Sorel: Reflections On Violence (cambridge Texts In The History Of Political Thought)

Georges Sorel' s Reflections on Violence (1908) remains a controversial text to this day. It unashamedly advocates the use of violence as a means of putting an end to the corrupt politics of bourgeois democracy and of bringing down capitalism. It is both dangerous and fascinating, of enduring importance and interest to all those concerned about the nature of modern politics. This new student edition of Sorel's classic text is accompanied by notes, chronology, and bibliography, as well as a concise introduction to the context and content of this work. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 4 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Sorel’s early writings......Page 9 The context of Sorel’s Reflections......Page 10 Philosophical influences......Page 12 Style and methodology......Page 14 Myths......Page 15 Class struggle and violence......Page 16 The revolutionary tradition......Page 18 The general strike......Page 20 Lenin and the Russian Revolution......Page 21 Conclusion......Page 23 Select bibliography......Page 24 Chronology......Page 27 Biographical synopses......Page 30 Note on the text......Page 37 Note on the translation......Page 41 Introduction: Letter to Daniel Halévy......Page 45 I......Page 50 II......Page 57 III......Page 62 IV......Page 66 V......Page 73 Foreword to the third edition......Page 79 Introduction to the first publication......Page 81 I......Page 89 II......Page 96 I......Page 107 II......Page 113 III......Page 121 I......Page 129 II......Page 135 III......Page 143 IV......Page 148 I......Page 151 II......Page 161 III......Page 173 I......Page 185 II......Page 192 III......Page 198 IV......Page 207 I......Page 217 II......Page 226 III......Page 237 IV......Page 246 I......Page 257 II......Page 266 III......Page 272 IV......Page 280 V......Page 285 I......Page 295 II......Page 298 III......Page 305 IV......Page 310 V......Page 315 Appendix II: Apology for violence......Page 321 Appendix III: In defence of Lenin......Page 325 INDEX......Page 337 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 4 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Acknowledgements 8 Introduction 9 Sorel’s early writings 9 The context of Sorel’s Reflections 10 Philosophical influences 12 Style and methodology 14 Myths 15 Class struggle and violence 16 The revolutionary tradition 18 The general strike 20 Lenin and the Russian Revolution 21 Conclusion 23 Select bibliography 24 Chronology 27 Biographical synopses 30 Note on the text 37 Note on the translation 41 Introduction: Letter to Daniel Halévy 45 I 50 II 57 III 62 IV 66 V 73 Foreword to the third edition 79 Introduction to the first publication 81 I Class struggle and violence 89 I 89 II 96 II The decadence of the bourgeoisie and violence 107 I 107 II 113 III 121 III Prejudices against violence 129 I 129 II 135 III 143 IV 148 IV The proletarian strike 151 I 151 II 161 III 173 V The political general strike 185 I 185 II 192 III 198 IV 207 VI The ethics of violence 217 I 217 II 226 III 237 IV 246 VII The ethics of the producers 257 I 257 II 266 III 272 IV 280 V 285 Appendix I: Unity and multiplicity 295 I 295 II 298 III 305 IV 310 V 315 Appendix II: Apology for violence 321 Appendix III: In defence of Lenin 325 INDEX 337 Georges Sorel's Reflections on Violence is one of the most controversial books of the twentieth century: J. B. Priestley argued that if one could grasp why a retired civil servant had written such a book then the modern age could be understood. It heralded the political turmoil of the decades that were to follow its publication and provided inspiration for Marxists and Fascists alike. Developing the ideas of violence, myth and the general strike, Sorel celebrates the heroic action of the proletariat as a means of saving the modern world from decadence and of re-invigorating the capitalist spirit of a timid bourgeoisie. This edition of Sorel's classic text is accompanied by an editor's introduction by Jeremy Jennings, a leading scholar of political thought, both setting the work in its context and explaining its major themes. A chronology of Sorel's life and a list of further reading are included. I would no doubt have left these studies buried in the bound volumes of a review if friends, whose judgement I greatly value, had not though that it would be a good idea to bring to the attention of a wider public reflections which serve to make better known one of the most singular social phenomena that history records. Georges Sorel's Reflections On Violence (1908) remains a controversial text to this day, unashamedly advocating the use of violence to bring down capitalism. Jeremy Jennings presents a new edition, with introduction, chronology and notes, to enable the student to grasp the essentials of this important thinker. In this classic text, Sorel develops the ideas of violence, myth, and the general strike as the heroic actions of the proletariat. His ideas would later be cited by Marxists and Fascists to support their non-compliant and violent methods to strike at bourgeoisie culture