Introduction to Marx, Revolution, and Social Democracy

Philip J. Kain

Introduction to Marx, Revolution, and Social Democracy

Philip J. Kain

Department of Philosophy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

Many people consider Marx to be a totalitarian and Soviet Marxism the realization of his thought.¹ If one shows them the texts, proves to them that Marx was a radical democrat, they often flip and think him utopian. Totalitarian or utopian-for many those seem to be the alternatives. How might one combat this completely mistaken conception?

What if one could show that European social democracy exemplified Marx's thought far better than did Soviet Marxism?²If social democracy is closer to being the true heir of Marx, then all claims of totalitarianism evaporate. There is nothing remotely totalitarian about social democracy. It is as democratic as what we have in the United States-and arguably more so. Nor is there anything remotely utopian about social democracy. It exists. It exists all over Western Europe and Britain-as well as elsewhere.

Original language	Undefined/Unknown
Title of host publication	Philosophy
State	Published - Jan 25 2023

Access to Document

Introduction to Marx Revolution and Social Democracy

http://scholarcommons.scu.edu/phi/90

Cite this

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