Marxism Today - (Foundations of Social Inquiry) by Polychronis Polychroniou (Hardcover)

About the Book

Early in the 20th century, revolutionary socialism was not only gaining momentum but appeared destined to conquer the world. By mid-century, the red flag flew over capitals in Eastern Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central America; by the 1970s over one-third of the world's population lived under socialist regimes. All that has changed. With the 20th century drawing to a close, the political map of the globe looks very different: most socialist states have collapsed, revolutionary movements have been abandoned, and the United States stands as the world's lone superpower. This unique volume examines these changes--the defeat of Marxism--and suggests that the present historical juncture is but a temporary setback in the march of the working class. The authors propose that Marxism remains the most useful approach in understanding and explaining contemporary capitalism and its decay, as well as the only path toward the liberation of society from class exploitation.

Book Synopsis

Early in the 20th century, revolutionary socialism was not only gaining momentum but appeared destined to conquer the world. By mid-century, the red flag flew over capitals in Eastern Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central America; by the 1970s over one-third of the world's population lived under socialist regimes. All that has changed. With the 20th century drawing to a close, the political map of the globe looks very different: most socialist states have collapsed, revolutionary movements have been abandoned, and the United States stands as the world's lone superpower. This unique volume examines these changes--the defeat of Marxism--and suggests that the present historical juncture is but a temporary setback in the march of the working class. The authors propose that Marxism remains the most useful approach in understanding and explaining contemporary capitalism and its decay, as well as the only path toward the liberation of society from class exploitation.

About the Author

CHRONIS POLYCHRONIOU is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He is the author of Marxist Perspectives on Imperialism (Praeger, 1991) and editor of Socialism: Crisis and Renewal (Praeger, 1993) and Perspectives and Issues in International Political Economy (Praeger, 1992).

HARRY R. TARG is a Professor of Political Science at Purdue University in Indiana. Among his publications are International Relations in a World of Imperialism and Class Struggle (1983) and Cuba and the United States (1992).