Marxism and Revolution 3800-MR26-S-OG
The seminar “Marxism and Revolution” is devoted to an analysis of the relationship between Marxist theory and historical revolutionary experiences, both the contribution of that theory to such experiences and the contribution of those experiences to the theory itself. Its aim, then, is to examine how revolutionary experiences relate to Marxist theory and how Marxist theory relates to them, whether and how this theory evolves under the impact of those experiences, and whether and to what extent it exerts an influence on them.
We will reflect on these issues starting, as it were, from the very foundations: from the question of whether the human species and its culture are merely the result of evolution, or also of a “human revolution,” and, if so, what that revolution consisted in. We will consider how social inequalities and antagonisms took shape, and how the social forms through which certain social groups—classes—historically extracted surplus labor from other classes evolved over time; forms that Marx and Engels called modes of production. We will seek to answer the question of what a mode of production is and, more specifically, which element has primacy within the unity that constitutes it—social relations of production or productive forces—and what serious theoretical difficulties both Marx’s own thought and the history of Marxism present in this regard.
We will also address the highly controversial issue among Marxists of the time, place, and conditions of the emergence of capitalism, as well as the course of its expansion on a world scale. We will be interested in what happens to the pre-capitalist modes of production that expanding capitalism encountered in the areas into which it spread, and what happened—and continues to happen—to capitalism in relation to them. This is another deeply contentious issue in the history of Marxism.
The role of revolution in processes of transformation and crisis of modes of production will be considered in light of the strengths and weaknesses, internal contradictions, blank spots, constraining dogmas, achievements, and failures of historically evolving Marxist theory, as well as the continual clashes between orthodoxy and heterodoxy within it. In light of revolutionary processes and experiences, we will also address the question of whether there is a unity of Marxist theory or rather a plurality of theories inspired by the “classics.” We will seek to examine this problem and the issues mentioned above against the background of the first revolutions, traditionally called—though this too is the subject of serious controversy—bourgeois revolutions, as well as later revolutions which, in the eyes of some contending currents within Marxism, proceeded in “stages,” while in the eyes of others “permanently” developed into socialist revolutions.
Thus, in the fire of the great revolutions of the twentieth century in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, we will consider how adherents and advocates of Marxism, who were at the same time revolutionary activists, conceptualized the possibility of radical social change in their own time: who is the subject of revolution, what its material conditions are, what the relationship is between productive forces and relations of production, what role belongs to workers, the peasantry, and other social strata, to trade unions and other social organizations, to mass spontaneity and organization, to revolutionary parties, politico-military organizations and armies, to violence, war, theories, and ideologies. The readings will include both classical texts—by Marx, Engels, Lenin, Luxemburg, Trotsky, Kollontai, Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Guevara, and Fanon—and modern interpretations and polemics by established authors. The seminar will be problem-oriented and comparative in character: rather than reconstructing the history of successive revolutions in a linear way, we will examine different models of revolution and the causes of their victories, defeats, limitations, degeneration, and collapse. The seminar is based on close reading of primary sources, their historical contextualization, and collective discussion of the continuing relevance of Marxist thought for understanding revolution as a theoretical and historical problem, and of revolution as a fundamental source of the development of that thought.
Course coordinators
Type of course
general courses
Learning outcomes
Acquired knowledge:
Students: are familiar with both basic and advanced Marxist concepts concerning modes of production, social classes, revolution, and capitalism; have knowledge of debates surrounding the origins of social inequality, the emergence and expansion of capitalism, and the role of revolution in historical transformations; understand the relationship between Marxist theory and revolutionary experience, as well as the main currents and controversies in the history of Marxism.
Acquired skills:
Students: read and interpret classical and contemporary Marxist texts; analyze the connections between theory and historical and revolutionary processes; compare different models of revolution, their conditions, and their consequences; identify theoretical disputes within Marxism and correctly use terminology related to classes, modes of production, productive forces, relations of production, and social change.
Acquired social competences:
Students: are aware of the scope of their own knowledge and skills, understand the need for continuous learning and professional development, and are open to new ideas and ready to revise their views in light of available evidence and arguments.
Assessment criteria
The course will be assessed and graded on the basis of presentations or essays. Presentations should offer an in-depth discussion of the issues covered in individual class meetings and should draw on additional sources. Essays should provide a well-considered and coherent development of selected aspects of the course subject matter.
Number of abscences allowed: 2 in a semester
Bibliography
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