This book is the first in the Palgrave Macmillan Marxism and Education Series. Both the book and the series arose from the Marxism and Education: Renewing Dialogues (MERD) seminars initiated by us at the Institute of Education, University of London in 2002. The seminar series emerged at a point of our recognition of a somewhat bleak time for Marxist theory, research, and discourses in regard to education, despite some indications of small-scale revival. Our concern has been to address this context in the spirit of taking Marxism seriously and encouraging and supporting this in critical educational analysis, debate, and progressive practices. The MERD seminars have played a part in the ongoing revival.