Liberal Socialism (Princeton Legacy Library, 4861) - Hardcover

Rosselli, Carlo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0691086508 ISBN 13: 9780691086507

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 1994

Synopsis

First published in 1930, amidst the collapse of socialist ideals and the onset of fascism throughout parts of Europe, Liberal Socialism is a powerful and timely document on the ethics of political action. During his confinement for his anti-fascist beliefs, the Italian political philosopher Carlo Rosselli (1899-1937) wrote this work not only as a critique of fascism, but also as an investigation into the history of Marxism and the need for a liberal reformulation of socialism. In this first English- language edition, Nadia Urbinati highlights both the historical and theoretical importance of Liberal Socialism, which continued to inspire the anti-fascist movement "Giustizia e Liberta." long after Rosselli's assassination by Mussolini's agents, and which outlines a possible rebirth of the socialist and democratic movements.

Rosselli's analysis provides an illuminating interpretation of the ideological crisis of Marxism, in its positivistic version, during the late nineteenth century and exposes the intellectual weakness of revisionist efforts to delineate new versions of Marx's doctrine. He encourages readers to view socialism as an ethical ideal and to consider whether Marxist or liberal methods combine better with socialism to achieve that ideal. Rosselli opts for a liberal socialism that avoids the shortcomings of uncontrolled laissez-faire but favors state intervention to secure public services and social rights.

About this title

Review:

"Nadia Urbinati's major achievement in bringing out this English edition of Carlo Rosselli's Liberal Socialismis to give a plausible ancestor to those of us on the left who are trying to cope with the contemporary crisis of socialist politics-determined to acknowledge its dimensions and to outlast it.... It is a remarkable text, with greater resonance today than any other that I can think of in the socialist tradition."--The New Republic

Synopsis:

First published in 1930, amidst the collapse of socialist ideals and the onset of fascism throughout Europe, this was a powerful document on the ethics of political action. During his confinement for anti-fascist beliefs, the Italian political philosopher Carlo Rosselli (1899-1937) wrote this work not only as a critique of fascism, but also as an investigation into the history of Marxism and the need for a liberal reformulation of socialism. In this English-language edition, Nadia Urbinati highlights both the historical and theoretical importance of liberal socialism, which continued to inspire the anti-fascist movement Giustizia e Libertia long after Rosselli's assassination by Mussolini's agents, and which outlines a possible rebirth of the socialist and democratic movements. Rosselli's analysis provides an illuminating interpretation of the ideological crisis of Marxism, in its positivistic version, during the late 19th century. He encourages readers to view socialism as an ethical ideal and to consider whether Marxist or liberal methods combine better with socialism to achieve that ideal.

Rosselli opts for a liberal socialism that avoids the shortcomings of uncontrolled laissez-faire but favours state intervention to secure public services and social rights.

About this edition

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0691086508
• ISBN 13: 9780691086507
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 204