The Difficult Dialogue: Marxism and Nationalism

by Ronaldo Munck

Book by Munck, Ronaldo

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Tom L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful and thorough survey of the history of a thorny debate within marxism. Covers all the major theorists of 'the national question.'

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful study on the relation between Marxism and Nationalism. Covers much of the ‘cosmopolitan’ internationalist left found within the likes of Luxemburg, Pannekoek, Radek, and others. Explores Marx and Engels’ belief, if inconsistent, on nationalism. Bauer’s Austrian Marxist national autonomy. Also Lenin and the right to self determination. The author spends much of the book reminiscing about Ireland and the national question, which, although relevant, takes up far too much space in the book and therefore makes it feel like one is reading a ‘Marxism and the Irish National Question’. The study would have been much better if it had delved outside of this, it suffers as a result of having focused so much on it without considering the national question generally.

Would recommend substituting this fault with Marx at the Margins, Marxism and National Identity: Socialism, Nationalism, and National Socialism during the French Fin de Siècle, Fatherland or Mother Earth, Communism and Nationalism: Karl Marx versus Friedrich List, etc.

A helpful point, always check the notes and sources of these books. You will find much of use.