Marxism After Marx: An Introduction

by David McLellan

A major study of the evolution of Marxism focuses on the German Social Democrats, Russian Marxism, European Marxism between the wars, China and the Third World, and contemporary Marxism in Europe and the United States

Genres: Politics, History, Philosophy, Sociology, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

David McLellan (born 10 February 1940) is an English scholar of Karl Marx and Marxism. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and St. John's College, Oxford University.

McLellan is currently visiting Professor of Political Theory at Goldsmiths' College, University of London. He was previously Professor of Political Theory at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent.

McLellan has also been Visiting Professor at the State University of New York, Guest Fellow in Politics at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Simla, and has lectured widely in North America and Europe.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a decent, comprehensive guide to various post-Marxist thinkers. Its breadth is truly formidable which does make the content a little shallow, and there is also some assumed historical knowledge. I will definitely be returning to this as a reference book. At the end of each text, McLellan gives a brief summary of the most seminal works from each thinker as well as the best biographies or analyses to read.

[C]

David McClellan's survey of various Marxist thinkers and strains of Marxist thought from the death of Marx to after the fall of the Soviet Union does an impressive job of covering an enormous amount of ground in about 400 pages. I found this book tremendously helpful in correcting numerous blind spots in my basic knowledge of various noteworthy Marxist thinkers. McClellan assumes a familiarity with Marx's thought on the part of the reader, but while it's not exactly a breezy read, I think it steers clear of needlessly abstruse prose, while avoiding a style accessible and free of technical language as to strip the explorations of his subjects' ideas of their richness. The extensive bibliographies at the end of each chapter also serve as a great resource, for anyone who, like me plans to read texts by a number of the figures discussed in this book in the future. All in all a fascinating book that left me excited to works by dozens of the thinkers discussed by the author.

If I had one critique, however, it would be that there is very little space devoted to Marxism outside of Europe, China, and the United States. It would have been nice to get a bit more analysis of Marxism in Latin America, as well as more than just a very cursory overview of Asia outside of China. And Marxism in Africa gets even less coverage.

[Samani · Rating 4 out of 5]

موسوعة ضخمة في محاولة من الكاتب للتاريخ لمراكسية بعد ماركس . تنفع كمدخل للتعرف لاراء بعض المفكرين الماركسين المهمين كغرامشي و غيرهم

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poorly written in places, shallow overall, and sometimes seems to think that you already know some of the history it covers, but it's kind of indispensable for its breadth. Also great bibliographies at the end of each chapter.

[Justin Siemaszko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was discarded by my local library when I was 17; I picked it up out of the "free" pile, about 25 years ago. It provided my questioning young mind a map to a lot of history and philosophy I otherwise would not have found without an educated mentor. As a survey of thought, I felt encouraged to challenge the presented ideas. It led me to a lot more nonfiction and helped steer my life toward learning in a way that school did not. Five stars for the affect this book had on my future education and adult life. I assume this is why my rural library discarded the book.

[Reed Landry · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty useful reference book for writers i’ll probably never actually read, and for getting a sense of the ‘field’ as of like 1980. the later chapters could definitely benefit from a second edition taking into account the last 40 years but that’s ok. In fact it seems like there is indeed a newer edition, but the one i read was used and pretty old. maybe i’ll look into getting the newer one.

[Kylewong · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. The revisionist controversy in Germany: Kautsky vs Bernstein

2. Russian Marxism: Lenin --> Stalin vs Trotsky

3. European Marxism between wars: Lukacs, Korsch, Gramsci

4. China + the third world: Mao

5. Contemporary Marxism
Frankfurt School
Kojeve brings to France (Existentialist Marxism)
Structuralist Marxism
Marxism in the US (Jameson)
Postmodern Marxism

6. Conclusion
Intellectual evolution
economics: fall of capitalism
politics: class consciousness & vanguard party --> lack of interest in politics
philosophy: revival of Hegel

Dead
Marxism as a total interpretation of the world
Marxism / Leninism has little future in developed countries
Planned economy is ineffective

Alive
Materialist conception of history
CRITIQUE OF IDEOLOGY

[Luke Echo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good summary of 20th Century Marxism.