Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 16:40:20 -0400
Subject: Re: marxism2-digest V1 #244


In a message dated 96-09-11 21:34:06 EDT, Shane Mage writes:

<< Justin's 
 and Leo's claim that there are "functions of a modern, diverse and
 pluralist society which could only be performed by a state" implies that
 they conceive a communist society on the basis of present "modern"
 technology and human nature.  Stalin and his disciples have abundantly
 proven that the claim to construct "socialism" or "communism" on such a
 basis is nothing but a pretext for exploitative totalitarian rule.  >>

Justin can and will speak for himself. For my own part, I believe the vision
of communism elaborated in Marx -- a direct association of producers which is
a transparent, unmediated society without any mediated, indirect social forms
{markets, representative bodies} -- is thoroughly utopian, and thus,
unrealizable. Morever, since this utopian conception occupies a space in
Marxian theory which could and should be taken up with meaningful discussions
of alternative forms of social organization, it has a deleterious effect on
the theoretical tradition.



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