Revolutionary Studies: Theory, History, People

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Revolutionary Studies explores the relevance of Marxism to emancipatory politics through a critical examination of core concepts and key twentieth-century revolutionary figures and movements. The first part of Revolutionary Studies explores definitions of the working class, social identities, democracy, capitalism, and socialism. The second applies these understandings to the Russian, Chinese, Nicaraguan, Indian, and South African revolutionary and post-revolutionary experiences. The third engages with the lives and the ideas of five important figures associated with Marxism.

Reviews

"Paul Le Blanc is a true organic intellectual, risen from the working class to become a prolific writer, steadfast activist, and exceptional teacher. His lifelong commitment to the struggle for a democratic, socialist revolution. In this wonderful set of essays, he lays out, in accessible and passionate prose, his penetrating analysis of both revolutionary theory and practice. The theory pieces are must reading; they give readers, whether they are new to the material or seasoned hands, the essence of Marxism, class, identity, working class culture, and the politics of revolution. The practice chapters probe revolutionary efforts around the world, from Russia and Cuba to Nicaragua and South Africa. These will be especially useful to teachers. We are in a time of renewed interest in socialism, and there could be no better book than this one to help us grasp the immanent need for it and how we might get from this dying society to one that offers us not just greater happiness but our only chance for long-term survival." -Michael D. Yates, Associate Editor of Monthly Review and Editorial Director of Monthly Review Press, author of The Great Inequality and Why Unions Matter "In this outstanding collection of essays, Paul Le Blanc deals, with powerful insight, key isssues of revolutionary theory and practice, from Marx and Trotsky to the Sandinista insurrection. Uneven and combined development, labor radicalism and socialist democracy are discussed with great acumen. This is 'plain' - i.e. dialectical - revolutionary Marxism at it's best, refusing to give up the struggle for a new world, a society of liberty and justice for all." -Michael Lwy, Emeritus research director, National Center for Scientific Research, Paris

Author Bio

Paul Le Blanc is a professor of History at La Roche College. He has written on and participated in the U.S. labor, radical and civil rights movements, and is author of numerous books, including Marx, Lenin and the Revolutionary Experience and Lenin and the Revolutionary Party.