Marx's theoretical heritage and modernity. Part 1. Marx's theoretical heritage and some actual issues of contemporary social sciences

The challenges facing global capitalism testify to the systemic crisis of the bourgeois civilization. This determines the increased interest in Marx, whose works are causing heated debate, as it was a hundred years ago. Such interest is also explained by practical implementation of his ideas, which changed the history in the 21st century. The article Marx’s Theoretical Heritage and Modernity consists of two parts. The first part contains a brief analysis of Marx’s heritage and shows Marx’s methodology of researching society as a strong point of his teaching. However, this methodology demonstrates its heuristic possibilities only when Marx’s theory is seen not as a fixed dogma but as a creative doctrine that is supposed to evolve with the change of society. The article shows what ideas of Marx’s economic teaching are in demand today and require further development in connection with the transition of capitalism to its post-industrial stage and the formation of a monopolistic global world order. At the present time, Marx’s political economy does not cause so much controversy as philosophy, political theory and their relationship do. The article analyzes the points of view existing in scientific literature and shows the fallacy of separating Marx’s political theory from his philosophy and especially opposing the former to the latter. The article also considers the problem of authorship of political theory.