,! ,CRISIS ( ,M>XISM ,PEOPLE 3 ,AU?OR 3 ,K>L ,KORS* ,TEXT 3 ,FIR/ ,PUBLI%$3 9 ,DIE MAT]IALI/IS*E ,GES*I*TSAUFFASSUNG1 #aiga ,TRANSLAT$ BY ,OTTO ,KOE/] ,S\RCE3 LIBCOM4ORG2 ,TRANSCRIB$3 BY ,ZDRAVKO ,SAVESKI1 = M>XI/S4ORG #b#a#b2 #a ,M>XISM TODAY IS 9 ! MID/ ( AN HI/ORICAL & !ORETICAL CRISIS4 ,IT IS NOT SIMPLY A CRISIS )9 ! ,M>XI/ MOVEM5T1 BUT A CRISIS ( ,M>XISM ITSELF4 ,?IS CRISIS REVEALS ITSELF EXT]NALLY 9 ! COMPLETE COLLAPSE ( ! DOM9ANT POSITION - P>TIALLY ILLUSORY1 BUT ALSO P>TIALLY REAL - ?AT ,M>XISM HELD DUR+ ! PRE-,WORLD ,W> ,I ]A 9 ! ,EUROPEAN WORK+ CLASS MOVEM5T4 ,IT REVEALS ITSELF 9T]NALLY 9 ! TRANS=MATION ( ,M>XI/ !ORY & PRACTICE1 A TRANS=MATION :I* IS MO/ IMM$IATELY APP>5T 9 ,M>XI/S' ALT]$ POSITION VIS-A-VIS !IR [N NATIONAL /ATE AS WELL AS ) RESPECT TO ! B\RGEOIS SY/EM ( NATIONAL /ATES AS A :OLE4 ,IT IS DECEPTIVE & EV5 FALSE TO SEE ! !ORETICAL ORIG9S ( ! PRES5T CRISIS AS RESULT+ EI!R FROM A P]V]SION OR AN OV]SIMPLIFICATION ( ,M>X'S & ,5GELS' REVOLUTION>Y !ORY AT ! H&S ( !IR SUCCESSORS4 ,IT IS EQUALLY MISLEAD+ TO JUXTAPOSE ?IS DEG5]AT$1 FALSIFI$ ,M>XISM TO ! 0PURE !ORY0 ( ,M>X & ,5GELS !MSELVES4 ,9 ! F9AL ANALYSIS1 TODAY'S CRISIS IS ! CRISIS ( ,M>X'S & ,5GELS' !ORY AS WELL4 ,! IDEOLOGICAL & DOCTR9AIRE SEP>ATION ( 0PURE !ORY0 FROM ! REAL HI/ORICAL MOVEM5T1 AS WELL AS ! FUR!R DEVELOPM5T ( !ORY1 IS ITSELF AN EXPRESSION ( ! PRES5T CRISIS4 #b ,! =M ( ,M>XISM :I* IS CURR5TLY 5T]+ A CRITICAL /AGE WAS A PRODUCT ( ! SECOND HALF ( ! N9ETE5? C5TURY4 ,IT WAS CREAT$ FROM ELEM5TS ( A !ORY :I* WAS ITSELF =MULAT$ UND] E>LI] HI/ORICAL CONDITIONS1 CONDITIONS ?AT DIFF]$ FUNDAM5TALLY FROM ?OSE ( ! LATE N9ETE5? C5TURY4 ,!SE ELEM5TS W]E ACTIVELY 9CORPORAT$ 9TO ! WORK+ CLASS MOVEM5T AT A TIME :5 ,EUROPEAN CAPITALISM WAS NOT YET FULLY DEVELOP$4 ,& H]E IS ! G5ESIS = ! SEP>ATION ( !ORY FROM PRACTICE 9H]5T 9 ! 5TIRE HI/ORY ( ,M>XISM4 ,FROM ITS V]Y BEG9N+1 ?IS !ORY IS NEV] ! 0G5]AL EXPRESSION ( EXI/+ CLASS /RUGGLES40 ,RA!R1 IT IS ! COMPOSITE RESULT ( ! CLASS /RUGGLES ( A PREVI\S HI/ORICAL ]A1 & IT CONSEQU5TLY LACKS ANY REAL RELATION TO CONTEMPOR>Y CLASS /RUGGLES EM]G+ AS A RESULT ( :OLLY NEW CONDITIONS4 ,9 ! C\RSE ( HI/ORICAL DEVELOPM5T1 ?IS SEP>ATION ( !ORY FROM PRACTICE HAS WID5$ RA!R ?AN N>R[$4 ,! ?REE CONTEMPOR>Y =MS ( ,M>XISM -0REVISIONISM10 0OR?ODOXY0 & ! P]IODIC EF=TS TO 0RE/ORE0 ORIG9AL REVOLUTION>Y ,M>XISM 9 ITS PURE =M - >E ALL BAS$ UPON ?IS SEP>ATION4 ,9 ! F9AL ANALYSIS1 IT IS ALSO ! S\RCE ( ! PRES5T CRISIS4 #c ,AFT] #ahe ! ALT]$ HI/ORICAL CONDITIONS ( ! NEW CAPITALI/ EPO* & ( ! WORK+ CLASS MOVEM5T ITSELF PREV5T$ ! FUR!R DEVELOPM5T ( A LIV+ ,M>XI/ !ORY )9 ! UNFOLD+ PRAXIS ( ! WORK]S' MOVEM5T4 ,BY ! YE> #ahe ! FIR/ GREAT CYCLE 9 ! HI/ORICAL DEVELOPM5T ( CAPITALISM HAD COME TO A CLOSE4 ,DUR+ ?IS CYCLE & ON ! BASIS ( ITS LIMIT$ CAPACITY AT ?AT TIME1 CAPITALISM HAD COMPLET$ ALL /AGES ( ITS DEVELOPM5T TO ! PO9T :]E ! CLASS-CONSCI\S SECTOR ( ! PROLET>IAT WAS 9 A POSITION TO PLACE SOCIAL REVOLUTION ON ! HI/ORICAL AG5DA4 ,?US1 ON ! LIMIT$ ECONOMIC BASIS ( ?AT P]IOD1 ! CLASS MOVEM5T ( ! PROLET>IAT HAD REA*$ A RELATIVELY HI< LEVEL ( DEVELOPM5T4 ,?IS DEVELOPM5T F\ND PRACTICAL EXPRESSION 9 ! REVOLUTION>Y /RUGGLES ( ?AT P]IOD1 & !ORETICAL EXPRESSION 9 ! E>LY =MULATIONS ( ! SO-CALL$ UTOPIAN SOCIALI/S CONC]N+ ! CONT5T ( PROLET>IAN CLASS CONSCI\SNESS & ! GOALS ( ! PROLET>IAN REVOLUTION4 ,IT WAS DUR+ ?IS TIME & 9 ! LAT] DEVELOPM5T ( !IR !ORIES1 :I* RESULT$ FROM ! EXP]I5CES ( ?IS P]IOD1 ?AT ,M>X & ,5GELS >RIV$ AT !IR TW(OLD !ORETICAL A*IEVEM5T4 ,ON ! ONE H&1 !Y CRITICIZ$ ALL ASPECTS ( ! EXI/+ CLASS SOCIETY 7ECONOMIC BASIS & SUP]/RUCTURE7 FROM ! NEWLY ACQUIR$ P]SPECTIVE ( ! PROLET>IAT4 ,9 SO DO+1 !Y APPROPRIAT$ UNALT]$ ! CONT5T ( ?IS NEW PROLET>IAN CLASS CONSCI\SNESS DIRECTLY FROM ! REALITY ( EXI/+ CLASS /RUGGLES & AS IT WAS =MULAT$ !ORETICALLY BY ! UTOPIAN SOCIALI/S4 ,SIMULTANE\SLY1 H[EV]1 !Y CRITICIZ$ ! PRACTICE ( ! PROLET>IAN MOVEM5T AS WELL AS ! !ORIES ( ! UTOPIAN SOCIALI/S4 ,DRAW+ UPON ! HIIAN CLASS ! REAL DEVELOPM5TAL LAWS ( ! EXI/+ CAPITALI/ SOCIETY & H5CE1 AT ! SAME TIME1 ! REAL CONDITIONS = REVOLUTION>Y CLASS ACTIONS4 ,AFT] #ahe & ON AN EXP&$ BASIS 7GEOGRAPHICAL1 TE*NOLOGICAL1 ORGANIZATIONAL71 CAPITALISM BEGAN A NEW HI/ORICAL CYCLE ( ITS DEVELOPM5T4 ,UND] !SE ALT]$ CONDITIONS1 IT WAS NO LONG] POSSIBLE = ! PROLET>IAT TO DRAW DIRECTLY UPON ,M>XI/ !ORY 9 ITS ORIG9AL =M1 A !ORY :I* HAD ASSUM$ ITS REVOLUTION>Y *>ACT] UND] ! CONDITIONS ( A PA/ HI/ORICAL EPO*4 ,DUR+ ! #a#h#gS - A P]IOD ( CRISIS & DEPRESSION :I* WAS P>TICUL>LY CONDUCIVE TO ! DEVELOPM5T ( CLASS CONSCI\SNESS - ! WORK+ CLASS WAS ABLE TO ADOPT ?IS !ORY 9 A =MAL WAY4 ,YET EV5 !N IT WAS UNABLE TO APPROPRIATE COMPLETELY ITS REVOLUTION>Y CONT5T-EI!R PRACTICALLY OR !ORETICALLY4 #d ,! ,M>XI/ !ORY APPROPRIAT$ BY ! ,EUROPEAN WORK]S' MOVEM5T 9 ! SECOND HALF ( ! N9ETE5? C5TURY HAD P>TIALLY ALT]$ ITS ORIG9AL REVOLUTION>Y *>ACT] DUR+ ! RECEPTION PROCESS ITSELF4 ,! MAT]IALI/ VIEW ( HI/ORY GREW \T ( A REVOLUTION>Y P]IOD PRIOR TO #ahe AS AN 9TEGRAL P>T ( ! SUBJECTIVE ACTION ( A REVOLUTION>Y CLASS1 :I* CONT9UALLY CRITICIZES 9 !ORY & OV]?R[S 9 PRACTICE ! FALSE ILLUSIONS & TRANSI5T APPE>ANCES ( ALL EXI/+ SOCIAL RELATION%IPS4 ,9 ! SUCCE$+ P]IOD1 IT DEVELOP$ 9TO A PURELY AB/RACT & PASSIVE !ORY DEAL+ ) ! OBJECTIVE C\RSE ( SOCIAL DEVELOPM5T AS DET]M9$ BY EXT]NAL LAWS4 ,M>XI/ ECONOMY WAS ORIG9ALLY =MULAT$ AS A RADICAL CRITIQUE ( B\RGEOIS POLITICAL ECONOMY1 A CRITIQUE :I* WAS TO HAVE F\ND BO? !ORETICAL & PRACTICAL CULM9ATION 9 A REAL REVOLUTION4 ,?IS ORIG9AL S*EMA WAS LAT] *ANG$ BY ,M>X & ALT]$ EV5 MORE BY ,5GELS4 ,TODAY ! APOLOGI/S AS WELL AS ! CRITICS ( ,M>XISM VIEW ,M>XI/ ECONOMICS AS LITTLE MORE ?AN A SCI5TIFIC SY/EM 9 :I* ALL ECONOMIC PH5OM5A ( B\RGEOIS SOCIETY >E D$UC$ !ORETICALLY FROM AN UNCRITICAL1 AXIOMATIC CONCEPT ( 0VALUE40 ,M>X'S REVOLUTION>Y CRITIQUE ( POLITICAL ECONOMY AIM$ AT ! !ORETICAL & PRACTICAL SUBLATION 7,AUFHEBUNG7 ( FETI%ISM4 ,BUT FETI%ISM HAS BECOME ! IDOL ( ,M>XI/ SCI5TIFIC ECONOMI/S & A ?ORN 9 ! SIDE ( B\RGEOIS & RE=MI/ CRITICS ( ,M>XISM4 ,HAV+ BE5 ABSORB$ BY ! MOD]N WORK+ CLASS AS M]E IDEOLOGY1 ,M>XI/ SCI5CE COMPLETELY CEAS$ DEVELOP+ AS A LIV+ !ORY AFT] ! DEA? ( ,M>X1 ,5GELS & ! FIR/ G5]ATION ( !IR DIRECT DISCIPLES4 ,DUR+ ?IS P]IOD ! LEAD+ REPRES5TATIVES ( REVOLUTION>Y PR9CIPLES 9 ! ,M>XI/ P>TIES W]E =C$ TO FIDS RE=MI/ !ORY & PRACTICE4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 !Y OPPOS$ ANY ATTEMPTS TO REVITALIZE ! !ORETICAL EXPRESSION ( PROLET>IAN CLASS /RUGGLE4 ,CONFRONT$ ) ! ?REAT ( B\RGEOIS FALSIFICATIONS ( TRADITIONAL ,M>XI/ !ORY1 !Y T5D$ TO VIEW !IR [N /AGNATION AS ! LESS] ( TWO EVILS4 7,SEE ,ROSA ,LUXEMBURG'S >TICLE 0,/ILL/& UND ,=TS*RITT IM ,M>XISMUS0 .<0,/AGNATION & ,PROGRESS )9 ,M>XISM0.>47 ,AT ?IS TIME ! MO/ IMPORTANT IMPETUS = FUR!R DEVELOP+ ! !ORY ( PROLET>IAN CLASS /RUGGLE CAME FROM ?REE DIFF]5T DIRECTIONS1 EA* ( :I* CONSCI\SLY & UNCONSCI\SLY /OOD OPPOS$ TO OR?ODOX ,M>XI/ !ORY4 ,!SE ?REE W]E3 UNIONI/ RE=MISM1 REVOLUTION>Y SYNDICALISM & ,L59I/ ,BOL%EVISM4 ,DESPITE VA/ DIFF]5CES1 ALL ?REE %>$ ONE COMMON T5D5CY4 ,9 ONE WAY OR ANO!R1 EA* ATTEMPT$ TO MAKE ! SUBJECTIVE ACTION ( ! WORK+ CLASS RA!R ?AN ! OBJECTIVE DEVELOPM5T ( CAPITALISM ! MA9 FOCUS ( SOCIALI/ !ORY4 ,9 ?IS REG>D1 ALL ?REE APPE> AS PROGRESSIVE T5D5CIES )9 ! DEVELOPM5T ( ! WORK+ CLASS MOVEM5T & SIMULTANE\SLY AS ! =]UNN]S ( ?AT PROLET>IAN CLASS !ORY & PRACTICE :I* WAS TO DEVELOP ON A NEW HI/ORICAL BASIS4 #f.<#a.> ,FROM ?IS OV]VIEW ( ! HI/ORICAL ORIG9S & DET]M9ANTS ( ! CURR5T ,M>XI/ CRISIS1 SEV]AL CONCLUSIONS EM]GE :I* PO9T TO WAYS = OV]COM+ IT4 ,NONE ( ! CURR5T TR5DS 9 ,M>XISM /&S AS AN ADEQUATE !ORETICAL EXPRESSION = ! CONT9U$ PRACTICAL NE$S ( ! PROLET>IAN CLASS /RUGGLE-A /RUGGLE :I*1 DESPITE OCCASIONAL DEFEAT1 REMA9S REVOLUTION>Y 9 ITS MEANS & ITS GOALS4 ,C]TA9LY SO-CALL$ 0OR?ODOX ,M>XISM0 PROVIDES ! LEA/ ADEQUATE SOLUTION4 ,( ALL ! CONTEMPOR>Y =MS ( ,M>XISM1 ?IS IS ! MO/ DAMAG+ TO ! PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPM5T ( ! PROLET>IAN CLASS4 ,AFT] HAV+ LONG S9CE /AGNAT$ 9TO IDEOLOGY1 0OR?ODOX ,M>XISM0 COLLAPS$ AS SU* 7,KAUTSKY7 9 ITS F9AL PHASE4 ,TODAY IT IS NO?+ BUT A H9DRANCE BLOCK+ ! DEVELOPM5T ( ! !ORY & PRACTICE ( ! PROLET>IAN CLASS /RUGGLE4 ,! TWO O!R TR5DS :I* >E CONT9UATIONS ( PRE-,WORLD ,W> ,I ,M>XISM >E A DIFF]5T MATT]4 ,FROM ! P]SPECTIVE ( ! REVOLUTION>Y PROLET>IAT1 NEI!R ! RE=MI/ /ATE SOCIALISM ( ! SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC P>TIES NOR COMMUNI/ ANTI-IMP]IALISM CAN BE WRITT5 (F SIMPLY AS REACTION>Y MOVEM5TS4 ,! RELATION%IP ( TODAY'S PROLET>IAT TO ! SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC P>TIES & ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY IS VIRTUALLY ID5TICAL TO ! RELATION%IP ( ! PROLET>IAN CLASS AS A :OLE TO ! !ORY & PRACTICE ( ! RADICAL1 PROGRESSIVE B\RGEOIS P>TY AT ?AT TIME 9 HI/ORY :5 ! ,EUROPEAN B\RGEOIS CLASS WAS /ILL RELATIVELY PROGRESSIVE4 ,IT IS AN IRREVOCABLE FACT ( HI/ORY ?AT DUR+ & IMM$IATELY AFT] ,WORLD ,W> ,I1 ! ONCE REVOLUTION>Y & ANTI-/ATI/ IDEOLOGY ( SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC ,M>XISM AS IT EXI/$ 9 ! MO/ P[]FUL CORE NATIONS ( 9T]NATIONAL CAPITALISM - ! SO-CALL$ IMP]IALI/ NATIONS - WAS TRANS=M$ 9TO RE=MI/ /ATE SOCIALISM4 ,?IS IS ANALOG\S TO ! TRANS=MATION ( REVOLUTION>Y1 ANTI-/ATI/ ,*RI/IANITY 9TO ! (FICIAL RELIGION ( ! ,ROMAN /ATE DUR+ ! E>LY ,MIDDLE ,AGES4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 !RE >E ! /RUGGLES TAK+ PLACE 9 ! M>G9AL >EAS ( ! 9T]NATIONAL CAPITALI/ SY/EM1 :]E CAPITALISM HAS NOT YET DEVELOP$ LOCALLY4 ,! REPRESS$ & EXPLOIT$ CLASSES ( !SE >EAS APPE> TO BE DEVELOP+ !ORIES 9 !IR CURR5T /RUGGLES :I* >E CONTIGU\S ) SO-CALL$ ,COMMUNISM4 ,!SE !ORIES CANNOT TAKE UP & CONT9UE OLD ,M>XISM = TWO REASONS3 FIR/1 ! OLD] !ORY IS BAS$ ON ! TRIUMPH ( CAPITALISM OV] PRE-CAPITALI/ SOCIO-ECONOMIC =MATIONS & ! ADVANTAGE\S RELATION%IP ( ?IS /AGE ( HI/ORY TO ! PROLET>IAN CLASS /RUGGLE2 & SECONDLY1 OLD ,M>XISM PROCE$S FROM ! IMM$IATE1 POSITIVE RELATION%IP ( ! B\RGEOIS TO ! PROLET>IAN REVOLUTION4 ,9 !SE M>G9AL >EAS ! RELATION%IP ( ! /RUGGLES ( ! PROLET>IAN CLASS TO ?OSE ( ! 9DIG5\S & =EIGN B\RGEOISIE IS DIFF]5T-NOT FUNDAM5TALLY1 BUT 9 ITS IMM$IATE =M4 ,!SE MOVEM5TS CANNOT SEEK CONNECTIONS ) RE=MISM1 S9CE IT IS 9SEP>ABLY TI$ TO ! EXPANSIONI/ & COLONIALI/ POLICIES ( ! CORE NATIONS ( ! WORLD CAPITALI/ SY/EM TODAY4 ,H[EV]1 !Y WILL F9D 9 ,L59I/ ,BOL%EVISM & ,COMMUNISM A =M ( ,M>XI/ IDEOLOGY :I* IS /RONGLY ANTI-IMP]IALI/4 ,IT C\LD BE US$ AS A TRANSITIONAL IDEOLOGY = !IR [N ANTI-IMP]IALI/ CLASS /RUGGLE4 ,SU* A PROCESS W\LD AGA9 BE ANALOG\S TO ! SPREAD ( ,*RI/IANITY AMONG ! B>B>IANS \TSIDE ! T]RITORIES ( ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE4 #g ,M>XISM AS AN HI/ORICAL PH5OM5ON IS A ?+ ( ! PA/4 ,IT GREW \T ( ! REVOLUTION>Y CLASS /RUGGLES ( ! FIR/ HALF ( ! N9ETE5? C5TURY1 ONLY TO BE MA9TA9$ & RE-%AP$ 9 ! SECOND HALF ( ! N9ETE5? C5TURY AS ! REVOLUTION>Y IDEOLOGY ( A WORK+ CLASS :I* HAD NOT YET REGA9$ ITS REVOLUTION>Y =CE4 ,YET 9 A MORE FUNDAM5TAL HI/ORICAL S5SE1 ! !ORY ( PROLET>IAN REVOLUTION1 :I* WILL DEVELOP ANEW 9 ! NEXT P]IOD ( HI/ORY1 WILL BE AN HI/ORICAL CONT9UATION ( ,M>XISM4 ,9 !IR REVOLUTION>Y !ORY1 ,K>L ,M>X & ,FRI$RI* ,5GELS GAVE ! FIR/ GREAT SUMM>IZATION ( PROLET>IAN IDEAS1 9 ! FIR/ REVOLUTION>Y P]IOD ( ! PROLET>IAN CLASS /RUGGLE4 ,?IS !ORY REMA9S = ALL TIME ! CLASSICAL EXPRESSION ( ! NEW REVOLUTION>Y CONSCI\SNESS ( ! PROLET>IAN CLASS FI _?#e MISS+ 9 !IR ORIG9AL1 PRESUM$ BURI$ )9 _?#d4 ,FROM 3 ,M>XI/S4ORG4 ,*RONOLOGY 3 ,M>* #a1 #bba 3 ,! ,CRISIS ( ,M>XISM -- ,ADD$4 ,JANU>Y #h1 #bbb 3 ,! ,CRISIS ( ,M>XISM -- ,UPDAT$4 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3 HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/