Title: From Marx to Gramsci : a reader in revolutionary Marxist politics /
Authors: Le Blanc, Paul, 1947-
Publisher: Humanities Press,
Year: 1996
Subjects: Communism; Socialism; Revolutions
Abstract: "The readings collected here - of Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, Rosa Luxemburg, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Antonio Gramsci - reflect the experience of the labor, socialist, and communist movements that did so much to shape modern history. A dedication only working-class revolution gives coherence to the influential, philosophical, economic, sociological, and historical works of these writers. Key political concepts emerge from the vibrant selections offered in this reader: working-class independence, class consciousness, trade unionism, a labor party, international solidarity, revolution vs. reformism, the relation of democracy to socialism, the vanguard party, permanent revolution, the working-class struggle for cultural hegemony, and more. Never before have substantial political works by these authors been brought together a single volume." "Paul Le Blanc's introductory essay probes the structure and dynamics of Marxism as a political orientation, tracing connections among components that can be found in the readings: the theory of capitalist development, the theory of the labor movement, the strategy of revolution, the conception of the transition to socialism. Others identified with the Marxist tradition - such as Plekhanov, Kautsky, Stalin, Mao - are also discussed, and attention is given to perspectives of such varied critics of Marxism as Sidney Hook, Bertram D. Wolfe, James Burnham, Daniel Bell, Robert Heilbroner, and C. Wright Mills. Historical reflections are blended with discussion of the durability of capitalism, the disappointment of hopes for workers' revolution, the "collapse of communism," issues of race and gender, the environment, and challenges of the twenty-first century."--Jacket.
Contents: pt. 1. Introduction to Revolutionary Marxist Politics. 1. The Revolutionary Marxist Synthesis. 2. Theory of Capitalist Development. 3. Theory of the Labor Movement. 4. The Strategy of Revolution. 5. The Conception of the Transition to Socialism. 6. Does Revolutionary Marxism Have a Future? -- pt. 2. Readings, From Marx to Gramsci. Marx and Engels. Reading #1. Manifesto of the Communist Party. Reading #2. "Marx's Capital" Reading #3. "Inaugural Address of the International Workingmen's Association" Reading #4. "The Hague Congress of the IWA" Luxemberg. Reading #5. "Stagnation and Progress of Marxism" Reading #6. "Reform or Revolution?" Reading #7. "Mass Strike, Political Party and Trade Union" Reading #8. "On Imperialism" Reading #9. "Women's Suffrage and Class Struggle" Lenin. Reading #10. "The Urgent Tasks of Our Movement" Reading #11. "The Revolutionary Proletariat and the Right of Nations to Self-Determination" Reading #12. "The State" Reading #13. "Letters from Afar" Trotsky. Reading #14. "In Defense of the Russian Revolution" Reading #15. The Revolution Betrayed. Reading #16. "The USSR and the Problems of the Transitional Epoch" Reading #17. "Letter to the Workers of the USSR" Reading #18. "What Next? Vital Questions for the German Proletariat" Reading #19. "The Transitional Program" Gramsci. Reading #20. "Real Dialectics" Reading #21. "What Is to Be Done?" Reading #22. "Leader" Reading #23. "Once Again on the Organic Capacities of the Working Class" Reading #24. Prison Notebooks: "The Modern Prince" Reading #25. Prison Notebooks: "State and Civil Society."