Harold Laski, the Reluctant Marxist

Socialist Democracy for a World in Turmoil
2024
ISBN: 978-3-031-65761-0
Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 237 Seiten, Format (B × H): 153 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 438 g

Reihe: Marx, Engels, and Marxisms

This book examines Harold Laski’s relationship to Marxism. Laski was a reluctant Marxist; he had been a pluralist, democratic socialist who wanted to reach a better society by means of parliamentary, constitutional and associational channels. In fact, he never abandoned these early aspirations. In the 1930s and 1940s he wove them into a distinctive Marxist position as he gradually came to believe that there was no answer to Marxist philosophy on history, social change and the prospects for socialism. It is the incorporation of his earlier political thought into his later work that makes his Marxism so fascinating and his work raises important questions.

aims to bring a relatively forgotten political theorist back into the spotlight. Peter Lamb provides an overview to Laski’s political thought in the 20th century and explores his connections to essential foundations of Marxist thought. He ends with a discussion of ways in which Laski’s Marxism is of lasting significance and can contribute to more recent Marxist and neo-Marxist debates.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Lamb, Peter

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Geschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Sozialphilosophie, Politische Philosophie
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Theorie, Politische Philosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Kultur- und Ideengeschichte
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Ideologien Marxismus, Kommunismus

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Continuity and Discontinuity in the Development of Laski’s Thought.- Chapter 3. Marxist Foundations.- Chapter 4. Intellectual and Socio-Political Aspects of Laski’s Marxism.- Chapter 5. Laski's Class Analysis of Capitalist Democracy.- Chapter 6. Laski on Democracy and Revolution in the Historical Trajectory.- Chapter 7. Laski on Liberty and Emancipation.- Chapter 8. Conclusion: Why Read Laski Today.

Über Autor(innen)

Peter Lamb now retired, was Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at Staffordshire University, UK. He is the author of many books, including (2019), , with co-author Douglas Burnham (2018), and (Palgrave Macmillan, 2004).