Left Out: Pragmatism, Exceptionalism, and the Poverty of American Marxism, 1890-1922 (New Studies in American Intellectual and Cultural History)

"Why is there no socialism in the United States?" We can best deal with this age-old question, writes Brian Lloyd, by rephrasing it. In this provocative rethinking of American radicalism, Lloyd asks instead: What happened to Marx's methods and concepts when American radicals tried to put them into practice? As an answer, Lloyd offers a detailed analysis of the Marxian doctrine that Debs-era socialists tried to understand and put to use in changing American society. He highlights the amicable relationship that developed between Marxism and pragmatism, showing how this courtship ultimately impoverished the radicals who cultivated it. Trying to gain a foothold in the struggle to shape American society and social science in the early twentieth century, Marxists invigorated American liberalism while placing themselves on the fringe of liberal discourse and rendering themselves irrelevant. Whether in the name of Darwin or Dewey, those who claimed to be squaring Marxism with "American reality" succeeded only in creating American versions of the petty bourgeois socialism that Marx had castigated in 1848. The poverty of American Marxism, Lloyd concludes, was above all an ideological condition--the result of radicals' having imbibed far too little, rather than too much, of the Marxism of Marx. Why Is There No Socialism In The United States? We Can Best Deal With This Age-old Question, Writes Brian Lloyd, By Rephrasing It. In This Provocative Rethinking Of American Radicalism, Lloyd Asks Instead: What Happened To Marx's Methods And Concepts When American Radicals Tried To Put Them Into Practice? As An Answer, Lloyd Offers A Detailed Analysis Of The Marxian Doctrine That Debs-era Socialists Tried To Understand And Put To Use In Changing American Society. He Highlights The Amicable Relationship That Developed Between Marxism And Pragmatism, Showing How This Courtship Ultimately Impoverished The Radicals Who Cultivated It. The Poverty Of American Marxism, Lloyd Concludes, Was Above All An Ideological Condition - The Result Of Radical's Having Imbibed Far Too Little, Rather Than Too Much, Of The Marxism Of Marx. Pragmatism As A Dual Tradition -- Wide-eyed And Dreaming : William James As Petty Bourgeois Idealogue -- Integrating Facts And Values : John Dewey And The Consolidation Of Philosophy -- A Full Meal Or A Menu? -- Positivism -- Cosmic And Academic -- The Devious Science Of Thorstein Veblen -- E.r.a. Seligman : Taking Marx Away From The Marxists -- Second Intellectual Marxism ; The Materialist Conception Of History In America -- Revolutionary Darwinism And Practical Idealism, 1900-1907 -- The Veblenian Moment, 1905-1912 -- Hayseeds, Sophisticates, And The Cohesiveness Of Second International Marxism -- The Not-so-great Schism -- Morris Hillquit And The Defense Of Second Interational Orthodoxy -- The Socialism Of The New Review -- The Pragmatist Presence -- Modern Science = Pragmatism = Socialism : William English Walling And The Mathematics Of American Social Democracy -- From The New Radialism To The New Liberalism : The Ideological Itinerary Of Walter Lippmann -- The Truth Which Is No Theory : Max Eastman And The Metaphysics Of Revolution -- Randolph Bourne : The Voice Of Conscience In A German Dialect -- Pragmatism And The New Review -- Planting A Flag In The Facts -- Germany And The Anglo-saxons -- Prowar Anticapitalism -- The Antiwarriors -- The Loyal Opposition -- The Transatlantic Left -- Reading Lenin -- The Roots Of American Anticonnunism -- The Stillbirth Of American Leninism -- Conclusion : Progress And Poverty In The History Of American Marxism. Brian Lloyd. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [423]-461) And Index. "Why is there no socialism in the United States?" This age-old question, writes Brian Lloyd, can best be dealt with by rephrasing it. In this provocative rethinking of American radicalism, Lloyd asks instead: What happened to Marx's methods and concepts when American radicals tried to put them into practice?To answer this question, Lloyd offers a detailed analysis of the Marxian doctrine that Debs-era socialists tried to understand and put to use in changing American society. He highlights the amiable relationship that developed between Marxism and pragmatism, showing how this courtship ultimately impoverished the radicals who cultivated it. Trying to gain a foothold in the struggle to shape American society and social science in the early twentieth century, Marxists invigorated American liberalism while at the same time placing themselves on the fringe of liberal discourse and rendering themselves irrelevant.Whether in the name of Darwin or Dewey, those who claimed to be squaring Marxism with "American reality" succeeded only in creating American versions of the petty bourgeois socialism that Marx had castigated in 1848. The poverty of American Marxism, Lloyd concludes, was above all an ideological condition -- the result of radicals' having imbibed far too little, rather than too much, of the Marxism of Marx.