Militant publications, london, 1986 no first published. Together with lenin and trotsky she was the outstanding representative of marxism in the 20 th century. Rosa luxemburg s short book reform or revolution is often overlooked these days, in favour of her more famous, the mass strike. An effective refutation of revisionist interpretations of marxist doctrine, it defines the position of scientific socialism on the issues of social reforms, the state, democracy, and the character of.
Rosa luxemburgs classic pamphlet reform or revolution also known as social reform or revolution was first published in 1899. Rosa luxemburg reform or revolution in defence of marxism. Rosa luxemburg as had vladimir lenin and leon trotsky refuted his ideas and adds to our understanding of capitalism then, and to some extent now, by analysing the relationship between reform and revolution which should not be counterposed to each other, from a marxist point of view and many other issues. Rosa luxemburg quotes author of reform or revolution. Jan 15, 2019 rosa luxemburg s book, written after the 1905 revolution in russia, shows how economic issues can be the catalyst for political demands. Karl kautsky, the leading theoretician of the second international, agreed with her, and revisionism consequently became a. A polemic writing by the famous red rosa luxemburg, reform or revolution published in 1899 explains why capitalism can never overcome its internal contradictions. The life of the influential revolutionary rosa luxemburg provides inspiration and lessons for today, writes judy cox.
Rosa luxemburgs short book reform or revolution is often overlooked these days, in favour of her more famous, the mass strike. Luxemburg argues that trade unions, reformist political parties and the expansion of social democracywhile important to the proletariats development of class consciousnesscannot create a socialist society as eduard bernstein, among others, argued. Luxemburg, rosa 18711919, socialist activist rosa luxemburg was one of the great intellects and militants of pre1914 european socialism. Rosa luxemburgs book, written after the 1905 revolution in russia, shows how economic issues can be the catalyst for political demands. Rosa luxemburgs reform or revolution had been powerless against the strong waves of reformism within the sdp.
She was part of a mass labour movement with revolutionary socialist politics at its core, during a period when world socialist revolution was a tangible prospect. Rosa luxemburgs reform or revolution in the twentyfirst. Released in 1900, reform or revolution argues that revolution is not only necessary to bring about socialism, but even to win lasting reforms. Together with lenin and trotsky she was the outstanding representative of marxism in the 20th century. I wont bury lenin, but i do think we as western radicals have more to learn from red rosa than from vladimir, particularly in her invocation of workers. Jul 15, 2018 released in 1900, reform or revolution argues that revolution is not only necessary to bring about socialism, but even to win lasting reforms.
Reform or revolution, in which she defended marxist orthodoxy and the necessity of revolution, arguing that parliament was nothing more than a bourgeois sham. The essential rosa luxemburg haymarket, 2008 and with paul le blanc socialism or barbarism pluto, 2010. Rosa luxemburg saw the fight for social reform as a vital means of mobilizing the oppressed. The accumulation of capital 19, an analysis of capitalist expansion in the underdeveloped world. Reform or revolution is rosa luxemburgs stark response to eduard bernsteins book evolutionary socialism. Reform or revolution and other writings dover books on. She is editor of two anthologies of rosa luxemburgs writings. Rosa, luxemburg, reform or revolution, 1900 chapter 8. In reform or revolution, luxemburg 1900, reprinted 1970 argues that the act of reform within the capitalist system, regardless of its potential to benefit the workers, is ultimately a destructive act because reform serves to extend and perpetuate the capitalist system. Rosa luxemburg was born in 1871 to a polish jewish family in zamosc in poland, which at the time was controlled by the russian empire.
Written while in her late twenties, reform or revolution demonstrates the keeness of luxemburgs marxism and the sharpness of her polemic. Her family lived near the old market square, not far from the home of y. She became politically active at a young age and while she finished the gymnasium in warsaw at the top of her class, she was denied a medal because of her oppositional. The lesson to be learned from the above facts is obvious. Jan 15, 2019 for those of us who think reform and revolution are concepts tied at the hip, luxemburg is likely the most important marxist to speak about politics as practiced in western democratic societies, and that includes even antonio gramsci.
Rosa luxemburg wrote reform or revolution 1899, a defense of marxist orthodoxy against gradualism. Instead, she argues from a historical materialist perspective that capitalism is economically unsustainable and will eventually collapse and. According to bernstein, the credit system, the perfected means of communication. Mar 25, 2009 reform or revolution luxemburg strongly opposed the idea that gradually altering capitalism by way of reforms introduced through parliament could lead to socialism. She is on the editorial board of versos complete works.
Reform or revolution by rosa luxemburg audiobook english. Born in zamosc to a middleclass jewish family, she rose through the ranks of. Jan 10, 2017 rosa luxemburgs classic pamphlet reform or revolution also known as social reform or revolution was first published in 1899. Rosa luxemburg was a polish marxist revolutionary as well as the most relevant figure of the left wing of the german social democratic party spd. Reform or revolution, also titled social reform or revolution. Most importantly, it is vital that we learn the lessons of the german revolution so that the sacrifice of luxemburg and her comrades will not have been in vain. Rosa luxemburg was born on march 5, 1871 in zamosc, the youngest of five children. Reform or revolution is rosa luxemburg s stark response to eduard bernsteins book evolutionary socialism. The revolutionary rosa luxemburg socialist alternative. For those of us who think reform and revolution are concepts tied at the hip, luxemburg is likely the most important marxist to speak about politics as practiced in western democratic societies, and that includes even antonio gramsci.
Born in zamosc to a middleclass jewish family, she rose through the ranks of the. Rosa luxemburg, as had lenin and trotsky, not only refuted bernsteins ideas but in an incisive analysis adds to our understanding of capitalism then, and to some extent today, the relationship between reform and revolution which should not be counterposed to each other from a marxist point of view and many other issues. Luxemburg was among the first to analyse reformism, in the context of her involvement as a revolutionary inside the worlds largest social democratic party, the german spd. Jan 07, 2019 luxemburg argued that those who choose reform over revolution werent looking for a calmer, more tranquil path to the same goal, but a different goal altogether. Though it was written more than 100 years ago under vastly different conditions, rosa luxemburg s pamphlet reform or revolution is. Rosa luxemburg internet archive 1999 transcriptionmarkup. Despite the fact that this book does hold small excerpts of brilliance that encompass luxemburgs ability to combine passion with intelligence, her rebuttal was all. At the start of the 21st century the united states labour movement is at a historic low point, organized socialist politics lacks a mass working class. Rosa luxemburg s classic pamphlet reform or revolution also known as social reform or revolution was first published in 1899. Rosa luxemburg accurately predicted many aspects of our current global capitalist neoliberal crisis wherein privatization of the commons is becoming more the norm globally, capitalists mercilessly exploit labor in the developing world, and technology that could be used to benefit humanity if collectively owned is causing mass unemployment under private control. Reform or revolution and the mass strike rosa luxemburg download bok. Reform or revolution paperback january 1, 1973 by rosa luxemburg author 4. Karl kautsky, the leading theoretician of the second international, agreed with her, and revisionism consequently became a socialist heresy both in. Luxemburgs reform and revolution, written at a high point of socialist struggle, contains invaluable lessons for this new generation of activists as they confront the political and organizational challenges of the day.
Reform or revolution 3 the challenge of revisionism introducing reform or revolution rosa luxemburgs classic pamphlet reform or revolution also known as social reform or revolution was first published in 1899. Rosa luxemburgs funeral, frankfurt am main, germany, 1919. Reform or revolution was one of the most important of her early writings. Despite the fact that this book does hold small excerpts of brilliance that encompass luxemburg s ability to combine passion with intelligence, her rebuttal was all but out of reach for me. Rosa luxemburg s funeral, frankfurt am main, germany, 1919. A polemic writing by the famous red rosa luxemburg, reform or revolution 1899 explains why capitalism can never overcome its internal contradictions. Oct 24, 20 reform or revolution rosa luxemburg one of the most important marxist thinkers and leaders of the twentieth century, rosa luxemburg is finding renewed interest among a new generation of activists and critics of global capitalism. Much of the material had appeared in article form over the. Though it was written more than 100 years ago under vastly different conditions, rosa luxemburgs pamphlet reform or.
Our program becomes not the realisation of socialism, but the reform of capitalism. Reform or revolution rosa luxemburg one of the most important marxist thinkers and leaders of the twentieth century, rosa luxemburg is finding renewed interest among a new generation of activists and critics of global capitalism. I wont bury lenin, but i do think we as western radicals have more to learn from red rosa than from vladimir, particularly in her. Rosa luxemburg lived in a time and place very unlike our own. Jan 14, 2019 rosa luxemburg was a foreigner, a woman and only in her mid20s when she published her riposte to bernstein. Aug 22, 2018 in reform or revolution, luxemburgs central thesis is that trade unions, reformist political parties and the expansion of social democracy, while important to the proletariats development of. Rosa luxemburgs theory of revolution the village voice. Jan 16, 2018 rosa luxemburg was one of the most important figures in the history of the international workers movement. Reform or revolution was one of the most imp rosa luxemburg was one of the most important figures in the history of the international workers movement.
Written in 1899, it provides a devastating demolition of. So far as we know, this is the first english translation of reform or revolution. Rosa luxemburg life, revolutionary activities, works. Rosa luxemburg feminist, philosopher, and revolutionary. Luxemburg, rosa early years germany and the revisionism debate marxist theory mass action and democracy bibliography. Yet only revolutionary transformation could make their victories permanent.
Rosa luxemburg was one of the most important figures in the history of the international workers movement. An effective refutation of revisionist interpretations of marxist doctrine, it defines the position of scientific socialism on the issues of social reforms, the state, democracy, and the character of the proletarian revolution. Together with leo jogiches 1867 1919, she was the leader of the social democratic party of the kingdom of poland. Rosa luxemburg was a foreigner, a woman and only in her mid20s when she published her riposte to bernstein. The mass strike, the political party, and the trade unions 1906, propounding her theory of revolutionary mass action. Helen scott is associate professor of english at the university of vermont and has published broadly on postcolonial literature and theory. Luxemburg argued that those who choose reform over revolution werent looking for a calmer, more tranquil path to the same goal, but a different goal altogether. Revolution is the only possible way to truly change the system, though in this work she does not indicate whether or. Rosa luxemburg and the 1918 german revolution duration. Socialists cannot, luxemburg argued, choose between reform and. In her pamphlet reform or social revolution, luxemburg explained how superficial and temporary changes to the economy did not constitute a fundamental break from the past. As i have watched, somewhat disinterestedly i must admit, the labour party try to tie up a coalition deal with new zealand first, i have also found myself reflecting on rosa luxemburgs classic reform or revolution, written in 1915. In reform or revolution, luxemburgs central thesis is that trade unions, reformist political parties and the expansion of social democracy, while important to the proletariats development of. Jul 08, 2011 our program becomes not the realisation of socialism, but the reform of capitalism.
Social reform or revolution, by rosa luxemburg publisher. A revolutionary leader whose thought has been embraced by marxistleninists, anarchists, and even anticommunist social democrats, her influence on political thought has increased in the era after the cold war. If it is true that theories are only the images of the phenomena of the exterior world in the human consciousness, it must be added, concerning eduard bernsteins system, that theories are sometimes inverted images. According to bernstein, the credit system, the perfected means of communication and the new capitalist combines are the important factors that forward the adaptation of capitalist economy. Reform or revolution and the mass strike, rosa luxemburg. Originally, it appeared in german in 1899, its aim being to show the weakness of the case of eduard bernstein and kondradt schmidt, which stated that the german social democratic. Successively, she was a member of the social democracy of the kingdom of poland and lithuania sdkpil. Rosa luxemburgs reform or revolution in the twentyfirst century.
I can confidently say that reform or revolution will not be mentioned by any of the commentariat anytime soon. Notes on the party, reform, revolution and the myth of. Written while in her late twenties, reform or revolution demonstrates the keeness of luxemburg s marxism and the sharpness of her polemic. Why capitalism cannot overcome its internal contradictions and. Her pamphlet social reform or social revolution was published in 1900 in response to bernsteins book, the preconditions of socialism and the tasks of social democracy. Chris hedges gave this talk on revolutionary socialist rosa luxemburg on friday at the left forum in new york city. She was part of a mass labour movement with revolutionary socialist politics at its core, during a.
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