This collection brings together contributions from social theorists in sociology, philosophy, and cultural studies to dissect and critique capitalist crises, left-liberalism, left-Thatcherism, resistance to risk-pooling, idealist philosophy, undemocratic social character, status wages and authoritarian spectacles. Throughout, Marx's centrality to critical social theory is confirmed, both alone and in powerful combination with Adorno, Durkheim, Dubois, Lacan, Veblen, Weber and others.