David Harvey is not just one of the most cited figures in the social sciences, but a leading contemporary Marxist. His Companion to Marx’s Capital series has allowed a generation to get to grips with the German thinker’s most important work, while his studies on the history of neoliberalism and on urban spaces have adapted Marx’s tools to today’s political realities.

Having begun his career studying the remodeling of cities like Baltimore, Harvey’s work is notable for its focus on the constant revolutions brought about by capitalism — the myriad ways that it reorganizes our lives and the environments in which we live. In this vein, he has keenly emphasized the importance of urban social movements and the fight for the city.

In June, the Marxist geographer visited Barcelona to promote a Spanish-language collection of his works. Catarsi magazine’s Arnau Barquer sat down with David to discuss the long-term effects of the financial crisis, the rising importance of the fight over urban space and affordable housing, and the ability of local and national governments to resist the power of finance.