,M>XISM AS ,ACTION 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ANTON ,PANNEKOEK 

,TEXT 3 

,S\RCE3 8 
,PUBLI%$3 ,ORIG9ALLY 9 0,LI*T/RAHL501 #aiae 
,TRANSCRIB]3 ,COLLECTIVE ,ACTION ,NOTES 7,C,A,N7 
,H,T,M,L3 ,JONAS ,HOLMGR5 

0,UNTIL N[1 ! PHILOSOPH]S HAVE 
ONLY 9T]PRET$ ! WORLD 9 V>I\S WAYS2 ! PO9T1 H[EV]1 IS TO *ANGE 
IT40 

,K>L ,M>X1 ,!SES ON ,FEU]BA* 

,SCI5TIFIC !ORIES DO NOT EM]GE FROM ! PURE & DISPASSIONATE 
?\<TS 9 M5'S HEADS4 ,!SE !ORIES S]VE PRACTICE1 & >E E/ABLI%$ 9 
ORD] TO CLE> ! WAY = M5'S ESS5TIAL PRACTICAL TASKS4 ,!Y EV5 >ISE AS A 
RESULT ( PRACTICAL NE$S1 & *ANGE !IR =M IF ! 5VIRONM5T1 SOCIETY OR 
NE$S *ANGE4 ,= ?IS REASON1 ! SAME DOCTR9E CAN ASSUME COMPLETELY DIFF]5T 
COLORATIONS OV] ! C\RSE ( TIME4 ,:AT A GREAT DIFF]5CE !RE IS BETWE5 
! ,*RI/IANITY ( ! FIR/ C5TURIES ,A4,D41 ( ! ,MIDDLE ,AGES1 ( ! V>I\S 
,PROTE/ANT *UR*ES ( ! ,RE=MATION1 & ?AT ( ! FREE-?9K+ 
B\RGEOISIE ( ! #a#i? C5TURY4 

,! SAME ?+ IS TRUE ( ,M>XISM4 ,DESPITE BE+ A 
/RAI<T=W>D SCI5TIFIC !ORY1 IT HAS NONE!LESS TAK5 ON DIV]SE 
APPE>ANCES1 9 ACCORDANCE ) ! NE$S ( SUCCESSIVE EPO*S4 

,M>XISM WAS ! !ORY ( ! 5D ( CAPITALISM4 ,M>X1 AS HE 
WROTE 9 #ahdg 9 ! ,COMMUNI/ ,MANIFE/O1 CALL$ UPON ! PROLET>IANS ( ! 
:OLE CAPITALI/ WORLD3 0,PROLET>IANS ( ALL C\NTRIES1 UNITE60 ,& HE DID MORE 
?AN CALL = UNITY1 SOME?+ :I* HAD ALREADY BE5 DONE BY MANY O!RS = 
V]Y DIFF]5T 5DS4 ,HE ALSO CONTRIBUT$ A !ORY TO ! PROLET>IANS :I* 
%[$ !M !IR GOAL1 :I* EXPLA9$ SOCIETY TO !M & :I* GAVE !M ! 
C]TA9TY ( ! SUCCESS ( !IR 5DEAVORS4 ,?IS !ORY WAS HI/ORICAL 
MAT]IALISM4 

,HI/ORICAL MAT]IALISM ANALYZES ! ACTIVITY ( M5 9 HI/ORY ON 
! BASIS ( !IR MAT]IAL RELATIONS1 & ABOVE ALL1 !IR ECONOMIC RELATIONS4 
,S9CE M5 DO NOT ACT UNCONSCI\SLY1 BUT ?R\< ! M$IUM ( ?\<TS1 IDEAS 
& GOALS1 ! LATT] >E ALWAYS PRES5T 9 !IR ACTIONS1 :I* IS TO SAY ?AT 
!SE ?\<TS1 IDEAS & GOALS DO NOT EM]GE ON !IR [N1 ACCID5TALLY1 BUT 
?AT !Y >E ! EFFECT ( ?OSE SAME SOCIAL RELATIONS & NE$S4 ,IF AN 
ECONOMIC TRANS=MATION IS REQUIR$1 IF ! OLD CONDITIONS >E \TMOD$1 ?IS 
ALWAYS G5]ATES 9 ! M9DS ( M5 ! CONSCI\SNESS ( ! IMPOSSIBILITY ( 
! P]MAN5CE ( ! PREVI\S CONDITIONS & ! WILL TO *ANGE !M2 ?IS WILL 
IRRESI/IBLY CLE>S ! WAY BY MEANS ( ACTION & DET]M9ES PRACTICE4 ,= ALL 
!SE REASONS1 ! PROLET>IAT NOT ONLY NE$S TO REALIZE A BETT] ORD]2 
HI/ORICAL MAT]IALISM GIVES ! PROLET>IAT ! C]TA9TY ?AT SU* AN ORD] 
WILL COME1 S9CE ! DEVELOPM5T ( ! ECONOMY CONTRIBUTES TO & MAKES 
POSSIBLE ITS ATTA9M5T4 ,9 ?IS MANN]1 SOCIALISM CEASES TO BE A UTOPIA & 
BECOMES A SCI5CE4 

,SOME :O REJECT ?IS VIEW1 :O DID NOT UND]/& ?IS DOCTR9E 
BECAUSE IT CON/ITUT$ A P[]FUL D5IAL ( !IR EXTREMELY RIGID OP9IONS1 
ACCUS$ IT ( FATALISM & SAID ?AT IT R$UC$ MAN TO ! LEVEL ( A PUPPET 
) NO WILL ( HIS [N4 ,!Y W]E 9CORRECT1 AS WE HAVE SE54 ,BUT ! FACT ?AT 
!Y HAD FALL5 PREY TO ?IS ]ROR WAS1 NONE!LESS1 ALSO P>TIALLY ! RESULT 
( ! P>TICUL> *>ACT]I/ICS ASSUM$ BY ,M>XISM DUR+ ITS E>LY DAYS4 
,M>XISM HAS TWO P>TS3 MAN IS A PRODUCT ( CIRCUM/ANCES1 BUT MAN 9 TURN 
MODIFIES ?OSE CIRCUM/ANCES4 ,MAN IS ONLY ! AG5T ( ECONOMIC NE$S2 BUT !SE 
NE$S CAN ONLY BE *ANG$ ?ANKS TO HIS ACTIVITY4 ,BO? P>TS >E EQUALLY CORRECT 
& IMPORTANT1 & TOGE!R !Y =M A COMPLETE !ORY4 ,BUT ONE OR ! O!R 
P>T MU/ BE EMPHASIZ$ ACCORD+ TO ! CIRCUM/ANCES4 

,DUR+ ! ]A ( H>% P]SECUTION AFT] #a#h#g#h1 :5 EV]Y?+ 
SEEM$ HOPELESS1 :5 SO MANY LEAD]S DES]T$ OR W]E UNFAI?FUL TO ! CAUSE1 
:5 ! RANKS ( ! FI<T]S W]E SEV]ELY DECIMAT$1 :5 ?OSE :O /OOD 
!IR GR\ND W]E LOS+ C\RAGE1 !N ,M>XISM W\LD NOT HAVE GIV5 !M ! 
CONFID5CE 9 OR ! C]TA9TY ( VICTORY1 OR ! DET]M9ATION !Y NE$$1 IF 
IT HAD NOT /RESS$ ! FACT ?AT OV] ! LONG T]M HUMAN EF=TS MU/ YIELD 
BE=E ! P[] ( ECONOMIC DE/9Y4 ,OV] ! 5SU+ P]IOD IT HAD TO PLACE A 
GREAT DEAL ( EMPHASIS ON ! FACT ?AT GREAT POLITICAL *ANGES W\LD ONLY BE 
POSSIBLE :5 ECONOMIC DEVELOPM5T WAS SUFFICI5TLY ADVANC$4 ,ALL[+ ?+S TO 
MATURE !N HAD TO BE ! !ORETICAL SOLUTION1 & ?IS IS :Y ,M>XISM ADOPT$ 
! =M ( P>LIAM5T>ISM1 AGA9/ AN>*ISM4 ,M>XISM ?US S]V$ AS A !ORY 
( ! COMPLETE DEP5D5CE ( MAN 9 RESPECT TO ECONOMIC RELATIONS DUR+ ! 
YE>S ( ITS NUM]ICAL WEAKNESS1 PROVID+ ! SOCIALI/S ) A SECURE GUIDE 
= !IR TACTICS4 

,HI/ORICAL MAT]IALISM !RE=E NECESS>ILY HAD TO ASSUME A 
P[]FUL FATALI/IC ACC5T1 & ?IS CAN BE CLE>LY SE5 9 ! SPIRIT ( ! 
LEAD]S & !ORETICIANS ( ?AT ]A4 ,TO WAIT1 TO UND]TAKE PROPAG&A 9 ! 
MEANTIME1 TO ORGANIZE ! GR[+ PROLET>IAN MASSES1 S9CE ! CIRCUM/ANCES 
REQUIR$ ?IS1 WAS ! TACTIC4 ,& ! !ORETICAL WORKS ( ?AT ]A1 ESPECIALLY 
?OSE BY ,KAUTSKY1 %[ US ! PR$OM9ANT P[] :I* WAS CONC$$ TO ECONOMIC 
RELATIONS 9 HI/ORY4 

,ALL ( ?IS WAS CONSCI\SLY UND]TAK5 DUR+ ?OSE YE>S1 EV5 
:5 ! ECONOMIC CONDITIONS BECAME FAVORABLE = A /RONG] 9SURG5CY ( ! 
WORK+ CLASSES4 ,?IS MAY SEEM CONTRADICTORY1 BUT IS QUITE UND]/&ABLE4 ,:5 
IT BECAME POLITICALLY NECESS>Y TO TAKE UP NEW TACTICAL ME?ODS1 TO MOBILIZE 
5]GETIC ACTION ON BEHALF ( IMPORTANT FUNDAM5TAL RI<TS2 :5 IMP]IALISM 
GREW ?REAT5+ ) ! APPROA* ( S]I\S CRISES & ! MASSES F\<T = 
! RI<T TO VOTE2 :5 ALL !SE ?+S TOOK PLACE1 ! LEAD+ CIRCLES ( ! 
,P>TY BECAME 9CREAS+LY AW>E ( ! DANG] :I* !SE NEW TACTICS--:I* 
W\LD BE VIOL5TLY CONFRONT$ BY ! =CES ( ORD]--POS$ TO !IR USUAL 
PEACEFUL ACTIVITIES4 ,!N !Y W5T 9TO REV]SE1 !Y MADE ! MASSES RETREAT 
& OPPOS$ ?OSE :O CONT9U$ TO ADVANCE4 ,KAUTSKY PUT =? ! !ORY ?AT IT 
WAS ANTI-,M>XI/ TO 9CITE ! PROLET>IAT TO SU* ACTIONS1 ?AT ONLY ! 
AN>*I/S & ! SYNDICALI/S 9CIT$ !M 9 ?AT MANN]1 ?AT ! TRUE 
,M>XI/ MU/ KN[ ?AT ! CIRCUM/ANCES HAVE TO MATURE ON !IR [N )\T 
BE+ =C$4 ,IT WAS 9 ?IS WAY ?AT1 :ILE ! VA/ MAJORITY ( ! ,P>TY 
BUREAUCRACY P>ALYZ$ ALL ! ,P>TY'S LIV+ CURR5TS1 & ! ,P>TY'S TACTICS 
BECAME FROZ51 ITS !ORETICIANS DEF5D$ ! UNIV]SALLY REVOLUTION>Y DOCTR9E 
( ,M>XISM AS A /]ILE FATALISM4 ,:Y 5GAGE 9 ACTION1 :I* BR+S 9 ITS WAKE 
SO MANY P]ILS1 IF ECONOMIC DEVELOPM5T ITSELF MU/ PU% US =W>D 
AUTOMATICALLY & )\T ANY DANG]1 IF \R /R5G? WILL CONT9UALLY 9CREASE 
& IF P[] WILL F9ALLY FALL 9TO \R LAP LIKE A RIPE FRUIT8 

,! WORK]S :O ACCEPT$ ?IS SORT ( ,M>XISM HAVE NEV]1 UP 
UNTIL ! PRES5T DAY1 DONE ANY?+ CONTR>Y TO SU* !ORIES4 ,! 5EMIES ( 
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY W]E NOT SO FATALI/IC AS TO ALL[ ?+S TO MATURE ( !IR 
[N ACCORD1 UNTIL ,G]MANY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPM5T W\LD BY ITSELF GRANT !M ! 
POSITION !Y S\<T 9 WORLD AFFAIRS4 ,!Y KNEW ?AT !Y W\LD HAVE TO FI<T 
TO A*IEVE !IR GOAL1 ?AT )\T A /RUGGLE NO?+ CAN BE GA9$1 & = 
MANY YE>S !Y S]I\SLY PROSECUT$ ?IS /RUGGLE4 ,! PROLET>IAT LET 
!MSELVES BE L$1 !Y LET !MSELVES BE DECEIV$ BY ! >TIFICIAL UPRO> & 
NOISE ( ! GREAT ELECTORAL VICTORY1 & /AY$ ! C\RSE4 

,BUT N[ IS ! TIME TO BR+ TO ! =E ! O!R P>T ( 
,M>XISM :I* HAS BE5 SO NEGLECT$2 N[1 :5 ! WORK]S MOVEM5T MU/ F9D A 
NEW DIRECTION1 9 ORD] TO OV]COME ! N>R[ VIEWS & ! PASSIVITY ( ! 
OLD ]A1 IF IT WANTS TO OV]COME ! CRISIS4 ,M5 MU/ !MSELVES MAKE HI/ORY1 
OR ELSE HI/ORY WILL BE MADE BY O!RS = !M4 ,( C\RSE1 !Y CANNOT BUILD 
)\T TAK+ ! CIRCUM/ANCES 9TO ACC\NT1 BUT !Y BUILD NONE!LESS4 ,MAN 
HIMSELF IS ! ELEM5T :I* CAN ACTIVELY %APE HI/ORY4 ,9 EFFECT1 ! ECONOMY 
MU/ CONDITION HIM1 BUT HE MU/ ACT4 ,)\T HIS ACTION1 NO?+ HAPP5S2 & 
ACT+ 9 ! S5SE ( *ANG+ SOCIETY IS SOME?+ V]Y DIFF]5T & MU* 
GREAT] ?AN DEPOSIT+ A VOTE 9 A BALLOT BOX EV]Y FIVE YE>S4 ,A NEW WORLD CAN 
BY NO MEANS BE BUILT SO EASILY4 ,! HUMAN SPIRIT IS NOT JU/ ! PRODUCT ( 
ECONOMIC RELATIONS1 BUT IS ALSO ! CAUSE ( *ANGE 9 ?OSE RELATIONS4 ,GREAT 
*ANGES 9 ! MODE ( PRODUCTION 7SU* AS1 = EXAMPLE1 ! PASSAGE FROM 
FEUDALISM TO CAPITALISM1 & FROM ! LATT] TO SOCIALISM7 ONLY TAKE PLACE :5 
NEW NE$S 9FLU5CE MAN'S SPIRIT1 & LEAD HIM TO A P>TICUL> =M ( DESIR$ 
ACTION2 :5 ?IS WILL TO ACTION BECOMES EFFECTIVE MAN *ANGES SOCIETY1 = ! 
PURPOSE ( MAK+ SOCIETY MEET HIS NEW NE$S4 ,M>XISM HAS TAU<T US H[ \R 
PR$ECESSORS1 BY *ANG+ !IR WORLD1 W]E DRIV5 BY SOCIAL =CES2 N[ IT 
TEA*ES US ?AT TODAY'S M51 DRIV5 BY ECONOMIC NECESSITY1 MU/ GET TO WORK IF 
!Y WANT TO *ANGE ! WORLD4 

,FROM 3 ,M>XI/S4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,M>* #a1 #bba 3 ,M>XISM AS ,ACTION -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #h1 #bbb 3 ,M>XISM AS ,ACTION -- ,UPDAT$4 

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