Introduction

This book brings together some of the most distinguished and influential scholars in philosophy and sociology to explore the continued relevance of Herbert Marcuse’s critical theory in the twenty-first century.

As one of the most influential thinkers of the Frankfurt School, Marcuse’s work remains indispensable for understanding contemporary social, political, and economic struggles.

The essays in this collection offer fresh perspectives on his thought, demonstrating its enduring importance in addressing authoritarianism, alienation, counterrevolution, and the radical possibilities of freedom and liberation.

The contributors examine Marcuse’s insights on psychoanalysis and aesthetics, elucidating his vision of freedom as an inherently political project that resists depoliticization and individualistic retreat, and argue that Marcuse’s work provides essential tools for understanding the ideological roots of authoritarian politics and the resurgence of reactionary forces in the contemporary world.

By bridging past and present, theory and praxis, this collection reaffirms Herbert Marcuse’s enduring relevance and the necessity of critical theory for imagining and enacting a more just and emancipatory future.

It will be of interest to academics, graduate students, and advanced undergraduate students in the humanities and social sciences, especially Critical Theory, political philosophy, sociology, cultural studies, and modern intellectual history.