Historical Materialism – serie

Richard Muller, a leading figure of the German Revolution in 1918, is unknown today. As the operator and unionist who represented Berlin's metalworkers, he was main organiser of the 'Revolutionary Stewards', a clandestine network that organised a series of mass strikes between 1916 and 1918. With strong support in the factories, the Revolutionary Stewards were the driving force of the Revolution. By telling Muller's story, this study gives a very different account of the revolutionary birth of the Weimar Republic.

The Philosophy of Living Experience is the single best introduction to the thought of Alexander Bogdanov (1873-1928), a Russian polymath who was co-founder, with Lenin, of the Bolshevik Party. His landmark achievements are Empiriomonism (1904-6), a philosophy of radical empiricism that he developed to replace what he considered to be the crude materialism of contemporary Marxists, and Tektology: Universal Organisational Science (1912-17), a precursor of cybernetics and systems theory. The Philosophy of Living Experience (1913) was written at a transitional point between them.

Over a decade ago Foster and Burkett introduced a revolutionary understanding of the ecological foundations of Marx's thought, demonstrating that Marx's concepts of the universal metabolism of nature, social metabolism, and metabolic rift prefigured much of modern systems ecology. In this volume, Foster and Burkett expand on this analysis in the process of responding to recent eco-socialist criticisms of Marx.

The essays collected within this text engage with the Marxist notion of a 'mode of production', the emergence of the medieval relations of production, the origins of capitalism, the dichotomy between free and unfree labour and essays in agrarian history. Together, the insightful and thought provoking texts within Theory as History demonstrate the importance of reintegrating theory within history and of bringing history back into historical materialism. Meticulously grounded in evidence, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in capitalism and Marxism.

Perhaps no philosopher is more of a conundrum than Nietzsche, the solitary rebel, poet, wayfarer, anti-revolutionary Aufklärer and theorist of aristocratic radicalism. His accusers identify in his 'superman' the origins of Nazism, and thus issue an irrevocable condemnation; his defenders pursue a hermeneutics of innocence founded ultimately in allegory.In a work widely regarded as the most important contribution to Nietzschean studies in recent decades, Domenico Losurdo instead pursues a less reductive strategy. Taking literally the ruthless implications of Nietzsche's anti-democratic thinking—his celebration of slavery, of war and colonial expansion, and eugenics—he nevertheless refuses to treat these from the perspective of the mid-twentieth century. In doing so, he restores Nietzsche's works to their complex nineteenth-century context, and presents a more compelling account of the importance of Nietzsche as philosopher than can be expected from his many contemporary apologists.Originally published in Italian by Bollati Boringhieri Editore as Domenico Losurdo, Nietzsche, il ribelle aristocratico: Biografia intellettuale e bilancio critico, Turin, 2002.

The Capitalist Cycle is a translation of a previously unknown work in Marxist economic theory. Originally published in 1928, this rediscovered work is one of the most creative essays written by a Soviet economist during the first two decades after the Russian Revolution. Following the dialectic of Hegel and Marx, Maksakovsky aims to provide a 'concluding chapter' for Marx's Capital. The book examines economic methodology and logically reconstructs Marx's analysis into a comprehensive and dynamic theory of cyclical economic crises.

Making History is about the question - central to social theory - of how human agents draw their powers from the social structures they are involved in. Drawing on classical Marxism, analytical philosophy, and a wide range of historical writing, Alex Callinicos seeks to avoid two unacceptable extremes: dissolving the subject into an impersonal flux, as poststructuralists tend to; and treating social structures as the mere effects of individual action (for example, rational-choice theory). Among those discussed are Althusser, Anderson, Benjamin, Brenner, Cohen, Elster, Foucault, Giddens, Habermas, and Mann. Callinicos has written an extended introduction to this new edition that reviews developments since Making History was first published in 1987. This republication gives a new generation of readers access to an important intervention in Marxism and social theory.Alex Callinicos, D.Phil. (1979) in Philosophy, University of Oxford, is Professor of Politics at the University of York (UK). He has written widely about Marxism and social theory. His most recent books are Social Theory (1999), Equality (2000), Against the Third Way (2001) and An Anti-Capitalist Manifesto (2003), all published by Polity.

This book uncovers the historical preconditions for the explosive revival of utopian literature at the nineteenth-century fin de siècle, and excavates its ideological content. It marks a contribution not only to the literary and cultural history of the late-Victorian period, and to the expanding field of utopian studies, but to the development of a Marxist critique of utopianism. The book is particularly concerned with three kinds of political utopia or anti-utopia, those of 'state socialism', feminism, and anti-communism (the characteristic expression of this last example being the cacotopia). After an extensive contextual account of the politics of utopia in late-nineteenth century England, it devotes a chapter to each of these topics before developing an original reinterpretation of William Morris's seminal Marxist utopia, News from Nowhere.About the AuthorMatthew Beaumont, D. Phil. (2000) in English Literature at the University of Oxford, is Lecturer in Nineteenth-Century Literature at University College London'ReviewsUtopia Ltd. is remarkable for its detailed historical grasp of the late-nineteenth century. Beaumont operates at a high conceptual level, demonstrating a sophisitcated understanding of Marxist cultural theory, which is most effectively put to use as an explanatory framework. There is much impressvely original work here, both in terms of ideas and in the bringing to light of hitherto little-discussed texts. There is also a good balance between original research on the one hand, and, on the other, a fresh approach to more canonical works such as Morris's News from Nowhere. The book is full of illuminating insights, lucidly and coherently argued.' Terry Eagleton, Professor of Cultural Theory and John Rylands Fellow, University of Manchester.'This is a very convincing, often original, and lucidly written reading of late-nineteenth century utopian literature that makes a fine contribution to the ever-growing field of fin-de-siècle studies.' Sally Ledger, Professor of Nineteenth-Century Literature, Birkbeck College, University of London.'Utopia Ltd. presents us with a new constellation of the field under inquiry, or — as one of Beaumont's masters of thought, Benjamin, would say — with a dialectical image which on the one hand makes some common features of late-nineteenth century utopian literature stand out, and on the other does not neglect the single stars. I recommend it warmly.' Darko Suvin, Emeritus Professor of English and Comparitive Literature, McGill University.'What I find particularly valuable about this book is the way in which it provides a new framework for understanding well-known texts such as Bellamy's Looking Backward, and especially Morris's News from Nowhere, by situating them in relation to the large output of utopian and "cacatopian" literature produced in the late nineteenth century. This phenomenon is an ideological episode worthy of attention in its own right, as a symptom of the widely-perceived crisis of bourgeois culture around the fin de siècle, and Beaumont does a convincing job of explaining it, thereby making it interesting to the reader. But I suspect that many on the left will be drawn to this study by the way it helps us towards a fuller understanding of Morris's News from Nowhere and issues around Marxist utopianism.' Andrew Hemingway, Professor of Art History, University College, London

This work addresses the politics of globalisation through an examination of neo-liberalism, the third way and anti-capitalist responses and alternatives. It utilises a Marxist approach, not only to challenge the claims made by apologists for 'actually existing globalisation', but to explain, contextualise and problematise the rise of anti-globalisation politics. Central to the work is a critique of globalisation theory, an examination of the role of the state as an agent of globalisation and a theorisation of the nature of uneven development.

This book examines the social-state, neoliberal, catalytic-state and democratic-cosmopolitan models of globalisation. Each tends to function in a manner contradicting essential claims made by its leading advocates. This immanent contradiction' provides a theoretical warrant for moving to a new position, addressing the shortcomings of the previous framework. The book also examines a Marxian model of capitalist globalisation, in which the irresolvable contradictions and social antagonisms of the capitalist global order are explicitly recognized and overcome.'

This book undertakes the first general assessment of ecological economics from a Marxist point of view, and shows how Marxist political economy can make a substantial contribution to ecological economics. The analysis is developed in terms of nature and economic value, the treatment of nature as capital, the significance of the entropy law for economic systems and the concept of sustainable development. A foundation is constructed for a substantive dialogue between Marxists and ecological economists.

The purpose of this book is to give a precise meaning to the formula: English is the language of imperialism. That statement involves a critique of the dominant views of language, both in the field of linguistics and of the philosophy of language. The author embodies a view of language as a social, historical, material and political phenomenon. Since there has never been a strong tradition of thinking about language in Marxism, the book seeks to construct a number of concepts for a Marxist philosophy of language.

First published in 1987, Althusser, The Detour of Theory was widely received as the fullest account of its subject to date. Drawing on a wide range of hitherto untranslated material, it examined the political and intellectual contexts of Althusser's `return to Marx' in the mid-1960s and proclamaed of a `crisis of Marxism'. It concluded with a balance-sheet of Althusser's contribution to historical materialism. In this second edition, Gregory Elliott has added a substantial postscript in which he surveys the posthumous edition of the French philosopher's work.

This volume offers a new interpretation of Marx's great work. It shows how the novelty and lasting interest of Marx's theory arises from the fact that, as against the project of a `pure' economics, it is formulated in concepts that have simultaneously an economic and a political aspect, neither of these being separable from the other. Jacques Bidet conducts an unprecedented investigation of Marx's work in the spirit of the history of science, exploring it as a process of theoretical development.

The point of departure of Heide Gerstenberger's path-breaking work is a critique of structural-functionalist theory of the state, in both its modernisation theory and materialist variants. Prof. Gerstenberger opposes to these a historical-theoretical explanation that proceeds from the long-term structuring effect of concrete social practice.

The Critical Companion to Contemporary Marxism' is an international and interdisciplinary volume which aims to provide a thorough and precise panorama of recent developments in Marxist theory in the US, Europe, Asia and beyond.'

This volume consists of a critical commentary on the interactions between Marxism and theology in the work of the major figures of Western Marxism. It deals with the theological writings of Ernst Bloch, Walter Benjamin, Louis Althusser, Henri Lefebvre, Antonio Gramsci, Terry Eagleton, Slavoj Zizek and Theodor Adorno. In many cases their theological writings are dealt with for the first time in this book. Apart from the critical engagement with the way they use theology, the book also explores how their theological writings infiltrate and enrich their Marxist work.

Although Alasdair MacIntyre is best known today as the author of After Virtue (1981), he was, in the 1950s and 1960s, one of the most erudite members of Britain's Marxist Left. This selection of his essays on Marxism from that period aims to show that his youthful thought profoundly informed his mature ethics, and that, in the wake of the collapse of the state-capitalist regimes in Russia and Eastern Europe, the powerful and optimistic Marxist ethics of liberation he articulated in that period is as salient to anti-capitalist activists today as it was half a century ago.

What does it mean to follow Marx? In this examination of Marx’s methodology combined with specific applications on topics in political economy such as neo-Ricardian theory, analytical Marxism, the falling rate of profit, crisis-theory, monopoly-capital, advertising, and the capitalist state, this volume argues that the failure to understand (or the explicit rejection of) Marx’s method has led astray many who consider themselves Marxists.About the Author Michael A. Lebowitz is professor emeritus of Economics at Simon Fraser University. His book, Beyond Capital': Marx's Political Economy of the Working Class was awarded the Deutscher Memorial Prize in 2004. His Build it Now: Socialism for the Twenty-first Century has been republished in several languages.

The theory of Permanent Revolution has been associated with Leon Trotsky for more than a century since the first Russian Revolution in 1905. Trotsky was the most brilliant proponent of Permanent Revolution but by no means its sole author. The documents in this volume, most of them translated into English for the first time, demonstrate that Trotsky was one of several participants in a debate from 1903-7 that involved numerous leading international Marxists, including Karl Kautsky, Rosa Luxemburg, Franz Mehring, Parvus and David Ryazanov.

The influence of Antonio Gramsci's thought is exceeded only by the diverse interpretations to which it has been subjected. Claimed by disparate schools of thought, Gramsci's writing has influenced scholars ranging from Michel Foucault to Noam Chomsky. In The Gramscian Moment, Peter D. Thomas compellingly argues that Gramsci is best understood as deepening the classical Marxist tradition. His significance derives from his distinctive position in the development of classical Marxism, giving it a renewed relevance for generations to come.

Offering commentary on the engagements with religion and theology by a range of Marxists, Roland Boer aims to gather insights in order to develop a comprehensive theory of religion. Following the acclaimed Criticism of Heaven, this is the second of a five-volume series called Criticism of Heaven and Earth.

Often portrayed as an aloof philosopher, Louis Althusser's work on Niccolo Machiavelli reveals Althusser's deep commitment to political practice. Seeking to challenge the prevailing views on Althusser, Mikko Lahtinen argues that the French thinker cannot be understood from a purely philosophical perspective.

More than 20 years after the collapse of the Berlin wall and the disappearance of Marxism as a (supposed) state ideology, this peer-reviewed book attempts to meet the need for a serious and long-term Marxist book publishing programme by releasing original monographs, newly translated texts and reprints of classics. Much has been written about Marx's irrelevance, here Carchedi attempts to redress the balance, he introduces the most hotly debated issues and evaluates them using Marx's method. Through these analyses what emerges is a solid foundation upon which to develop.

Criticsism of Theology offers commentary on the engagements with religion and theology by a range of Marxist philosophers and critics. Boer's aim is to gather insights in order to develop a comprehensive theory of religion. Following hot on the heels of Criticism of Heaven (Haymarket, 2009), for which he received scholarly acclaim, Richard Boer's latest volume in the Criticism of Heaven and Earth series (which will ultimately comprise five volumes) is guaranteed find an excited critical niche.

Unable to analyse the dynamics of specific forms of social labour in the US, most US civil war historians have ignored its deep social roots. To search out these roots, Post applies the theoretical insights form the transition debate to the historical literature on the US to produce a new analysis on the origins of American capitalism.

Monsters of the Market investigates the rise of capitalism through the prism of the body-panics it arouses. Drawing on folklore, literature and popular culture, the book links tales of monstrosity from early-modern England, including Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, to a spate of recent vampire and zombie fables from sub-Saharan Africa and it connects these to Marx's persistent use of monster-metaphors in his descriptions of capitalism.

Paul Levi remains one of the most interesting and controversial figures in the early history of the Communist movement. As leader of the KPD after the murder of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, he successfully built up a party of a third of a million members, but by 1921 Comintern pressure for `Bolshevisation' forced Levi's resignation and expulsion.This is the first English edition of Levi's writings and thus fills a gap in the canon of German communist literature.

The theory of imperialism is primarily associated with the most prominent figures in the history of European Marxism. However, the theory was actually developed through engaged debates within the Second International from 1898-1916. This volume assembles and translates for the first time all of the main documents produced over the course of these discussions. It is part of the Historical Materialism Book Series.