ABSTRACT
Critical political economy of communications falls within the larger field of critical theory. Taking inspiration from Marx, the bulk of the researchers seek to form a coherent and systematic critique of capitalism. It is possible to find numerous forms of resistance at the individual and organizational levels of analysis. Digital sampling of recorded music by rap, dance, and hip hop musicians has brought the debate regarding the boundaries of the intellectual commons to the fore. Defenders of a musician's right to sample might trace the practice back to its African-American oral culture roots. Industrial-level struggles over copyright often emerge in labor contract disputes. Critics of free trade also question another key philosophical underpinning of the doctrine, the concept of "comparative advantage". The principle of comparative advantage posits that efficiency in the global trading system is best achieved when each nation specializes in the production of those goods that make the fullest utilization of indigenous resources.
