This collection of essays investigates the application of Marxist theory to the study of precapitalist social and economic formations. Edited by Helen Lackner, the volume compiles work from nine French anthropologists who seek to refine the methodology of economic anthropology. By examining various modes of production, the authors argue for a more rigorous, scientific approach to analyzing how societies transform over time.

Experts recognize this volume as a significant contribution to the dissemination of French Marxist anthropological thought within English-speaking academia. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational text for those interested in the intersection of structuralism and economic history.