- 27 Mar 2009 23:30
#1850361
A Series on Social Democracy and Marxism
By Okonkwo
Chapter I: The Origins
It is no coincidence that I have chosen the title of the famous pamphlet, Rosa Luxemburg wrote at the turn of the 19th century for my series of articles on the subject of the relation of modern pragmatic Social Democracy to 19th century Marxism.
Seldom has this subject been of more importance than in these times of financial crisis, when the movement of the left is once again stricken by the question of: whither, Socialism? When Luxemburg decided to write her pamphlet, the movement of the global Left was divided in two essential factions:
August Bebel (1840-1913)
What I first want to examine is: how did this split of the Marxist movement come about and how is Reformism revising Marxist thought, demonstrated on the basis of Bernstein’s and Kautsky’s analyses.
The defeat of the Paris Commune in 1871 plunged Europe into a period of reaction, leading to the disintegration of the First International by 1873. After its official in 1876, Socialists from several countries endeavoured to re-form an international movement based on the principles of Marxism. Their ideas came to fruition at a rather fitting date, on July 1889, the centennial of the French Revolution, the Second Socialist International was founded by delegates from 20 different countries. But the festivities were soon over, as it became more and more apparent that this incarnation of the Socialist movement would be just as riddled by internal conflict as its previous one (recall the famous rivalry of Marx and Bakunin) had been. The German Socialists who felt particularly obliged to continue Marx’s thought and work played an important part in the development of that split. Within the German SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany), the struggle between the Revolutionary and Reformist current had its most fierce moment, hence is shall serve me as a demonstration of the struggle, even more so as the epitome of the struggle of the different currents, bearing in mind that at the turn of the 19th century, the development of Marxist theory was mainly a German endeavour.
At the root of this peculiar struggle lay the Erfurt Programme, adopted by the SPD in 1891 and formulated by Bernstein, Bebel and Kautsky. This programme formed the first decisive revision of Marxist thought after Marx’s death and was the first programme of the SPD that officially abolished the call for a proletarian revolution, it is the first to reject explicit parts of the Marxist theory and it is the start of the transformation of the SPD from a Marxist party into a reformist Social Democratic party. In demanding pragmatic, socio-political changes, such as universal suffrage, the eight-hour day and labour protection, it represents the SPD’s and Reformism’s discrepancy between Marxist theory and the practice of Realpolitik.
This de facto development was soon followed by theoretical justifications on part of Bernstein et alii under the face of growing criticism and discontent of the so-called orthodox Marxists.
Thus, the Marxist movement began the war on itself.
By Okonkwo
Chapter I: The Origins
It is no coincidence that I have chosen the title of the famous pamphlet, Rosa Luxemburg wrote at the turn of the 19th century for my series of articles on the subject of the relation of modern pragmatic Social Democracy to 19th century Marxism.
Seldom has this subject been of more importance than in these times of financial crisis, when the movement of the left is once again stricken by the question of: whither, Socialism? When Luxemburg decided to write her pamphlet, the movement of the global Left was divided in two essential factions:
August Bebel (1840-1913)
- Revolutionary Marxism
The belief that the prevalent economic mode of production can only be changed in a swift, decisive revolution by the working class that deposes the bourgeoisie and usurps the state by violent means.
Key figures of this current are at this time Luxemburg herself, together with the German communists and V. I. Lenin devising up his own interpretation of Marxism - Reformism/Revisionism
The belief that the prevalent economic mode of production can be changed by peaceful means in a transformation of capitalism into socialism, derived on the fact that Marx’s predictions about the imminent demise of capitalism had not come about.
Key figures of this current are Eduard Bernstein (in particular his work Die Voraussetzungen), August Bebel and Karl Kautsky
What I first want to examine is: how did this split of the Marxist movement come about and how is Reformism revising Marxist thought, demonstrated on the basis of Bernstein’s and Kautsky’s analyses.
The defeat of the Paris Commune in 1871 plunged Europe into a period of reaction, leading to the disintegration of the First International by 1873. After its official in 1876, Socialists from several countries endeavoured to re-form an international movement based on the principles of Marxism. Their ideas came to fruition at a rather fitting date, on July 1889, the centennial of the French Revolution, the Second Socialist International was founded by delegates from 20 different countries. But the festivities were soon over, as it became more and more apparent that this incarnation of the Socialist movement would be just as riddled by internal conflict as its previous one (recall the famous rivalry of Marx and Bakunin) had been. The German Socialists who felt particularly obliged to continue Marx’s thought and work played an important part in the development of that split. Within the German SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany), the struggle between the Revolutionary and Reformist current had its most fierce moment, hence is shall serve me as a demonstration of the struggle, even more so as the epitome of the struggle of the different currents, bearing in mind that at the turn of the 19th century, the development of Marxist theory was mainly a German endeavour.
At the root of this peculiar struggle lay the Erfurt Programme, adopted by the SPD in 1891 and formulated by Bernstein, Bebel and Kautsky. This programme formed the first decisive revision of Marxist thought after Marx’s death and was the first programme of the SPD that officially abolished the call for a proletarian revolution, it is the first to reject explicit parts of the Marxist theory and it is the start of the transformation of the SPD from a Marxist party into a reformist Social Democratic party. In demanding pragmatic, socio-political changes, such as universal suffrage, the eight-hour day and labour protection, it represents the SPD’s and Reformism’s discrepancy between Marxist theory and the practice of Realpolitik.
This de facto development was soon followed by theoretical justifications on part of Bernstein et alii under the face of growing criticism and discontent of the so-called orthodox Marxists.
Thus, the Marxist movement began the war on itself.
- By wat0n
- By litwin