Contradictions of Real Socialism : The Conductor and the Conducted
Language: English
Published by Monthly Review Press,U.S., 2012
- Softcover
- Used
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What was "real socialism"--the term which originated in twentieth-century socialist societies for the purpose of distinguishing them from abstract, theoretical socialism? In this volume, Michael A. Lebowitz considers the nature, tendencies, and contradictions of those societies. Beginning with the constant presence of shortages within "real socialism," Lebowitz searches for the inner relations which generate these patterns. He finds these, in particular, in what he calls "vanguard relations of production," a relation which takes the apparent form of a social contract where workers obtain benefits not available to their counterparts in capitalism but lack the power to decide within the workplace and society. While these societies were able to claim major achievements in areas from health care to education to popular culture, the separation of thinking and doing prevented workers from developing their capacities as fully developed human beings. The relationship within "real socialism" between the vanguard as conductor and a conducted working class, however, did not only lead to the deformation of workers and those elements necessary for the building of socialism; it also created the conditions in which enterprise managers emerged as an incipient capitalist class, which was an immediate source of the crises of "real socialism." As he argued in The Socialist Alternative: Real Human Development, Lebowitz stresses the necessity to go beyond the hierarchy inherent in the relation of conductor and conducted (and beyond the "vanguard Marxism" which supports this) to create the conditions in which people can transform themselves through their conscious cooperation and practice--i.e., a society of free and associated producers. …
Seller Inventory # 00107789849
- Title
- Contradictions of Real Socialism : The Conductor and the Conducted
- Author
- Michael A Lebowitz
- Publisher
- Monthly Review Press,U.S.
- Publication year
- 2012
- Condition
- Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1583672567
- ISBN 13
- 9781583672563
What was "real socialism"--the term which originated in
twentieth-century socialist societies for the purpose of distinguishing
them from abstract, theoretical socialism? In this volume, Michael A.
Lebowitz considers the nature, tendencies, and contradictions of those
societies. Beginning with the constant presence of shortages within
"real socialism," Lebowitz searches for the inner relations which
generate these patterns. He finds these, in particular, in what he calls
"vanguard relations of production," a relation which takes the apparent
form of a social contract where workers obtain benefits not available
to their counterparts in capitalism but lack the power to decide within
the workplace and society.
While these societies were able to claim major achievements in areas
from health care to education to popular culture, the separation of
thinking and doing prevented workers from developing their capacities as
fully developed human beings. The relationship within "real socialism"
between the vanguard as conductor and a conducted working class,
however, did not only lead to the deformation of workers and those
elements necessary for the building of socialism; it also created the
conditions in which enterprise managers emerged as an incipient
capitalist class, which was an immediate source of the crises of "real
socialism." As he argued in The Socialist Alternative: Real Human Development,
Lebowitz stresses the necessity to go beyond the hierarchy inherent in
the relation of conductor and conducted (and beyond the "vanguard
Marxism" which supports this) to create the conditions in which people
can transform themselves through their conscious cooperation and
practice--i.e., a society of free and associated producers.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Michael Lebowitz is professor emeritus of economics at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada,
and the author of several books including The Socialist Imperative, The Contradictions of "Real
Socialism," and The Socialist Alternative. He was Director, Program in Transformative Practice and
Human Development, Centro Internacional Miranda, in Caracas, Venezuela, from 2006-11.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
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