Acid Horizon Western Marxism vs. Stalinism: Domenico Losurdo’s Controversial Legacy with Ross Wolfe
Sep 19, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Ross Wolfe, a history teacher and writer known for his critical analyses of Marxist theory, dives into Domenico Losurdo's contentious legacy. They unpack the implications of Losurdo's claims about Western Marxism and its relationship with defeat and imperialism. The conversation covers the intersections of neo-Stalinist politics with far-right ideologies, and challenges the misreadings of critical theory. Wolfe also critiques Losurdo's anti-utopian revisions of socialism, sparking a thought-provoking dialogue on radical politics and contemporary relevance.
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Western Marxism As Defeat-Response
- "Western Marxism" emerged as a post-defeat intellectual formation rather than a strict geographic school.
- It grouped diverse theorists (Frankfurt School, Althusser, Italian anti-Hegelians) united by reflection after revolutionary failure.
Imperialism As Primary Contradiction
- Domenico Losurdo centers imperialism and national liberation as the primary contradictions displacing class-first frameworks.
- He argues many Western Marxists undervalued anti-colonial struggles relative to labor-capital focus.
Stalinism As Adaptation To Defeat
- Wolfe defines Stalinism as an adaptation to defeat that retrofits theory to justify historical outcomes.
- Neo-Stalinists adopt methodological nationalism, treating socialism as possible within single-state boundaries.
