Marx, Marxism and Utopia

Publication and Content Overview

This title was first published in 2000:  This engaging book suggests that Marx was right to reject utopian socialism on the grounds that it undermined the principles of proletarian self-emancipation and self-determination.

Marx's Theoretical Approach

As a theoretician of the proletarian class, Marx sought to capture the spirit of revolution in a manner which precluded the need for utopian philanthropy and the messianic elitism which invariably accompanied it.

Central Argument

In a powerful and original central argument, the book suggests that the categories which together define Marx’s own utopia were nothing more than theoretical by-products of the models employed by Marx in order to supersede the need for utopianism. As such, Marx was an “accidental” utopian.

Implications and Conclusion

Rather than legitimating utopianism, however, the author argues that this conclusion reinforces the need to develop Marx’s anti-utopian project further. Emphasising the contemporary relevance of Marx’s original critique, the conclusion suggests that the future of socialism lies in its ability to harness, not the spirit of utopia, but the spirit of adventure.