Domenico Losurdo's "Western Marxism" offers a sharp critique of Western Marxist intellectuals, arguing that their theories often served to undermine genuine socialist movements and align with imperialist interests. Losurdo meticulously traces the historical trajectory of Western Marxism, exposing its inherent contradictions and its complicity with the dominant power structures. He challenges the notion of Western Marxism as a distinct and progressive school of thought, highlighting its limitations and its failure to adequately address the realities of global class struggle. The book's central argument is that Western Marxism often prioritized abstract theoretical debates over concrete revolutionary action, ultimately hindering the advancement of socialist causes worldwide. Losurdo's work is a significant contribution to Marxist scholarship, prompting a re-evaluation of the historical role and impact of Western Marxist thought.
This is a free preview of the episode "Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism: An Introduction." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast
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"Sure, I agree that capitalism sucks—but what's the alternative? We tried socialism in the 20th century and it failed." We've all heard this line from well-meaning friends, family members, or any variety of interlocutors we happen to find ourselves in dialogue with in any variety of contexts. There are a lot of compelling and nuanced responses to this common position, and regardless of what you think of the idea itself, it's an important one for us on the left to be able to answer.
In this Patreon reading series, Robert reads a passage from a book that attempts to answer this question. The passage is the introductory chapter of the excellent new book, The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism, by Torkil Lauesen. Published by Iskra Books.
What is the response to the idea that socialism is a failed ideology? Why should we see the transition from capitalism to socialism as a long struggle of experiments and struggles that, far from being fruitless, are essential parts of a world-historical struggle that is still playing out? Why is it important to center historical materialism in our analysis of the world? And why should we be more excited than ever at the prospects of human and more-than-human emancipation and thriving in a world organized under socialism? These are just some of the questions we tackle in this reading and analysis of the introductory chapter of The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism, by Torkil Lauesen.
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