Western Marxism and the Soviet Union: A Survey of Critical Theories and Debates Since 1917 (Historical Materialism Book Series)

The Russian Question was an absolutely central problem for Marxism in the twentieth century. Numerous attempts were made to understand the nature of Soviet society. The present book tries to portray the development of these theoretical contributions since 1917 in a coherent, comprehensive appraisal. It aims to present the development of the Western Marxist critique of the Soviet Union across a rather long period in history (from 1917 to the present) and in a large region (Western Europe and North America). Within this demarcation of limits in time and space, an effort has been made to ensure completeness, by paying attention to all Marxist analyses which in some way significantly deviated from or added to the older theories. "The amount of sources the author has studied is staggering...the book [has] an encyclopedic value and [is] accessible to all scholars interested in political history." —Martin Kragh, Stockholm School of Economics "Since the Russian experience is still used to vilify the idea of socialism, the debate remains relevant. Van der Linden...has now produced a comprehensive scholarly account of the arguments." —Ian Birchall, London Socialist Historians Group **Marcel van der Linden** (1952) is Research Director of the International Institute of Social History and Professor in the History of Social Movements at the University of Amsterdam. Cover Title Page Series Copyright Contents Preface 1. Introduction 2. From the October Revolution to the Stalin Era (1917–29) 2.i. Kautsky and the Bolsheviks: three controversies Kautsky versus Lenin Kautsky versus Trotsky Kautsky versus Bukharin 2.ii. Levi, Luxemburg and the Bolsheviks: criticism and counter-criticism Levi Luxemburg Interpretations Zetkin, Lukács, and Kautsky 2.iii. Left-communist criticisms Gorter, Pannekoek, Rühle Korsch 3. From Stalin’s ‘Great Leap Forwards’ to the ‘Great Patriotic War’ (1929–41) 3.i. State capitalism Miasnikov Adler Wagner Worrall Pollock 3.ii. Trotsky: the theory of the degenerated workers’ state 3.iii. Theories of a new mode of production Laurat Weil Rizzi Burnham Shachtman Carter Pedrosa Hilferding 3.iv. Criticism Criticism of theories of state capitalism Criticisms of the theory of the degenerated workers’ state Untitled 3.v. Summary 4. From the ‘Great Patriotic War’ to the Structural Assimilation of Eastern Europe (1941–56) 4.i. The theory of the degenerated workers’ state 4.ii. Theories of state capitalism Grandizo/Péret James/Dunayevskaya Castoriadis/Lefort Cliff Bordiga 4.iii. Theories of a new mode of production Guttmann 4.iv. Interpretations ‘without labels’ Sternberg Cycon Frölich Kofler 4.v. Debates and mutual criticism The Deutscher debate Responses to Burnham Mandel’s critique of ‘state capitalism’ and ‘bureaucratic collectivism’ 4.vi. Summary 5. From the Twentieth Congress of the CPSU to the Repression of the ‘Prague Spring’ (1956–68) 5.i. Theories of state capitalism The current around Cliff 5.ii. The theory of the degenerated workers’ state 5.iii. Theories of a new mode of production Djilas Kuroń/Modzelewski 5.iv. Theories ‘without labels’ Wittfogel and his critics Marcuse Rosdolsky Boeuve 5.v. Summary 6. From the Repression of the ‘Prague Spring’ to Perestroika (1968–85) 6.i. Theories of state capitalism Cliff’s current Mattick Maoist variants: Holmberg; Bettelheim and his critics The operaïst variant 6.ii. The theory of the degenerated workers’ state Elaborations Criticisms Mohun’s revision 6.iii. Theories of bureaucratic collectivism Stojanović Critical Rizzi-supporters: Carlo and Melotti Fantham/Machover Sweezy 6.iv. Theories of the new mode of production without a (consolidated) ruling class Pioneers: Arthur, Naville, Altvater/Neusüss The debate in 'Links’ Dutschke and his critics Criticism Zimin Digression: Sohn-Rethel, Damus and the ‘social synthesis’ Bahro and his critics Schmiederer Ticktin and his critics The Hungarian ‘New Left’ Campeanu 6.v. Summary 7. The Collapse and Its Aftermath:From 1985 to the Present 7.i. Theories of (state) capitalism The current around Cliff and its critics Daum and his critics Sapir Chattopadyay and his critic Fernandez 'Aufheben’ Sandemose Resnick/Wolff and their critics 7.ii. The theory of the degenerated workers’ state 7.iii. Theories of bureaucratic collectivism Loone Brenner and his critic Finger 7.iv. Theories of a new mode of production without a (consolidated) ruling class Füredi Ticktin and his critics Cox Arthur Behrens Campeanu 7.v. Summary 8. In Lieu of a Conclusion 9. Meta-theoretical Note References Index "The 'Russian Question' was an absolutely central problem for Marxism in the twentieth century. Numerous attempts were made to understand the nature of Soviet society. The present book tries to portray the development of these theoretical contributions since 1917 in a coherent, comprehensive appraisal. It aims to present the development of the Western Marxist critique of the Soviet Union across a long period in history (from 1917 to the present) and in a large region (Western Europe and North America). Within this demarcation of limits in time and space, an effort has been made to ensure completeness, by paying attention to all Marxist analyses which in some way significantly deviated from or added to the older theories."--Jacket The 'Russian Question' was a central problem for Marxism in the twentieth century. Numerous attempts were made to understand the nature of Soviet society. If the Soviet Union did not have a socialist society, then how should its nature be understood? This book tries to portray the development of these theoretical contributions since 1917 If the Soviet Union did not have a socialist society, then how should its nature be understood? The present book presents the first comprehensive appraisal of the debates on this problem, which was so central to twentieth-century Marxism. A wide-ranging survey of debates within Marxism about the Soviet Union in the twentieth century.