Moving On: New Replies to New Critics

In: New politics: a journal of socialist thought, Band 9, Heft 1, S. 224-235

Abstract

A response to Paul Le Blanc's, Michael J. Thompson's, & Barry Finger's (all, 2002) commentaries on the author's (2001) analysis of the legacy of Rosa Luxemburg & the possibility of realizing a socialist transformation of the capitalist state. It is contended that Thompson misunderstood the author's separation of politics from economics; however, Thompson's call for radical socialism to demonstrate a greater interest in political economics is supported. Le Blanc's claim to support an authentic Leninist position is challenged, since the previous applications of ahistorical Leninist perspectives have always produced authoritarian results. A rationale that explicates why revolution can no longer serve as the ultimate goal for worker movements is provided; in addition, it is noted that Lenin himself acknowledged that separate revolutionary & reform movements are needed. Several problems with Finger's analysis of the author's treatment of Luxemburg & the socialist movement are then identified. Specifically, Finger's charge that the author failed to realize the connection between capitalism & the liberal state is strongly repudiated. The need to develop a novel, feasible approach to accomplishing socialist objectives that responds to real-world dilemmas is stressed. J. W. Parker