IP : 5.189.203.18 On: Sun, 16 Sep 2018 20:12:59 Copyright The Policy Press Delivered by Ingenta 197 Critical and Radical Social Work • vol 6 • no 2 • 197–213 • © Policy Press 2018 Print ISSN 2049 8608 • Online ISSN 2049 8675 • https://doi.org/10.1332/204986018X15321002618490 Acccepted for publication 02 May 2018 • First published online 10 August 2018 article SPECIAL ISSUE • Marx at 200 Marx: alienation, commodity fetishism and the world of contemporary social work Michael Lavalette, lavalem@hope.ac.uk Liverpool Hope University, UK Iain Ferguson, iain.ferguson6@btinternet.com University of the West of Scotland, UK This article offers an outline of Marx’s concept of alienation and his later related concept of commodity fetishism. Building on previously published work on this topic, we argue that the lack of control over our lives and creative activity that, for Marx, defned alienation and that he saw as being more extreme under capitalism than under any previous mode of production has actually intensifed during the era of neoliberalism. Through an examination of the areas of work, sexuality and health, we examine the terrible toll that the lack of control and greatly increased commodifcation is having on our health and relationships. Finally, we point to some ways in which an understanding of alienation can contribute to a radical social work theory and practice. key words alienation • commodity fetishism • human nature • work • commodifcation To cite this article: Lavalette, M. and Ferguson, I. (2018) Marx: alienation, commodity fetishism and the world of contemporary social work, Critical and Radical Social Work, vol 6, no 2, 197–213, DOI:10.1332/204986018X15321002618490 Introduction In 1972, Jimmy Reid, the recently elected Rector of Glasgow University, delivered his inaugural address to a packed hall of university students and academics. Reid was one of the leaders of the historic ‘work-in’ against redundancies and closure that took place earlier that year at Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (UCS) in Clydebank, and the title of the address was ‘Alienation’. It began as follows: Alienation is the precise and correctly applied word for describing the major social problem in Britain today. People feel alienated by society. In some intellectual circles it is treated almost as a new phenomenon. It has, however, been with us for years. What I believe is true is that today it is more widespread, more pervasive than ever before. Let me right at the outset defne what I mean by alienation. It is the cry of men who feel themselves the victims of blind economic forces beyond their control. It’s the frustration