Short Description:
Marxism, unfortunately, cannot be defined in a simple short description, but
can be summed up as a theory of structural contradictions and a critique of
political economy. Since Marx and Engels wrote their numerous works in the 19th
century and attempted to assert a particular revolutionary programme in Great
Britain, Continental Europe, and the capitalist nations of North America (notably
through the First International and the Communist League), the tradition of
Marxism has taken various interesting turns and re-interpretations. While the
Spectre haunting Europe during the painful early years of the Industrial Revolution
did not amount to a proletarian revolution or the establishment of socialism/communism,
despite efforts drenched in blood (the revolutions of 1848 and the Paris Commune
of 1871), Marxism has not ended up in the dustbin of history.
The list of Marxist traditions is virtually endless, from the Frankfurt School,
the Structuralist paradigm, to Autonomous, Open, and Unoist Marxisms, as well
as political interpretations such as Marxist-Leninism, ‘Socialism or Barbarism’,
anarcho-communism, and Maoism, just as a sample. Unity between these traditions
should not be assumed regardless of their status as ‘Marxist’, since
history has shown bitter divisions existing within and between political and
theoretical camps.
Since the 1960’s and 70’s especially, Marxism has been forced to
confront the realities of its own limitations. Racism, sexism, and heterosexism
are relatively foreign concepts to the Orthodox Marxist canon (1), and the centrality
of class is quite unpalatable for many contemporary radical activists. The traditional
emphasis on seizing state power (2) comes into question and is countered by
extra-parliamentary movements that object to the usurption of governmental authority
altogether. Marxist hegemony over movements and revolutionary action has been
successfully challenged, but whether or not the radical successors will be any
more effective is yet to be determined. Regardless, Marxism still maintains
a solid hold on the theoretical understanding of capital and repeatedly shows
an advanced interpretation of current flows of capitalist development.
Notes:
1. Marx and Engels addressed the concern of sex and gender, but not to the appropriate
extent. See Engels’ Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State.
2. The question of state power is as yet unresolved, and its place in Marx and
Engels’ own work is not fully resolved. Nevertheless, achieving parliamentary
majority and using liberal democracy to achieve revolution is a common strategy
of Communist and Socialist parties.
Related Groups and Practices:
Council Communism
Disobbedienti
Industrial Workers of the World
Situationist International
Related Theorists and Traditions:
Karl Marx
Marx and Engels
Autonomist Marxism
Open Marxism
Antonio Negri
Michael Hardt
Bifo
Mario Tronti
Nick Dyer-Witheford
Tariq Ali
Paolo Virno
Guy Debord
Anti-Globalization and Marxism
External Links:
Marxist.org Internet Archive
< http://www.marxists.org/>
Monthly Review
< http://www.monthlyreview.org/>
First International in America
< http://www.marxists.org/subject/usa/eam/firstinternational.html>
Communist League
< http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/communist-league/index.htm>