Marxism and Social Movements

Historical Materialism #46

by Colin Barker (Editor), John Krinsky (Editor), Laurence Cox (Editor)

Marxism and Social Movements is the first sustained engagement between social-movement theory and Marxist approaches to collective action. The chapters collected here, by leading figures in both fields, discuss the potential for a Marxist theory of social movements. Exploring struggles on six continents over 150 years, it sets a new agenda both for Marxist theory and for movement research.

Genres: Social Movements, Politics, Theory, Nonfiction, Philosophy

482 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2013

About the author

Colin Barker was a British sociologist as well as a Marxist historian and writer.

Reviews

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you already have a job and know what is/or forms part of a trade union, then you know, in both theory and practice, a lot more of what this academics are trying to theorize.

Also, this book is anti-stalinist and, with no surprise, glorifies the pathethic zapatistas movement. I assure you that without them, my country would've a lot better, and this authors don't know a thing of what they are talking about.

[Jonas Marvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book, really recommend comrades read it.

A bit difficult at times, so be patient. Sometimes annoying academic speak can get in the way, e.g. why not just write something was "frequent" rather than write something was "not infrequent".

Nonetheless, really good arguments and debates. Best pieces in their are undoubtedly, Jon Krinsky's theoretical framework; Colin Barker's piece on class struggle and social movements; Neil Davidson's argument on right-wing social movements, and David McNally's concluding essay.

I also think the introduction is really strong and insightful on discussing the relationship between different Marxisms and the social movements of the 20th and 21st Centuries.

[Leo Zeilig · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly useful and important book. I have written a full review here: http://isj.org.uk/movement-of-the-peo...