“All Humans Are Born Equal”
The early German socialists fought for the persecuted at home and abroad — convinced that the liberation of workers in Germany was linked to the liberation of oppressed peoples around the globe.
Search Result(s) for: “Kautsky”
David Riazanov, a Revolutionary Scholar of Marxism
David Riazanov was a brilliant scholar who pioneered the study of Marxism while playing an active part in Russia’s revolutionary movement. But Ryazanov and the Marx-Engels Institute he founded both fell victim to Stalin’s purges in the 1930s.
Revolutionary Socialists in the Democratic-Socialist Moment
Right now, democratic socialism is on the rise in American society. Revolutionary socialists who have kept the torch of socialism burning during the lean years will now have to merge with democratic-socialist demands of the current moment.
Breaking the Chains of Command
For centuries, working-class people have been sent to die in wars for empire. The rich history of soldier revolt isn’t just about foreign policy — it’s about breaking the power of the mighty in society as a whole.
Finland’s Revolution
The forgotten Finnish Revolution has perhaps more lessons for us today than events in 1917 Russia.
Rossana Rossanda Wanted a Party of and for Workers in Struggle
Rossana Rossanda died last month after decades of commitment to first the Italian Communist Party and then the dissident manifesto group. She insisted that a left party should be shaped by the demands of workers' everyday struggles.
The Russian Revolution Reconsidered
Between world wars and a crippling civil war, the Russian Revolution fought to change history.
Where Is Our Labor Party?
Over the years, efforts of US workers to build a party that represents their interests have come up short. Why?
Rudolf Hilferding and the Austrian School of Anti-Capitalism
The Austrian Marxist Rudolf Hilferding (1877–1941) produced an important and influential analysis of capitalism, and he played an active role in Austrian and German politics before falling victim to Nazism. He still has a lot to teach us about the way modern capitalism works.
Unearthing the Often Overlooked Religious Foundations of European Socialism
The diverse mosaic of European socialism engaged both reformists and revolutionaries, often driven by not just intellect but also profound religious conviction. Together, these elements shaped the democratic socialist tradition.
The Revolutionary Legacy of Rosa Luxemburg
Rosa Luxemburg is an icon of the socialist movement who died a martyr’s death in 1919. But she was also a brilliant and highly original political thinker whose ideas about capitalism and how to oppose it are strikingly relevant to today’s world.
Which Way to Socialism?
Is there a democratic road to socialism? And if so, what does it mean for socialists today?
When Social Democracy Was Vibrant
The German Social Democrats built a world of cultural institutions that improved workers' immediate lives — while organizing for a socialist future.
The Man Who Would Be Stalin
Ronald Suny has given us the best picture to date of Stalin’s path to the October Revolution. But the story of the future dictator’s early life doesn’t explain the rise of Stalinism. The key developments and choices that produced that system came after the Bolsheviks took power.
Tariq Ali, an Anti-Imperialist Life
In a new memoir, Tariq Ali recounts his work and activism across the end of the Cold War era and the era of neoliberal globalization. He spoke to Jacobin about what it means to be an anti-imperialist in a changed world.
Who’s Afraid of Karl Marx?
Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro stokes his base’s fears by warning of the “communist threat” posed by “cultural Marxism.” But if you don’t make a living off exploiting workers, there’s no reason to be afraid of Karl Marx and his friends.
Christianity, Morality, and Socialism
For some, searching for a surer moral footing upon which to launch a socialist political program has again raised the specter of Christian ethics.
Roman Rosdolsky Breathed New Life Into Marx’s Capital
Ukrainian Marxist Roman Rosdolsky survived the Nazi concentration camps and went on to write one of the most important books about the making of Karl Marx’s Capital, paving the way for a revival of Marxist economic theory from the 1960s.
The Fatal Flaws of the Futureless Left
The rise of doomers, preppers, and antinatalists on the Left reveals something deeper than the hollow posture of rebellion: a collapse of belief in tomorrow. A Left that chants “No future” isn’t just demoralized — it’s unserious, misanthropic, and bound to lose.
Franz Mehring Was Marx’s First Biographer and a Marxist Pioneer in His Own Right
Franz Mehring joined the fledging socialist movement in Bismarck’s Germany and became one of its most brilliant propagandists. From his historical writings to his biography of Karl Marx, Mehring left behind a vital body of work for Marxists to draw upon.