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This article uses the Marxist theory of imperialism to analyze the war in Ukraine that broke out in March 2022. It analyzes the evolution of the socioeconomic system of post-Soviet Russia, the evolving relationship between post-Soviet Russia and the US government, and the history of relations between Russia and Ukraine. It considers the role of nationalist ideology in Russia both before and after the demise of the Soviet Union. The article concludes that a relation of inter-imperialist rivalry played a key role in the conflict that led to the war in Ukraine. JEL Classification: B51, N40, P52 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Marxist theory, imperialism is not a policy pursued by certain states, but rather a structural relation emerging from the dynamics of some modes of production. In the capitalist era the profit and accumulation drive underlies the establishment of imperialist relations. This paper applies historical materialism to analyze the political-economic system in China today to determine the forces that have shaped China's insertion into the global system. We present evidence that China's role in other parts of the world does not fit the Marxist concept of imperialism. We argue that the nonimperialist character of China's external relations stems from China's particular political economy. JEL Classification: F54, O53, P52 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper locates social structure of accumulation (SSA) theory in relation to traditional Marxism. It then applies SSA theory to analyze the current trajectory of system transformation in the global system. Drawing lessons from the global crisis of the 1930s, it uses SSA theory to illuminate the causes and possible consequences of the system transformation that now appears to be developing—a transformation that may be replacing parliamentary democracies by right-wing nationalist repressive regimes in many countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand a severe economic crisis such as that of 2008, it is not sufficient to analyze capitalism-in-general along with various economic policy decisions and contingent events. An adequate analysis requires taking account of the particular form of capitalism. This approach to crisis theory is illustrated by an examination of the roots of the economic crisis that broke out in 2008 in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]