as historical materialism. From the ancient slave societies of Babylonia and Rome, though feudal estates, the ideology of capitalism, to the inevitability of socialism, Bryer reinterprets the history of accounting, adds insights to the Marxian view of history, and rehabilitates Marxs core ideas." -- Steven Toms, University of Leeds

Author Bio

Rob Bryer is professor emeritus of accounting at Warwick Business School, Warwick University.