After Marxism

by Ronald Aronson

"Marxism is over," writes Ronald Aronson in a profoundly moving work that describes, explains, and mourns the end of the modern world's great project of social transformation. The book combines autobiographical and historical narrative, history of ideas, as well as philosophical and historical argument to make sense of what it means to work for radical change in a post-Marxist era. Bidding farewell to the Marxian project without rejecting its insights and experience, this inspiring volume demonstrates new ways of conceiving radical thought and action.In a sustained dialogue with postmodernism, Aronson clearly demonstrates that Marxism reflected, and was appropriate to, the early modern period and its attitudes. However, he argues, today the world demands a project of radical change that acknowledges how much we have lost and gained since Marxism's heyday. We no longer have Marxism's sense of historical self-confidence, its reverence for science, its faith in objective processes, or its universality. Aronson shows how any contemporary radical project must begin after Auschwitz, after Communism, and after Progress, based on the premise that we are on our own without a single coherent world view to serve as our foundation.Courageously candid yet deeply hopeful, After Marxism illustrates what can be learned not only from the "end of Marxism" but also from the victories Marxism achieved over past generations of struggle. The book offers inspiration for the long effort toward future social change.

322 pages, Hardcover

First published November 23, 1994

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal. Very academic. I was mainly interested in the author, who is a very interesting and cogent thinker on society. His "Living Without God" (2008) is excellent and is overall superior to any of the big three new atheist offerings (e.g. End of Faith, God Delusion, and God is Not Great). But this book articulates at length but clearly that there is no longer a revolutionary subject on which a Marxism can ground its project. So now, Aronson claims, socialistic values must find a new outlet. A good book but recommended for those really thinking hard about getting past a formal Marxist theoretical framework.

[sologdin · Rating 1 out of 5]

difficult years for leftists, the early 90s, wherein some succumbed to fukuyama-style delusions.