Marxism and anarchism

Abstract

➤ Has anarchism’s importance as a political movement been undermined by its overconcentration on theory and its neglect of practical measures for reforming society? Although Marxism and even anarchism are sometimes treated as if they are simply varieties of socialism, we consider that they have sufficiently distinctive characteristics to warrant separate treatment. Starting with Marxism, we examine Marx’s theories of history, economics and politics before discussing the controversies within Marx-inspired political organisations in the nineteenth century, particularly the challenge mounted to orthodox Marxism by the ‘revisionist’ school.