Decoding Marx: A Journey Through the Modern Revolution with Jared Baxter
Dec 11, 2023
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Jared Baxter, an expert on Marx and Modern Revolution, discusses Marx's views on social democracy, the genesis of the modern state, distinctions between political and social revolution, democratic legitimacy, interpretations of the French Revolution, and the lumpenproletariat. The episode also explores the radical Jacobin convention, power dynamics in American politics, the debate between enlightened despotists and natural aristocratic republicans, and Marx's theory of proletarian revolution. Delve into historical events, power dynamics, and Marxist texts.
Marx distinguishes between political and social revolution, with the former focusing on equality and the latter aiming to abolish private property.
A conceptual approach helps understand Marx's position in debates and his interpretation of the French Revolution, emphasizing alternative perspectives.
Marx positioned himself between extreme factions, advocating for a vanguard and popular base, and finding common ground between different radical and conservative positions.
Marx's writings reveal challenges and inconsistencies, influenced by historical context, evolving perspectives, and political calculations.
Marx and Engels highlight the importance of a nation and national market for the working class's unity and international solidarity.
The podcast explores the complexity and evolution of Marx's thought on taxation, the lumpenproletariat, and the tensions within his theories.
Deep dives
Marx's conception of political and social revolution
Marx distinguishes between political and social revolution, where the former focuses on political equality and the latter aims to transform the economic structure by abolishing private property. He sees the French Revolution as a crucial reference point and a genesis of the modern state. Marx argues that the political revolution leads to an abstract equality within civil society, while social revolution seeks to eliminate private property and establish a stateless society. He acknowledges the necessity of taking political power to push through the social revolution, but emphasizes the importance of a popular base and a vanguard to lead the change.
The commemorative and conceptual history of the French Revolution
The commemorative approach interprets history based on the revolutionaries' intentions and readers' political positions, often reading it through a specific lens. On the other hand, a conceptual approach critically examines the revolution's goals and outcomes, considering alternative perspectives. This conceptual approach serves as a backdrop for understanding Marx's position in debates and his interpretation of the French Revolution. For instance, Marx's positions on Black slavery in America and the Slavs exemplify the complex and sometimes conflicting perspectives he held within the context of the national question.
Debates within Marxism and centrism
Marx's positions within Marxist debates often represented a centrist position, navigating between more extreme positions. In debates between anarchist and chartist factions, Marx positioned himself as a moderate, advocating for a vanguard and a popular base to achieve revolutionary goals. Similarly, he took a middle ground between the Perdonists and the Blanquists, emphasizing the need for political power, but also identifying common interests with trade unions. Marx's centrism is also evident in his views on national questions, where his opinions on Irish and Serbian struggles or Germanization reflect a complex and evolving understanding. Marx often positioned himself between different radical and conservative positions, aiming to move the political discourse forward.
Challenges and inconsistencies in Marx's writings
Marx's writings present challenges and inconsistencies, particularly in his comments on slavery and national questions. While he supports the abolitionist cause and advocates for justice and equality, he also makes unsettling statements, such as comparing the conditions of Irish laborers to Black slaves and expressing inconsistent views on colonization. These inconsistencies reveal the complexity of Marx's thought, influenced by historical context, evolving perspectives, and political calculations. It highlights the importance of critically examining his writings and recognizing that his ideas evolved over time.
The distinction between wage slavery and traditional slavery
Marx and Engels argue that wage slavery differs from traditional slavery with the only important distinction being the variable rate of pay, allowing for exploitation in wage slavery.
The importance of nation-building for the working class
Marx and Engels emphasize the need for a nation and national market to bring the working class together, create conditions for nationalization of labor, and enable international solidarity among workers.
The tensions in Marx's thought and his evolving views
Marx's thought undergoes tensions and shifts as he grapples with the backwardness of Germany, the national question, and his early and later writings. His ideas on slavery, nationalism, taxes, and the lumpen proletariat are complex and show evolving perspectives.
The role of taxes and taxation
Marx's stance on taxes is complex. He opposes certain forms of taxation that do not challenge the power of capital and sees taxes used to maintain social stability and buy off potential antagonists. The funding of state debt through taxes also has political implications.
Understanding the Concept of Lumpenproletariat
The podcast explores the concept of the lumpenproletariat, a term coined by Karl Marx to refer to a social class considered outside of the working class. The discussion highlights how Marx's understanding of this class shifted over time and how this category includes individuals who do not fit neatly into traditional labor roles.
Contradictions and Tensions in Marx's Theory
The podcast delves into contradictions and tensions within Marx's theory, specifically regarding the lumpenproletariat. It examines how Marx's ideas about revolution and class analysis relied on specific conditions, such as factory labor, and how the emergence of the lumpenproletariat creates complexities and challenges to these theories.
The Search for Meaningful Political Change
The podcast explores the pressing question of how to bring about meaningful political change in the contemporary context. It discusses how revolutions from below, characterized by mass mobilization, often result in reformist outcomes, and the need for revolutionary ideas and effective strategies to bring about substantial transformation in society.
Untangle the complex ideas of Marx with us as we journey through history in a captivating conversation with Jared Baxter of Mimbre's School, exploring his course Introduction to Marx and Modern Revolution. In a mind-bending exploration of Marx's early views on social democracy and bourgeois revolutions, we zoom in on the genesis of the modern state and shed light on the distinctions between political and social revolution. We take a deep dive into Marx's paradoxical views on democratic legitimacy, his interpretations of the French Revolution, and his concept of the lumpenproletariat, all while navigating the tensions between democratic and ideological norms.
Not just limited to Marx, this episode bends the curve and takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the radical Jacobin convention of 1793-1794, unearthing crucial historical events that shaped modern society. Moving on to American politics, we offer a fresh perspective on power dynamics, comparing it to what was achievable in the Jacobin convention, and finally landing on universal suffrage elections and how a small group of activists held the reins of power. We also delve into the debate between enlightened despotists and natural aristocratic republicans in the bourgeois revolutions, offering a fresh interpretation of familiar historical narratives.
But that's not all! We face the contradictions head-on with a riveting discussion on Marx's theory of proletarian revolution and the lumpenproletariat, challenging traditional understandings and shedding new light on proletariat identities. We examine how Marx's concept of permanent debt has influenced the rise of bureaucracy and social welfare, and analyze the complexities of his definitions, which have become pervasive in the working poor. As we wrap up this enlightening episode, we reflect on our current political landscape, the potential for revolutionary change today, and how Marx's writings can inform our understanding of it. Join us in this riveting conversation with Jared Baxter as we decode Marx and the modern revolution!
Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake
