This book was first published as Les Origines du gauchisme (Editions du Seuil, Paris, 1971). This translation by Michael K. Perl was published by Penguin (London, 1975). Gombin wrote a number of other books including The Radical Tradition.
Pannekoek applies his critique to the theories of Luxemburg and Grossman - and shows why capitalism will never collapse due to any internal systemic contradictions, but only by the conscious action of the working class. "The self-emancipation of the proletariat is the collapse of capitalism."