‘True Democracy’ as a Prelude to Communism: The Marx of Democracy (Political Philosophy and Public Purpose)

"This book constitutes a critical intervention in the theoretical discussion over the political relationship between democracy and communism. Shedding light on the philosophical origins of the democracy debate, it draws a clear demarcation line between liberalism and republicanism, arguing that after rejecting the former and supporting the latter, the young Marx endorsed 'true democracy' as a prelude to his forthcoming theory of communism. To this end, while following the dynamics of the Marxian history of political ideas and pre-communist theory of the state, the book takes into account the thought of a vast range of philosophers and political theorists, starting from the Ancient times (Aristotle), passing through the Age of Enlightenment (Spinoza, Rousseau), the German Idealist tradition (Hegel) the Young Hegelians' Republicanism (Bauer, Ruge, Feuerbach), and reaching our own times (Arendt, Colletti, MacPherson, Castoriadis, Poulantzas). It will be of interest to students and scholars interested in the history of political thought, theories of democracy, and Marxism."-- Provided by publisher Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii Themes and Methodological Delimitations (Alexandros Chrysis)....Pages 1-21 The Philosophical ‘Moment’ of Marx’s Theory of Democracy: From the Metaphysics of Law to the Critique of Politics (Alexandros Chrysis)....Pages 23-62 The Republican ‘Moment’ of Marx’s Theory of Democracy: From the Critique of Politics to the Theory of the Rational State (Alexandros Chrysis)....Pages 63-102 The Dialectical ‘Moment’ of Marx’s Theory of Democracy: From the Theory of the Rational State to ‘True Democracy’ (Alexandros Chrysis)....Pages 103-133 The Sovereignty of the Demos as ‘True Democracy’ (Alexandros Chrysis)....Pages 135-189 Theoretical Conclusions and Political Perspectives (Alexandros Chrysis)....Pages 191-218 Back Matter ....Pages 219-248 Series Editor’s Foreword 7 Acknowledgements 10 Contents 11 Chapter 1 Themes and Methodological Delimitations 12 References 31 Chapter 2 The Philosophical ‘Moment’ of Marx’s Theory of Democracy: From the Metaphysics of Law to the Critique of Politics 33 References 69 Chapter 3 The Republican ‘Moment’ of Marx’s Theory of Democracy: From the Critique of Politics to the Theory of the Rational State 73 References 111 Chapter 4 The Dialectical ‘Moment’ of Marx’s Theory of Democracy: From the Theory of the Rational State to ‘True Democracy’ 113 References 142 Chapter 5 The Sovereignty of the Demos as ‘True Democracy’ 144 References 197 Chapter 6 Theoretical Conclusions and Political Perspectives 199 References 224 Bibliography 227 Index 238 This Volume Constitutes A Critical Intervention In The Theoretical Discussion Over The Political Relationship Between Democracy And Communism. Shedding Light On The Philosophical Origins Of The Democracy Debate, It Draws A Clear Demarcation Line Between Liberalism And Republicanism, Arguing That After Rejecting The Former And Supporting The Latter, The Young Marx Endorsed 'true Democracy' As A Prelude To His Forthcoming Theory Of Communism-- Alexandros Chrysis. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 219-229) And Index. "This volume constitutes a critical intervention in the theoretical discussion over the political relationship between democracy and communism. Shedding light on the philosophical origins of the democracy debate, it draws a clear demarcation line between liberalism and republicanism, arguing that after rejecting the former and supporting the latter, the young Marx endorsed 'true democracy' as a prelude to his forthcoming theory of communism"-- Provided by publisher