Post-Marxism Explained

Post-Marxism is a perspective in critical social theory which radically reinterprets Marxism, countering its association with economism, historical determinism, anti-humanism, and class reductionism,[1] whilst remaining committed to the construction of socialism.[2] [3] Most notably, Post-Marxists are anti-essentialist, rejecting the primacy of class struggle, and instead focus on building radical democracy.[4] [5] [6] Post-Marxism can be considered a synthesis of post-structuralist[7] [8] [9] frameworks and neo-Marxist[10] analysis,[11] in response to the decline of the New Left after the protests of 1968.[12] In a broader sense, post-Marxism can refer to Marxists or Marxian-adjacent theories which break with the old worker's movements and socialist states entirely,[13] in a similar sense to post-Leftism,[14] [15] and accept that the era of mass revolution premised on the Fordist worker is potentially over.

The term "Post-Marxism" first appeared in Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe's theoretical work Hegemony and Socialist Strategy.[16] [17] Post-Marxism is a wide category not well-defined, containing the work of Laclau and Mouffe[18] [19] on the one hand, and some strands of autonomism and Open Marxism,[20] post-structuralism,[21] [22] cultural studies,[23] ex-Marxists[24] and Deleuzian-inspired[25] 'politics of difference'[26] [27] on the other.[28] Recent overviews of post-Marxism are provided by Ernesto Screpanti,[29] Göran Therborn,[30] and Gregory Meyerson.[31] Prominent post-Marxist journals include New Formations,[32] Constellations,[33] Endnotes,[34] Crisis and Critique[35] and Arena.[36]

History

Post-Marxism first originated in the late 1970s, and several trends and events of that period influenced its development.[37] The weakness of the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc paradigm became evident after the so called "Secret speech" and the following invasion of Hungary, which split the radical left irreparably.[38] Marxism from then on faced a crisis of credibility, resulting in various developments in Marxist theory, particularly neo-Marxism, which theorised against much of the Eastern Bloc.[39] This happened concurrently with the occurrence internationally of the strikes and occupations of 1968, the rise of Maoist theory, and the proliferation of commercial television and later information technologies which covered in its broadcasts the Vietnam War.

Post-Marxism, although with its roots in this New Left and the consequent post-structural moment in France,[40] has its real genesis in reaction to the hegemony of neoliberalism, and defeat of the Left in such events as the UK miners' strike. Ernesto Laclau argued that a Marxism for the neoliberal conjuncture required a fundamental reworking, to address the failures of both.[41] Subsequently, Laclau and Mouffe address the proliferation of "new subject positions" by locating their analysis on a non-essentialist framework.

Simultaneously, revolutionaries in Italy, known as Operaismo, and later autonomists, began to theorise against the conservative Italian Communist Party,[42] focusing much more on labour, gender and the later works of Marx. In France, radicals such as Félix Guattari redefined old Lacanian models of desire and subjectivity, which had often been tied to the communist project, bringing Nietzsche into conversation with Marx.[43] [44] In the Eastern Bloc, the Budapest School began reinterpreting Marx, building on the work of the Praxis school before them.[45] In West Germany, theorists reinterpreted Marx's works entirely from a Hegelian perspective.

Turning to the Atlantic, in the UK, Stuart Hall[46] began to experiment with increasingly aggressive post-structuralist theorists in the build up to New Labour whilst working for Marxism Today, especially in relation to race and identity.[47] John Holloway began to forge a new path between Althusserian structural Marxism and instrumentalist theorists of monopoly capitalism. In the US, Michael Hardt collaborated with Antonio Negri to produce Empire at the turn of the century, widely recognised as a consolidation and re-affirmation of post-Marxism.[48] Harry Cleaver produced innovative readings of Capital, alongside Moishe Postone who reaffirmed Marx's central concepts.

Post-Marxism also has different connotations within radical feminist theory. The way Catharine MacKinnon uses the term post-Marxism is not based on post-structuralism. She says "feminism worthy of the name absorbs and moves beyond marxist methodology", meaning that Marxism is not to be left behind but built on.

Currently, figures in the US, UK, and Europe continue to produce work in the post-Marxist tradition, particularly Nancy Fraser, Alain Badiou, Jeremy Gilbert and Étienne Balibar. This theory is often very different from that produced by Laclau and Mouffe, and much of the Left has turned against the Post-Marxist turn.[49] [50]

Despite being born in Latin America and the Eastern Bloc, post-Marxism is largely produced by theorists of the Global North, as the following criticisms reveal. Aside from perhaps Spivak, there are no notable theorists of the Global South[51] who are within the post-Marxist tradition,[52] and the radical movements of the Global South largely remain within the 'Old Left' tradition.[53] Several reasons relating to political geography and level of academisation are given as explanations. There is some debate however as to whether Cedric Robinson was a post-Marxist.[54]

Despite this, the Zapatistas have been a large source of inspiration for many post-Marxists.[55]

Criticism

Post-Marxism has been criticised from both the left and the right wings of Marxism.[56] Nick Thoburn has criticised Laclau's Post-Marxism (and its relationship to Eurocommunism) as essentially a rightward shift to social democracy.[57] Ernest Mandel[58] and Sivanandan[59] [60] make this same point. Richard Wolff also claims that Laclau's formulation of Post-Marxism is a step backwards.[61] Oliver Eagleton (son of Terry Eagleton) claims that Mouffe's 'radical democracy' has an inherent conservative nature.[62]

Other Marxist's have criticised Autonomist Marxism or post-operaismo, a form of post-Marxism, of having a theoretically weak understanding of value in capitalist economies.[63] It has also been by criticised by other Marxists for being anti-humanist / anti-(Hegelian) dialectical.[64]

Post-Marxism of all stripes has also been criticised for downplaying or ignoring the role of race, neocolonialism, and Eurocentrism.[65] [66] [67] [68]

Post-Marxism as a term is also seen as being too imprecise, often used as an insult[69] or a straw man. Besides Laclau and Mouffe, very few Marxists describe themselves as Post-Marxists, regardless of their own affinities with post-structuralist theories or their reinterpretation of Marx.[70] There is also much disagreement between post-Marxists on fundamental questions of strategy and philosophy (Hegel or Spinoza, for example); some forward a left-populism, others a complete rejection of organised politics, and others a new Leninist vanguard.

People

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. MCLENNAN . GREGOR . 1996 . POST-MARXISM AND THE 'FOUR SINS' OF MODERNIST THEORIZING . New Left Review . I/218 . 53–74 .
  2. Book: Callinicos, Alex . Routledge Handbook of Marxism and Post-Marxism . Routledge . 2022 . 1st.
  3. Arditi . Benjamin . Post-hegemony: politics outside the usual post-Marxist paradigm . Contemporary Politics . September 2007 . 13 . 3 . 205–226 . 10.1080/13569770701467411 . 154296914 .
  4. Book: Sim . Stuart . Reflections on Post-Marxism: Laclau and Mouffe's Project of Radical Democracy in the 21st Century . 2022 . Policy Press . 978-1-5292-2183-1.
  5. Mclean, Ian; Mcmillan, Alistair (2003) The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics (Article: State). Oxford University Press.
  6. Mouffe . Chantal . June 1995 . Post-Marxism: Democracy and Identity . Environment and Planning D: Society and Space . en . 13 . 3 . 259–265 . 10.1068/d130259 . 1995EnPlD..13..259M . 144784412.
  7. Jacobs . Thomas . The Dislocated Universe of Laclau and Mouffe: An Introduction to Post-Structuralist Discourse Theory . Critical Review . 2 October 2018 . 30 . 3–4 . 294–315 . 10.1080/08913811.2018.1565731 . 1854/LU-8600661 . 150207035 . free .
  8. Web site: bloomsbury.com . Marx Through Post-Structuralism . 2023-05-15 . Bloomsbury . en.
  9. Web site: Alberto Toscano: Solidarity and Political Work Historical Materialism . 2023-05-18 . www.historicalmaterialism.org. 30 April 2018 .
  10. Ritzer . George . Schubert . J. Daniel . 1991 . The Changing Nature of Neo-Marxist Theory: A Metatheoretical Analysis . 1389516 . Sociological Perspectives . 34 . 3 . 359–375 . 10.2307/1389516 . 146959219 .
  11. Peters . Michael A. . Neilson . David . Jackson . Liz . Post-marxism, humanism and (post)structuralism: Educational philosophy and theory . Educational Philosophy and Theory . 6 December 2022 . 54 . 14 . 2331–2340 . 10.1080/00131857.2020.1824783 . 224983298 . free .
  12. Web site: post-Marxism . 2023-04-19 . Oxford Reference . en.
  13. Book: Mills, Charles W. . Black Rights/White Wrongs: The Critique of Racial Liberalism . 2017-03-23 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-024545-0 . en.
  14. Web site: Post-Left Anarchy . 2024-03-23 . The Anarchist Library . en.
  15. Web site: The Platypus Affiliated Society – The Left is not a concept . 2024-03-23 . platypus1917.org.
  16. McKenna . Tony . Against Post-Marxism: How Post-Marxism Annuls Class-Based Historicism and the Possibility of Revolutionary Praxis . International Critical Thought . 3 April 2014 . 4 . 2 . 142–159 . 10.1080/21598282.2014.906538 . 144911344 .
  17. Book: 10.1515/9781474473637-104 . Ernesto Laclau (1935-), Chantal Mouffe (1948-) and Post-Marxism . Introducing Literary Theories . 2019 . Bowman . Paul . 799–809 . 978-1-4744-7363-7 . 246928968 .
  18. Book: 10.7312/columbia/9780231143943.003.0008 . Introduction . Adventures of the Symbolic . 2013 . Breckman . Warren . 1–23 . 978-0-231-14394-3 .
  19. The Turn to the Political: Post-Marxism and Marx's Critique of Politics . UC Berkeley . 2012 . en . Timothy David . Fisken.
  20. Web site: 2017-03-02 . Post-Marxism . 2023-05-16 . MARX 200 . en.
  21. Book: Barrow . Clyde W. . Critical Theories of the State: Marxist, Neomarxist, Postmarxist . 1993 . Univ of Wisconsin Press . 978-0-299-13713-7 .
  22. Jones . A. . 1999 . Dialectics and difference: against Harvey's dialectical 'post-Marxism' . Progress in Human Geography . en . 23 . 4 . 529–555 . 10.1191/030913299676750977. 58943873 .
  23. Tunderman . Simon . Post-Marxist reflections on the value of our time. Value theory and the (in)compatibility of discourse theory and the critique of political economy . Critical Discourse Studies . 2 November 2021 . 18 . 6 . 655–670 . 10.1080/17405904.2020.1829664 . 225142057 . free .
  24. Smith . Richard G . Doel . Marcus A . April 2001 . Baudrillard Unwound: The Duplicity of Post-Marxism and Deconstruction . Environment and Planning D: Society and Space . en . 19 . 2 . 137–159 . 10.1068/d226t . 2001EnPlD..19..137S . 147199071 . 0263-7758.
  25. Web site: thewastedworld . 2020-02-22 . Underground Intensities: The Gothic Marxism of Deleuze and Guattari . 2023-05-16 . The Wasted World . en.
  26. Book: 10.1017/CBO9781139165419.005 . The Politics of Difference . Gilles Deleuze . 2005 . 114–153 . 978-0-521-84309-6 .
  27. Book: 10.1163/ej.9789004145986.i-813.149 . Chapter Twenty-Eight. Marxism expatriated: Alain Badiou's turn . Critical Companion to Contemporary Marxism . 2008 . Toscano . Alberto . 529–548 . 978-90-474-2360-7 .
  28. Samanci . Helene . 2012 . Political Ontology of post-Marxism .
  29. Screpanti . Ernesto . Ernesto Screpanti . 2000 . The postmodern crisis in economics and the revolution against modernism . . 12 . 1 . 87–111 . 10.1080/08935690009358993 . 145419981.
  30. Book: Therborn, Göran . From Marxism to Post-Marxism . 2008 . . London . 208 . Göran Therborn.
  31. Meyerson . Gregory . San Juan . E. Jr. . 2009 . Post-Marxism as Compromise Formation . Cultural Logic: Journal of Marxist Theory & Practice . 16 . 10.14288/clogic.v16i0.191554 .
  32. Web site: New Formations: About . 2023-05-18 . Lawrence Wishart . en-GB.
  33. Web site: Constellations Journal - About .
  34. Web site: Endnotes . Endnotes . 2023-05-24 . endnotes.org.uk.
  35. Web site: About us - CRISIS AND CRITIQUE . 2023-06-23 . www.crisiscritique.org.
  36. Web site: About Arena – Arena . 2023-05-22 . arena.org.au . en-AU.
  37. Hunter . Allen . Post-Marxism and the New Social Movements . Theory and Society . 1988 . 17 . 6 . 885–900 . 10.1007/BF00161731 . 657793 . 147229586 .
  38. News: Black . Ian . 2006-10-21 . How Soviet tanks crushed dreams of British communists . en-GB . . 2023-07-15 . 0261-3077.
  39. Kecskemeti . Paul . March 1959 . Soviet Marxism: A Critical Analysis. By Herbert Marcuse. (New York: Columbia University Press. 1958. Pp. 271. $4.50.) . . en . 53 . 1 . 187–189 . 10.2307/1951737 . 1951737 . 151999515 . 1537-5943.
  40. Anderman . Nicholas . Hicks . Zachary . 2023-06-01 . The Pot Still Boils . Qui Parle . 32 . 1 . 1–39 . 10.1215/10418385-10427926 . 259414199 . 1041-8385. free .
  41. Laclau . Ernesto . Ernesto Laclau . 1987 . Post-Marxism without apologies . New Left Review . I/166 . 79–106 .
  42. Book: Thoburn . Nicholas . Deleuze, Marx and Politics . 2003 . . 978-1-134-45783-0.
  43. Book: Falzon . John . Communists Like Us . 2017 . Apollo Books . 978-1-74258-941-1 .
  44. Book: Harrison . Oliver . Revolutionary Subjectivity in Post-Marxist Thought: Laclau, Negri, Badiou . 2016 . Routledge . 978-1-317-06333-9 .
  45. Heller . Agnes . Tormey . Simon . 1999 . Agnes Heller: Post-Marxism and the ethics of modernity . Radical Philosophy . en-GB . 94 . 0300-211X.
  46. Web site: On the Front Lines of the Populism Wars . 2023-05-15 . jacobin.com . en-US.
  47. Book: Hall . Stuart . Morley . David . Chen . Kuan-Hsing . Post-marxism . Stuart Hall: Critical Dialogues in Cultural Studies . 1996 . . 978-0-415-08803-9 . 10.4324/9780203993262 . 238049370 .
  48. Browning . Gary K. . June 2005 . A globalist ideology of post-Marxism? Hardt and Negri's Empire . Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy . en . 8 . 2 . 193–208 . 10.1080/13698230500108876 . 143556108 . 1369-8230.
  49. Book: Reflections on Post-Marxism: Laclau and Mouffe's Project of Radical Democracy in the 21st Century . 2022 . Bristol University Press . 10.2307/j.ctv2kqx0x4 . j.ctv2kqx0x4 . 978-1-5292-2183-1 . 1.
  50. Colpani . Gianmaria . April 2022 . Two Theories of Hegemony: Stuart Hall and Ernesto Laclau in Conversation . Political Theory . en . 50 . 2 . 221–246 . 10.1177/00905917211019392 . 236367670 . 0090-5917. free .
  51. Corbridge . Stuart . 1990-05-01 . Post-Marxism and development studies: Beyond the impasse . World Development . en . 18 . 5 . 623–639 . 10.1016/0305-750X(90)90014-O . 0305-750X.
  52. Sanyal . Kalyan K. . March 1996 . Postmarxism and the Third World: A Critical Response to the Radical Democratic Agenda . Rethinking Marxism . en . 9 . 1 . 126–133 . 10.1080/08935699608685481 . 0893-5696.
  53. Saravanamuttu . Johan . 1995 . Post-Marxism: Implications for Political Theory and Practice . Sojourn: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia . 10 . 1 . 45–64 . 10.1355/SJ10-1D . 41056902 . 0217-9520.
  54. Web site: Haider . Asad . 2017-02-13 . The Shadow of the Plantation . 2023-08-09 . Viewpoint Magazine . en-US.
  55. Web site: As should be clear to even the most casual observer on the left, the Chiapas rebellion has become a kind of paradigm for the p . 2023-07-26 . www.columbia.edu.
  56. el-Ojeili . Chamsy . May 2010 . Post-Marxist Trajectories: Diagnosis, Criticism, Utopia . Sociological Inquiry . en . 80 . 2 . 261–282 . 10.1111/j.1475-682X.2010.00330.x.
  57. Book: Thoburn . Nicholas . Deleuze, Marx and Politics . 2003 . Routledge . 978-1-134-45783-0 .
  58. Web site: From Stalinism to Eurocommunism . 2023-05-15 . Verso . en.
  59. Web site: All That Melts into Air is Solid: The Hokum of New Times (Part 2) . 2023-05-15 . Verso . en.
  60. Web site: 2022-08-19 . The Long Crisis of British Marxism in the Shadow of Thatcher – Anarchist Federation . 2023-05-15 . www.anarchistfederation.net . en-US.
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  63. Web site: Critiquing Capitalism Today: New Ways to Read Marx . 2023-12-10 . Frederick Harry Pitts . en-US.
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