Ali Ahmad*

University of Cambridge

The Economic Theories of the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research, 1923-1945

One of the key focal points of research during my award year presented an alternative perspective on Weimar’s economic history and the Soviet Union through an exploration of Friedrich Pollock’s theory of planned economy. I have worked on developing the conception of Weimar’s political economy into its fascist future, dissecting the notion referred to by Pollock as ‘state capitalism’ and further drawing a comparison with the rival ‘monopoly capitalism’ thesis propagated by another member of the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research, Franz L. Neumann.