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Classical Marxism: What Is out of Date, and What Has Stood the Test of Time (Theses for Discussion)

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CLASSICAL MARXISM: WHAT IS OUT OF DATE, AND WHAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME (THESES FOR DISCUSSION) A. BUZGALIN A.KOLGANOV INDEX THE METHODOLOGY OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESEARCH.......................................................................... 2 I. THE MATERIAL PRECONDITIONS FOR THE BIRTH OF A NEW SOCIETY .............................................. 2 1. THE PRECONDITIONS FOR A NEW SOCIETY ..................................................................................... 3 2. THE MAIN TASKS OF THE NEW SOCIETY. .......................................................................................... 3 II. THE THEORY OF SOCIALISM ..................................................................................................................... 4 1. SOCIALISM AS THE PROCESS OF NON-LINEAR TRANSFORMATION OF THE “REALM OF NECESSITY” INTO THE “REALM OF FREEDOM”.................................................. 4 2. STAGES OF THE GENESIS OF SOCIALISM IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY .................................... 5 3. SOCIALISM AND THE MARKET ............................................................................................................. 6 4. SOCIALISM AND DEMOCRACY ............................................................................................................. 6 5. “MUTANT SOCIALISM”............................................................................................................................ 7 III. THE SOCIAL BASE OF SOCIALIST TRANSFORMATIONS....................................................................... 8 1. THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD COMMUNITY.................................. 8 2. “LEVELS” OF SUCCESSIVELY MORE DIFFICULT STRATEGIC TASKS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL LIBERATION .......................................................................... 9 CLASSICAL MARXISM: WHAT IS OUT OF DATE, AND WHAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME (THESES FOR DISCUSSION) 1 crisis of earlier institutions, ideologies and so THE METHODOLOGY OF SOCIO- forth. However, this method is absolutely ECONOMIC RESEARCH inadequate for studying the possibilities of overcoming these distorted forms, this 1. The most contentious methodological alienation, or the transforming of this alienated question of our time is the relationship between world (naturally, these transformations proceed the systematic dialectical materialist method on from objective tendencies to progress in the the one hand, and on the other, the positivism world). that is traditional for present-day social research and the post-modernism that flows I. THE MATERIAL PRECONDITIONS FOR from it. THE BIRTH OF A NEW SOCIETY 2. In our view, the dialectical method is as before entirely adequate for researching the 4. Within the context of this problem, strategic, qualitative shifts undergone by overcoming two limited approaches to the modern society in general and by socialism as a analysis of such preconditions takes on material and intellectual phenomenon in fundamental importance. Analyses of the particular. As is well known, the dialectical society of the future as “anti-capitalism” method is based on a recognition of the (Stalinism) and as a reformed capitalism have historicism of social systems and similar both outlived their usefulness. At the same phenomena; on the possibility of subjecting time, both these approaches contain positive them to theoretical and practical criticism, and aspects. Capitalism needs to be removed the need to do this; and on the need to replace through the unity of a qualitative, revolutionary them, with the help of an understanding of the negation (of exploitation and so forth), and of laws of development of the particular social succession (of material and intellectual culture). subject (equipped with theory and organised social force). 5. The new approach, which has made its 3. In present circumstances, the development of effects felt in full measure during the second the systematic dialectical materialist method half of the twentieth century, and which can be cannot follow the path of integration with discerned in the manuscripts of Marx, “omnivorous” post-modernism. What is presupposes an analysis of the new society not required is dialogue with the now-prevalent only as post-capitalist, but also as characterised methods. This latter signifies a recognition of by the removal of the whole world of alienation the validity of each of the methods in its field of (“prehistory”, “the realm of economic research, and their dialectical, contradictory necessity”). Capitalism in general, and present- interrelationship, proceeding from the day post-classical capitalism in particular, can legitimacy of bracketing together the realities in this case be seen only as the highest phase of which these methods are used to research. Post- development of the “realm of necessity”). From modernism, for example, is adequate for this stems a conclusion which is rarely stressed describing the forms of society and social even by modern Marxism: the left is faced with consciousness that predominate in the task of doing away (through the methods of contemporary reality, forms which are alienated reform or revolution) not only with capitalism, from human beings and which are based on a but also with the whole society of alienation, CLASSICAL MARXISM: WHAT IS OUT OF DATE, AND WHAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME (THESES FOR DISCUSSION) 2 and with all the forms and mechanisms of This point is of fundamental importance in the alienation. polemic with orthodox Marxism. 1. THE PRECONDITIONS FOR A NEW SOCIETY 2. THE MAIN TASKS OF THE NEW SOCIETY. 6. The preconditions for such a new society 11. As it proceeds, the birth of a new society (“the realm of freedom”, the post-economic encounters the need to resolve the following world, “communism”), extend far beyond the tasks (for the most part these were unknown to processes of the socialisation of production and the “old” Marxism, and represent new the development of the class of hired workers. perceptions by the modern creative Marxism). The minimum requirements include: 7. * the shift to the predominance of creative 12. First, it is necessary to overcome the activity and post-industrial technologies; the hegemony of corporate capital, whose power creation of a world of culture, and the permeates all spheres of individual and social consigning of material production to a activity, shaping a particular type of secondary level; and the shift to a dialogue with technological progress and of the organisation nature and to a “noosphere” type of of economic life, political authority, ideology, development; child-raising and education, culture and so 8. * The development of various forms of forth. This hegemony synthesises all the most association of workers and citizens; the modern and developed mechanisms of development of their capacities for social alienation: the power of the market and creativity, and of their experience of monetary fetishism; private property, the transforming the prevalent social relations (their “privatisation” of all economic and social life, experience in the struggle for their rights, for and capitalist exploitation; the exercise of self-organisation and so forth, for the power in the economy and politics by corporate development of their “social muscle”); elites through the use of a broad range of legitimate and illegitimate, institutional and 9. * The accumulation and mastering by spiritual forms of coercion; the domination of working people of the wealth of human culture, mass culture and of the psychology of without which creative activity in general and individualism, etc. social creativity in particular are impossible (this thesis, which was already stressed by 13. The social basis for the reproduction of the Lenin, has only a very pale reflection in many-sided hegemony of corporative capital is present-day Marxism, which often forgets this conformism (subordination to the dominant question). “rules” and institutions of social life as “natural”), which is typical of the workers, 10. The key parameter and measure of customers and “clients” of corporations. development of the new society is becoming Consumer society and the cultivation of the not the replacement of the private owner by the utilitarian values fostered by mass culture are state, but the process of association (the self- vital mechanisms helping to spread this power organisation of citizens and their self- and this conformism. management), and their social creativity in the whole diversity of its forms (from innovations 14. The only form of social energy which by a trade union activist or teacher, through the workers are able to use to overcome this activity of mass democratic organisations, to hegemonism is the energy of their united, the revolutionary transformation of society). common activity (social creativity). The most important means of destroying consumerism CLASSICAL MARXISM: WHAT IS OUT OF DATE, AND WHAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME (THESES FOR DISCUSSION) 3 and mass culture is the development of genuine II. THE THEORY OF SOCIALISM cultural values and their mastering by the masses. Aiding the accumulation of the potential for social creativity and the progress 1. SOCIALISM AS THE PROCESS OF NON-LINEAR of genuine culture are consequently among the TRANSFORMATION OF THE “REALM OF main tasks of the left forces. NECESSITY” INTO THE “REALM OF FREEDOM” 15. Secondly, it is necessary to meet the 17. Taking this general approach to the question challenge of social problems, setting forward of
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