FROM MARX TO GRAMSCI: A Reader in Revolutionary Marxist Politics

Description

From Marx to Gramscioffers a readable introduction to the historical contexts, lives, and revolutionary ideas of six central thinkers in the Marxist tradition—Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, Rosa Luxemburg, V. I. Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Antonio Gramsci. A clear and well-documented introduction demonstrates how their varied contributions represent a revolutionary Marxist synthesis, providing an understanding of capitalist development, a theory of the labor movement, a strategy for revolution, and a conception of the transition to socialism. The bulk of the volume provides a representative sampling of Marxist writings offering insights into the dynamics of history, politics, society, and economics, with an emphasis on struggles for social change.From Marx to Gramsciconcludes with a searching discussion, drawing from various critics of Marxism and realities of the late twentieth century, of whether revolutionary Marxism actually has a future.

Paul Le Blanc,long-time activist and Professor of History at La Roche College,is the author of a number of widely-read studies, includingLenin and the Revolutionary Party,From Marx to Gramsci,andMarx, Lenin and the Revolutionary Experience. With Michael Yates he has written the widely-acclaimedA Freedom Budget for All Americansandhas co-edited a selection of Leon Trotsky’sWritings in Exile.

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“This is an extremely valuable volume. It gathers in one place material from various sources and makes it accessible to the serious student. The scholarly apparatus—bibliography, short biographies, and introductory essays—makes it especially useful both for the general reader and for teachers in the field. It should make a useful contribution in our struggle for human freedom.”
—Dennis Brutus, South African poet and revolutionary activist

“The power of this book lies in Le Blanc’s excellent selection and presentation of some of the most fundamental ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Luxemburg, Trotsky, and Gramsci. His choice of references and the framework for his selection rest on the premise that the central pivot of Marxism is ‘proletarian revolutionary practice.'”
—Gill Hubbard,International Socialism

“The best available tool for revitalizing the consideration of socialist practice in our study groups and classrooms.”
—Alan Wald,Radical Teacher

“A most welcome and needed introduction to Marxist politics from a revolutionary viewpoint . . . for studentsand activists.”
—Michael Löwy,Monthly Review