File spoon-archives/marxism2.archive/marxism2_1996/96-04-30.191, message 21


From: glevy-AT-acnet.pratt.edu
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 1996 13:40:14 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: QUERY: HISTORY OF AMERICAN MARXISM (fwd)


Ralph Dumain wrote:

> But otherwise, what were the
> significant _theoretical_ works produced during this time period,
> and what good books are there on the development of Marxist
> _theory_ in the USA?

I don't know that there were any significant developments in Marxist 
theory developed in the US during this period. From the anti-Stalinist 
Left, there was CLR James and Dunayevskaya's works and less 
theoretical presentations by Burnham, Schactman and (later) Cochran. 
There were other works of note by Blake (not the poet) and Sweezy. Who 
did I miss? 

During this period (and before and afterwards) the more interesting 
theoretical works were being written in German, French, and Japanese and 
were frequently not translated into English until many decades later or 
not at all.

Pragmatism and empiricism (along with anti-intellectualism) and a 
fragmented and sectarian Left -- strongly influenced by dogmatism or 
apologetica -- are not very good breeding grounds for the development of 
Marxist theory. Of course, nationalism and state repression were 
inhibiting factors as well. 

Jerry


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