Post Marxism

Submitted by DigitalSocialist on January 2, 2017

I have just finished reading this book
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Introducing-Marxism-Graphic-Guide-Rupert-Woodfin/1848310587/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483362948&sr=1-1&keywords=marxism+a+graphic+guide

and I want to make it clear I strongly disagree with most of the political philosophy of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe on these two key points.

Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe have made my blood boil.

Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe are highly critical of the state, authoritarian left and support local activism but beyond that I negatively criticize much of what I have learned so far of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe.

First celebration of antagonism by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe.
Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe romanticize antagonism of class, gender and race as being desirable in a pluralistic democratic society. But I seriously doubt women, Back and Asian citizens enjoy being the victim of prejudiced and oppressive antagonism.

They vocally celebrate markets as being the only mechanism which allows for fair distribution. But it is the rich capitalist who dictate what is fair distribution not the working class.

Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe oppose class based solidarity.
The misery,boredom and dullness of life is already caused by actual class based society full of racism and sexism in the here and now and not on a possible classless based socialist society which has not yet come into existence.

My own experience tells me that living in a class based society today is the source of mine and other working members in civil society they speak of which is the cause of my boredom, dullness and alienation.

Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernesto_Laclau

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chantal_Mouffe

jondwhite

7 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by jondwhite on January 2, 2017

The topic says Post Maxism, who is Max, Max Horkheimer?

DigitalSocialist

7 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by DigitalSocialist on January 2, 2017

Hello made change so says Marxism not Maxism.

adri

7 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by adri on January 3, 2017

I'm not familiar with these people or their positions, and I don't even know if they're Libertarian Socialists or not. I think you might actually want to read original texts rather than graphic guides, nothing against that book of yours (I actually have a Graphic Guide to Political Philosophy myself). If you're really a novice to socialism, then I'd recommend some of the introductions here on libcom, or even Berkman's What is Anarchist Communism?. In the spirit of graphic guides, if that's your thing, I might also recommend this https://libcom.org/files/wcpw.pdf.

Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe oppose class based solidarity.

I don't see how any progress can be made if they neglect the importance of class struggle, because it's not like the capitalist class are interested in compromising with the workers/working class, unless they're organized. The system already works fine for them, as Berkman said.

They vocally celebrate markets as being the only mechanism which allows for fair distribution

Then they're definitely not Libertarian Communists who reject markets and remuneration schemes in favor of distribution according to need. I believe there are some flavors of socialism which advocate for markets and remuneration, but only temporarily in transition to a communist society (Bakunin's Collectivism I think), and not as a permanent feature of any libertarian society.

potrokin

7 years 2 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by potrokin on January 3, 2017

zugzwang

I'd recommend some of the introductions here on libcom, or even Berkman's What is Anarchist Communism?

I second that. Berkman's book is great and written so you can understand it. I learned a lot from it, it's also a great piece of literature in my opinion.