The Left in Purgatory

Jacobin #44

by Jacobin

After the failure of every revolution or counterrevolution, a feverish activity develops among the fugitives, who have escaped to foreign countries. The parties of different shades form groups, accuse each other of having driven the cart into the mud, charge one another with treason and every conceivable sin. At the same time they remain in close touch with the home country, organize, conspire, print leaflets and newspapers, swear that the trouble will start afresh within twenty-four hours, that victory is certain, and distribute the various government offices beforehand on the strength of this anticipation.

—  Friedrich Engels, “The Program of the Blanquist Fugitives from the Paris Commune,” 1874

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2022

About the author

Jacobin is a leading voice of the American left, offering socialist perspectives on politics, economics, and culture. The print magazine is released quarterly and reaches over 10,000 subscribers, in addition to a web audience of 600,000 a month.

Reviews

[Kai · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's sort of funny that this is the second 'what if we are wrong?' issue in the last year. this one is a bit better, at least--i liked Chris Maisano's reflection on the role of university experience in 'the AOC generation' (which includes Jacobin and DSA types, and obviously the present company as well). more interesting and nuanced than the pmc denunciations you usually get from this bloc. also compelling to consider Tooze's left-Keynesian take in the interview compared to Michael Roberts more traditionally Marxist one in Spectre 4.

[Timothy Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good quarterly from Jacobin. A few of the articles in the second half were well written but not of interest. The Q and A was excellent and generally solidified the idea on how fucked the left is and how mismanaged and misguided it has been.

Good article on the Buffalo mayoral primary and the lengths to which the moderates will coddle up to the business classes and conservatives to eek out a victory.

[Chase · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the article around the economic effects of the pandemic compared to the Great Depression and 2008 Recession.