On the Formation of Marxism: Karl Kautsky's Theory of Capitalism, the Marxism of the Second International and Karl Marx's Critique of Political Economy (Historical Materialism Book)

Karl Kautsky was, for three decades before the First World War, the main authority on the intellectual heritage of Marx and Engels, the founding fathers of Marxism. His interpretation of Marx’s Capital and the basic laws and contradictions of capitalism was the standard reference point for both the foes and allies of Social Democracy. Jukka Gronow’s On the Formation of Marxism analyses Kautsky’s impact on the self-understanding of the European labour movement from his dispute over Revisionism with Eduard Bernstein to his polemics with V.I. Lenin over Imperialism and the Russian Revolution. Despite many political differences, Gronow shows that these authors shared a common understanding of the basic nature of capitalism, which in important respects differed from Marx’s critique of political economy. Biographical note Jukka Gronow, Ph.D. (1986) is an emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Uppsala, Sweden. He has published monographs and articles on social theory, modern consumption and the history of the Soviet Union, including Caviar with Champagne (Berg 2000). Readership All interested in the history of Marxism and the European Social Democratic labour movement. Preface and Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: KAUTSKY’S MARXISM 1. Organised Capitalism, the General Cartel and the Proletariat 2. The Dispute over Revisionism 3. The Theory of Immiseration, Socialist Consciousness and the Intellectuals 4. Socialism as Science 5. The Capitalist Law of Appropriation: Kautsky’s Interpretation of Karl Marx’s Economic Thought 6. The Centralisation of Capital and Monopoly Formation 7. Imperialism and the Relation between Industrial and Agrarian Countries 8. Imperialism and Its Alternatives 9. Imperialism as the Last Stage of Capitalism 10. Theoretical Sources of Kautsky’s and Lenin’s Studies on Imperialism 11. Imperialism as the Truth about Capitalism 12. Parliamentary Democracy and Revolutionary Tactics 13. The Question of Democracy and Dictatorship: Lenin’s Critique of Kautsky the Renegade PART II: MARX’S MARXISM 14. The Immanent Critique and the Natural Rights Theory 15. John Locke, Adam Smith and Karl Marx’s Critique of Private Property 16. The Principle of Labour 17. The Theory of Increasing Misery and the Critique of Capitalism Conclusion Bibliography Index On the Formation of Marxism analyses Karl Kautsky's decisive impact on the self-understanding of the Social Democratic movement, from his dispute over Revisionism with Eduard Bernstein to his polemics with V.I. Lenin over the Russian Revolution. By Jukka Gronow. Originally Published As The Author's Doctoral Thesis, Department Of Sociology, University Of Helsinki In 1986. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.