Author(s)
Primary author
Publisher
Haymarket Books
Place of Publication
Chicago
Date of Publication
2008
Number of Pages
867
Series
Historical Materialism Book Series
Classification
III World capitalism, capitalist society and the left movements; socialist movements in general | I Strategy for the transition to socialism
Description
Few works in the history of Marxism have produced as much controversy as What is to Be Done?, Lenin's 1902 polemic addressed to the Russioan socialist movement.
For Lenin's critics, What is to be done? proves the author had no use for working-class self-emancipation, but sought merely to manipulate workers to advance an elitist agenda. These critics frequently attempt to trace the crimes of Stalinism back to Lenin's early text.
In Lenin Rediscovered, which includes an authoritative new translation of Lenin's work, Lars Lih sheds important new light on this debate. Using important new research, Lih demolishes the myth that What is to Be Done? is the work of an elitist conspirator. In fact, Lih argues, Lenin's standpoint is marked by profound confidence in the capacity of Russian workers, through struggle and political education, to arrive at revolutionary conclusions.
For Lenin's critics, What is to be done? proves the author had no use for working-class self-emancipation, but sought merely to manipulate workers to advance an elitist agenda. These critics frequently attempt to trace the crimes of Stalinism back to Lenin's early text.
In Lenin Rediscovered, which includes an authoritative new translation of Lenin's work, Lars Lih sheds important new light on this debate. Using important new research, Lih demolishes the myth that What is to Be Done? is the work of an elitist conspirator. In fact, Lih argues, Lenin's standpoint is marked by profound confidence in the capacity of Russian workers, through struggle and political education, to arrive at revolutionary conclusions.
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0
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