Relative Autonomy

This argument has a very important implication in the other levels.

This is that developments in the superstructural levels can be independent of developments in the economic - the levels have relative autonomy from the economic. Thus in the political level the contradiction between two forces (eg two political parties) has its own dynamic, beyond that given from the economic base. For another example, in the realm of ideas (the ideological level) ideas from a previous historical period can still be important despite the fact that their economic base has disappeare (eg the campaign in China to criticise Confucius).

The concept of relative autonomy is a very important one for much of the discussion that follows.

In concluding, two points need to be emphasised. The first is that Althusser's page 11 [unclear: he] Conference had its hassles as any [unclear: ch] a size must. Yet the ideas thrown [unclear: nd] and the general spirit of people [unclear: ding] made the experience a most [unclear: erating] one. There was a trend to [unclear: actness], but I suppose that's a problem [unclear: ademic] approaches face! Overall, [unclear: y] successful start to the Political [unclear: omy] Movement.

[unclear: ne] topics covered in the following [unclear: outlines] are: a brief guide to Althusser [unclear: ench] Marxist who had considerable [unclear: ence] over many of the speakers); [unclear: cr] of the state; the role of education [unclear: pitalist] society; women's position in [unclear: ty], and the present situation at Sydney [unclear: ersity].

[unclear: ere's] a lot of Political Economy [unclear: around]. Hope you catch it soon.

[unclear: ments] are normally very complicated [unclear: hard] to understand. This had led many [unclear: te] to dismiss them. The point on the [unclear: to] clarly understand concepts and [unclear: relations] through study is however a [unclear: important] one.

[unclear: he] second - the valid criticism of [unclear: usser] - is the need to relate these [unclear: ries] to concrete practice. Marx wrote [unclear: to] now philosophers have tried to [unclear: rstand] the world - the point is to [unclear: ge] it". Unless these theories can be [unclear: lid] to practice, and are somehow [unclear: r] in helping that practice, the [unclear: cise] has not been a useful one.

[unclear: the] rest of this summary of the [unclear: cal] economy conference, I have [unclear: to] outline how I feel these ideas of [unclear: usser] are useful and helpful.

[unclear: id] finally, because of the complexity [unclear: ny] of the arguments, I have [unclear: undoub-misread] Althusser on many points. There substitute for the real thing.

[unclear: setung] "On Contradiction"