The development of socialism from science to action 1918 [Leather Bound]

by Karl Radek

Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden Leaf Printing on round Spine (extra customization on request like complete leather, Golden Screen printing in Front, Color Leather, Colored book etc.) Reprinted in 2019 with the help of original edition published long back [1918]. This book is printed in black & white, sewing binding for longer life, Printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, we processed each page manually and make them readable but in some cases some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume, if you wish to order a specific or all the volumes you may contact us. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. - eng, Pages 44. EXTRA 10 DAYS APART FROM THE NORMAL SHIPPING PERIOD WILL BE REQUIRED FOR LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. COMPLETE LEATHER WILL COST YOU EXTRA US$ 25 APART FROM THE LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. {FOLIO EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE.}

44 pages, Leather Bound

First published August 9, 2015

About the author

Karl Berngardovich Radek (October 31, 1885 – May 19, 1939) was a Marxist active in the Polish and German social democratic movements before World War I, and an international Communist leader in the Soviet Union after the Russian Revolution.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short work by Radek detailing the "falsification of Communism" starting with Lassalle into reformist/revisionist trends, and the collapse of those illusions upon the ramping up of militarism. Radek deals briefly with the issue of the mass strike in German Social-Democracy between Kautsky and Luxemburg, and then moves to defend the Russian Revolution against its liberal critics.

Radek pushes back against the mechanical interpretation of proletarian revolution, and correctly argues that not even having a majority of the population as proletariat does not disqualify conditions for a proletarain revolution:

"When capitalist development in a country has reached a point where the most important branches of industry...are controlled by a concentrated, capitalistic group, then the proletariat...must try to take over industry...[and make itself into] a proletariat organized into the governing power.

"Those capitalist countries with the most unsettled organs for oppression are the breaches where Socialism may break through...it can and will begin in every country in which the conditions created by capital for the working class become unbearable."

Radek closes with three sections dedicated to defending the dictatorship of the proletariat against critics who would attach significance to bourgeois right:

"Dictatorship is the form of government by which one class forces its will ruthlessly on the other classes...And the stronger Capitalism is developed in a country, just so much more ruthless...the measures by means of which the victorious working class will hold down the defeated Capitalist class."