Soviet Marxism: A Critical Analysis
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.jpg) Cover of the first edition | |
| Author | Herbert Marcuse |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Studies of the Russian Institute |
| Subject | Ideology of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union |
| Publisher | Columbia University Press |
Publication date | 1958 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 271 |
| ISBN | 978-0710017918 |
| Part of a series on the |
| Frankfurt School |
|---|
 |
Soviet Marxism: A Critical Analysis is a 1958 book by the philosopher Herbert Marcuse, in which the author provides a critique of the ideology of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. It received positive reviews, describing it as a convincing discussion of its subject.
"Soviet Marxism: A Critical Analysis" is a book by Herbert Marcuse, published in 1958. In this book, Marcuse examines how the Soviet Union used Marxist ideas. He argues that the Soviet Union changed Marx’s original theories to justify its own power. Marcuse believes that the Soviet version of Marxism turned into a tool for controlling people. It was also used to maintain the government’s power.[1][2]
Marcuse focuses on how the Soviet government emphasized a method called "dialectical materialism". It looked at how society and nature develop. He argues that this focus made the Soviet view of society too rigid and mechanical. Marcuse also says that the Soviet Union paid less attention to "historical materialism". Marx believed that "historical materialism" is how societies change over time. Marcuse believes that this shift weakened Marx’s original goal of achieving social change. He argues that it made Marxism a way to support the existing state.[1][2]
The book also talks about how the Soviet government used Marxism as an official ideology to control people’s thoughts and suppress any opposition. Marcuse criticizes the way the government used Marxism to keep the working class from achieving true freedom. In his view, Soviet Marxism failed to bring about the change that Marx had originally hoped for.[1][2]
This book is important for understanding how Marxist ideas were applied in the Soviet Union and how they were used to maintain a totalitarian state. It shows how political ideologies can be manipulated to serve those in power, which is useful for understanding politics today.[1][2]
