Simon Clarke’s practical–theoretical dialectic and the unity of purpose: A personal reflection

Simon Clarke played an unrivalled role in the intellectual trajectory of his former students and significantly shaped research field sociology post-Soviet Russia. While work appears comprised two distinct lines inquiry, essential unity Simon’s project may be appreciated by zooming on factors that motivated entirety work, such as ethical orientation a desire to understand mediations social relations tensions between capitalism freedom, autonomy, self-determination dignity. Whether studying political economy ‘post-Fordist’ global capitalism, class composition post-colonial South Africa, development workers’ movements post-socialist states, or relationship capital relation state form contradictory expression its character constituted through struggle, there is purpose work. In this article, I reflect above personal reflection doctoral student.