Karl Marx's Theory of Revolution, Volume 4: Critique of Other Socialisms

Karl Marx's Theory of Revolution

by Hal Draper

Much of Karl Marx's most important work came out of his critique of other thinkers, including many socialists who differed significantly in their conceptions of socialism. The fourth volume in Hal Draper's series looks at these critiques to illuminate what Marx's socialism was, as well as what it was not. Some of these debates are well-known elements in Marx's work, such as his writings on the anarchists Proudhon and Bakunin. Others are less familiar, such as the writings on "Bismarckian socialism" and "Boulangism," but promise to become better known and understood with Draper's exposition. He also discusses the more general ideological tendencies of "utopian" and "sentimental" socialisms, which took various forms and were ingredients in many different socialist movements.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

373 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Hal Draper (born Harold Dubinsky) was an American socialist activist and author who played a significant role in the Berkeley, California Free Speech Movement. He is known for his extensive scholarship on the history and meaning of the thought of Karl Marx.

Draper was a lifelong advocate of what he called "socialism from below", self-emancipation by the working class, in opposition to capitalism and Stalinist bureaucracy, both of which, he held, practiced domination from above. He was one of the creators of the Third Camp tradition, a form ("the form", according to its adherents) of Marxist socialism.

Reviews

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with his other volumes, this is a gigantic yet positivistic description of all kinds of socialism that have ever existed.

His critiques on anarchism are ok but aside from that I don’t find anything new nor innovative on this work.

Also, his understanding of communism, as being exactly the same thing as anarchism is plain wrong.

[shayen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bakunin and Lassalle never stood a fighting chance against Hal Draper. Also, Boulanger was a wild guy

[Jorge Seijo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das mellores críticas que lin ao anarquismo e ao socialismo de estado.

[Stacy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

What you mean socialism is not a universal definition??? Um yeah, what do you think Marx was doing? Just looking at the chapter heads makes a person politically more informed the next time some nutter claims "socialism."

[Shaima Arfa · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like it