Marx and Marxism

by Peter Worsley

From a discussion of all the major varieties of Marxism, Peter Worsley examines the uses to which Marxism has been put and emphasises connections between theoretical debates and political struggles in the real world.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published March 18, 1982

About the author

Peter Maurice Worsley is a noted sociologist and social anthropologist from Birkenhead, UK.
He is a major figure in both anthropology and sociology, and is noted for introducing the term "Third World" into English. He not only made theoretical and ethnographic contributions, but also was regarded as a key founding member of the New Left.

Worsley started reading English at Cambridge but his studies were interrupted by World War II. He served in the British Army as an officer in Africa and India. During this time he developed his interest in anthropology. After the war he worked on mass education in Tanganyika and then went to study under Max Gluckman at the University of Manchester.

He lectured in sociology at the University of Hull and then went on c.1963 to become the first Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester.

Reviews

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a crowded market, Worsley's account is interesting on several counts: First, the second edition encompasses both the 1982 edition and later (2002) revisions, retaining an interesting tension between a time when the end of 'actually existing socialism' was inconceivable, and a time when many had already forgotten such a thing ever existed. As such, it is (as many pre-1989 works on Marx are) an interesting historical document itself. Second, Worsley writes as a sociologist and social anthropologist. Although George Lichtheim, for example, said that we should think of Marx as a sociologist first and foremost, Worsley latches on to the problems of the base/superstructure problem and complains about a lack of theory of culture in Marx (I think he is right, but that doesn't diminish Lichtheim's point). The latter part of the book, on the Soviet Union mainly, is historical in contrast to the more theoretical first half. This discrepancy is somewhat disappointing, but otherwise the book makes a genuine contribution to the never-ending discussion on Marx.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book to be a bit muddled and overly preoccupied with the base/superstructure question. Given that the author himself acknowledged that it really wasn’t representative of Marx’s non-polemic, more nuanced analysis, its recurrence in the text as a bogey man is puzzling.On the overall, though, the book is a pretty good summary given its brevity.

The edition I read predates the end of the Soviet bloc. It would have been interesting to see how the early 21st century version differed from this one.

[Zach Boyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty nice short description and history of Marxism. It was short, sweet, and to the point. It also talked about the short comings of Marx. Seemed to be a bit cozy with Marx at certain points, but to be expected. Otherwise decent book.