Frontier Socialism

Considering the history of workers' and socialist movements in Europe, Frontier Socialism focuses on unconventional forms of anti-capitalist thought, particularly by examining several militant-intellectuals whose legacy is of particular interest for those aiming for a radical critique of capitalism. Following on the work of Michael Löwy, Quirico & Ragona identify relationships of elective affinity between figures who might appear different and dissimilar, at least at first glance: the German Anarchist Gustav Landauer, the Bolshevik Alexandra Kollontai, the German communist Paul Mattick, the Italian Socialist Raniero Panzieri, the Greek-born French euro-communist Nikos Poulantzas, the German-born Swedish Social Democrat Rudolf Meidner, and the French social scientist Alain Bihr as well as two historical struggle experiences, the Spanish Republic and the Italian revolutionary group Lotta continua. Frontier Socialism then analyzes these thinkers' and experiences' respective paths to socialism based on and achieved through self-organization and self-government, not to build a new tradition but to suggest a path forward for both research and political activism.

Reveals affinities between anti-capitalist traditions (anarchism, communism, social democracy) that are often described as antagonistic to one another Provides an in-depth analysis of a diverse group of social and political theorists and struggle experiences Demonstrates the relevance of the discussed theories in contemporary social movements

Autorentext

Monica Quirico is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Institute of Contemporary History at Södertörn University, Sweden. Gianfranco Ragona is Associate Professor in the Department of Cultures, Politics and Society at the University of Turin, Italy.

Klappentext

Considering the history of workers' and socialist movements in Europe, Frontier Socialism focuses on unconventional forms of anti-capitalist thought, particularly by examining several militant-intellectuals whose legacy is of particular interest for those aiming for a radical critique of capitalism. Following on the work of Michael Löwy, Quirico & Ragona identify relationships of elective affinity between figures who might appear different and dissimilar, at least at first glance: the German Anarchist Gustav Landauer, the Bolshevik Alexandra Kollontai, the German communist Paul Mattick, the Italian Socialist Raniero Panzieri, the Greek-born French euro-communist Nikos Poulantzas, the German-born Swedish Social Democrat Rudolf Meidner, and the French social scientist Alain Bihr as well as two historical struggle experiences, the Spanish Republic and the Italian revolutionary group Lotta continuä. Frontier Socialism then analyzes these thinkers' and experiences respective paths to socialism based on and achieved through self-organization and self-government, not to build a new tradition but to suggest a path forward for both research and political activism.

Inhalt
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Revolution is not what is supposed to be by revolutionaries. Gustav Landauer (1870-1919).- Chapter 3. Class struggle and women liberation. Alexandra Kollontai (1872-1952).- Chapter 4. Self-government and Communism. Paul Mattick (1904-1981).- Chapter 5. Workers struggles in the Neocapitalistic Age. Raniero Panzieri (1921-1964).- Chapter 6. A revolutionary reformism: Rudolf Meidner (1914-2005).- Chapter 7. A Communist Theory of Politics: Nicos Poulantzas (1936-1979).- Chapter 8. Into the crisis.- Chapter 9. Conclusions; Attempts.