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New Lefts: The Making of a Radical Tradition
A groundbreaking history of Europe's "new lefts," from the antifascist 1920s to the anti-establishment 1960s
In the 1960s, the radical youth of Western Europe's New Left rebelled against the democratic welfare state and their parents' antiquated politics of reform. It was not the first time an upstart leftist movement was built on the ruins of the old. This book traces the history of neoleftism from its antifascist roots in the first half of the twentieth century, to its postwar reconstruction in the 1950s, to its explosive reinvention by the 1960s counterculture.
Terence Renaud demonstrates why the left in Europe underwent a series of internal revolts against the organizational forms of established parties and unions. He describes how small groups of militant youth such as New Beginning in Germany tried to sustain grassroots movements without reproducing the bureaucratic, hierarchical, and supposedly obsolete structures of Social Democracy and Communism. Neoleftist militants experimented with alternative modes of organization such as councils, assemblies, and action committees. However, Renaud reveals that these same militants, decades later, often came to defend the very institutions they had opposed in their youth.
Providing vital historical perspective on the challenges confronting leftists today, this book tells the story of generations of antifascists, left socialists, and anti-authoritarians who tried to build radical democratic alternatives to capitalism and kindle hope in reactionary times.
In the 1960s, the radical youth of Western Europe's New Left rebelled against the democratic welfare state and their parents' antiquated politics of reform. It was not the first time an upstart leftist movement was built on the ruins of the old. This book traces the history of neoleftism from its antifascist roots in the first half of the twentieth century, to its postwar reconstruction in the 1950s, to its explosive reinvention by the 1960s counterculture.
Terence Renaud demonstrates why the left in Europe underwent a series of internal revolts against the organizational forms of established parties and unions. He describes how small groups of militant youth such as New Beginning in Germany tried to sustain grassroots movements without reproducing the bureaucratic, hierarchical, and supposedly obsolete structures of Social Democracy and Communism. Neoleftist militants experimented with alternative modes of organization such as councils, assemblies, and action committees. However, Renaud reveals that these same militants, decades later, often came to defend the very institutions they had opposed in their youth.
Providing vital historical perspective on the challenges confronting leftists today, this book tells the story of generations of antifascists, left socialists, and anti-authoritarians who tried to build radical democratic alternatives to capitalism and kindle hope in reactionary times.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published September 7, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 28, 2023
An exceedingly thorough study of the long arc of 'neoleftism' and the cultures of political organising which sustained it. Renaud, in time honoured historiographic fashion, establishes that what seems like a novel development of the post war / 60s period in terms of left regroupment is well bound to an extended lineage of extra-party projects from the start of the 20th century. We might easily quibble with some particular analyses - the 68ers specific relation to Socialisme ou Barberie (that Cohn-Bendit directly copied from their writings, not simply taking them as an influence etc.), the marginalisation of various left-communist currents and an understated reading of the influence of anti-colonial struggles - but it's a very useful work. The opening chapters, particular the studies of New Beginning and chaos of the Spanish left, were largely new to me, and very well put together.
Perhaps Renaud got lost amongst the trees a bit in recounting blow-by-blow developments of the German groups without exploring parallel global contexts, too. Certainly worth reading and thinking through.
Repetition, repetition, repetition. The left thuds on.
Perhaps Renaud got lost amongst the trees a bit in recounting blow-by-blow developments of the German groups without exploring parallel global contexts, too. Certainly worth reading and thinking through.
Repetition, repetition, repetition. The left thuds on.
September 4, 2024
Essential reading for anyone invested in counter-hegemonic 20th-cent. narratives within the European left.
March 5, 2023
Really interesting links between generations of the left here. However, I think the larger interpretive claim that we've inherited the problems of neoleftism is a bit too broad. Neoleftism is presented as the heir of left communism, yet left communism is handed down through other channels which aren't explored and that deal with different dilemmas. Will write a little bit about that.
November 8, 2022
See my review here:
https://marxandphilosophy.org.uk/revi...
https://marxandphilosophy.org.uk/revi...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews