Global Marxism - by Simin Fadaee

About the Book

Arguing against the idea that Marxism is a Eurocentric theory with nothing to teach the Global South, this book explores the lives and ideas of a remarkable set of revolutionaries, from Ho Chi Minh to Ali Shariati.

Book Synopsis

A cutting-edge exploration of how Marx's ideas have been adopted and adapted by revolutionary thinkers in the Global South.

For much of the twentieth century, the ideas of Karl Marx provided the backbone for social justice around the world. But today the legacy of Marxism is contested, with some seeing it as Eurocentric and irrelevant to the wider global struggle.

In Global Marxism, Simin Fadaee argues that Marxism remains a living tradition and the cornerstone of revolutionary theory and practice in the Global South. She explores the lives, ideas and legacies of a group of revolutionaries who played an exceptional role in contributing to counter-hegemonic change. Figures such as Ho Chi Minh, Kwame Nkrumah, Ali Shariati and Subcomandante Marcos did not simply accept the version of Marxism that was given to them - they adapted it to local conditions and contexts. In doing this they demonstrated that Marxism is not a rigid set of propositions but an evolving force whose transformative potential remains enormous.

This global Marxism has much to teach us in the never-ending task of grasping the changing historical conditions of capitalism and the complex world in which we live.

From the Back Cover

A cutting-edge exploration of how Marx's ideas have been adopted and adapted by revolutionary thinkers in the Global South.

For much of the twentieth century, the ideas of Karl Marx provided the backbone for social justice around the world. But today the legacy of Marxism is contested, with some seeing it as Eurocentric and irrelevant to the wider global struggle.

In Global Marxism, Simin Fadaee argues that Marxism remains a living tradition and the cornerstone of revolutionary theory and practice in the Global South. She explores the lives, ideas and legacies of a group of revolutionaries who played an exceptional role in contributing to counter-hegemonic change. Figures such as Ho Chi Minh, Kwame Nkrumah, Ali Shariati and Subcomandante Marcos did not simply accept the version of Marxism that was given to them - they adapted it to local conditions and contexts. In doing this they demonstrated that Marxism is not a rigid set of propositions but an evolving force whose transformative potential remains enormous.

This global Marxism has much to teach us in the never-ending task of grasping the changing historical conditions of capitalism and the complex world in which we live.

Review Quotes

'In this wonderful book, Simin Fadaee shows that, far from being an alien western imposition, Marxist ideas have inspired millions in the Global South. A terrific contribution to scholarship.'
Vivek Chibber, author of Confronting Capitalism: How the World Works and How to Change It

'Whatever its flaws, Marxism is not and never was Eurocentric. That is Simin Fadaee's refreshing and bold thesis. She advances it first by showing how Marx himself was far from Eurocentric and second by showing how a Marxist tradition was born from wrestling with the anomalies and contradictions found in Marx's writings. This tradition spread across the globe through such extraordinary figures as Fanon, Guevara, Shariati, Ho Chi Minh and Mao. Global Marxism is a long overdue and magisterial correction to the provinciality of much decolonisation theory.'
Michael Burawoy, author of Public Sociology: Between Utopia and Anti-utopia

'Global Marxism is an excellent intellectual testament to Marxism as a theory that has travelled, transversed and been translated into a potent weapon of revolutionary force for liberation across the modern world. An elegant and fantastic academic gift indeed.'
Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni, author of Beyond the Coloniality of Internationalism

'In moments of intensification of the capitalist crisis, the search for clues and answers to the question of revolution also deepens. This book is a reminder of the legacy of the non-Eurocentric revolutionary leadership that can be traced from Jawaharlal Nehru to the Zapatistas, passing through Ho Chi Minh and Amilcar Cabral, with which we must critically engage to reinvent the radical subject today.'
Ana Cecilia Dinerstein, co-author of A World beyond Work

'Approachable, timely reminders of [Marxism's] importance.'
Michael Reid, Times Literary Supplement

'The undeniable value of the book is in providing this overview of the undeniable and exceptional global influence of Marxism, which inspired so many rebellious movements and struggles for social justice and the overthrow of the occupation of the colonial powers.'
Sanja Petkovska, Marx & Philosophy Review of Books

'Overall, this book is a useful resource both for scholars and practitioners of Marxist thought. It showcases how Marxist thought has travelled beyond Europe and how it has influenced revolutionary movements. Avoiding a one-directional account, Fadaee also demonstrates how these movements have transformed and contributed to our understanding of Marxist thought and its ongoing influence on contemporary socio-political movements.'
Annapurna Menon, International Affairs (Volume 101, Issue 1)

'The broad outlook provides an insightful cross-country spectrum of commonalities and differences. As such, it is a book with an ambitious purpose, one which Fadaee accomplishes brilliantly overall.'
Steffen Hirth, Capital & Class

'An engaging look at the creative breadth of Marxism in the national-liberation era'
Dominic Alexander, Counterfire

About the Author

Simin Fadaee is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester and President of the International Sociological Association Research Committee on Social Classes and Social Movements. She is the author or editor of several books, including Marxism, Religion and Emancipatory Politics (2022) and Understanding Southern Social Movements (2016).