Marxism and Social Democracy
The Revisionist Debate, 1896–1898

Henry Tudor (Edited by), J. M. Tudor (Edited by)

9780521340496, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 May 1988

400 pages
21.6 x 13.8 x 3.4 cm, 0.607 kg

This is an anthology in English translation of the major texts concerned with the nineteenth-century debates between democratic socialism and revolutionary Marxism. The central figure is Eduard Bernstein, a leading German social democrat and former associate of Engels, who argued that Marx's analysis of society had been overtaken by events, and that his doctrine of revolution should be replaced by a policy of evolutionary reform by democratic means. The ensuing controversy between Bernstein and his opponents (Bebel, Kautsky, Parvus, Rosa Luxemburg, and Belfort Bax) helped create the split between center and far left, which is still a feature of socialist politics in Europe. Most of the articles and letters contained in this book have never been translated before, so the English-speaking reader is able to follow the debate for the first time. The debate is analysed in the introduction and the editors also provide detailed annotation and a bibliography. This volume will be a critical sourcebook for all serious students of nineteenth-century political theory.

Preface
Introduction
1. Bernstein as orthodox Marxist
2. Colonialism and socialism: Berstein's first exchange with Belfort Bax
3. Problems of socialism: first series
4. Socialism and the proletariat
5. The movement and the final goal: Bernstein's second exchange with Belfort Bax
6. Bernstein's overthrow of socialism: Parvus's intervention
7. Revisionism defended
8. Problems of socialism: second series
9. Social reform or revolution? Rosa Luxemburg's intervention
10. The party conference at Stuttgart: the debate on the press
11. The summing-up
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]