Though I am somewhat puzzled about how he begins. It is true that Mark says that the first task of the working class must be to accomplish the political power, but he refined this point, and says specifically, and here I checked the German, to win the battle for democracy, which would seem in some broad way to fit into his theme. But it’s not just power, but democratic power than Marx calls on the worker to take.
I think the paradox of social democracy P discusses is very real and important. And of course, the fact that victories along the lines of reforms of capitalism diminish the urgency of social revolution, but that’s not a reason to abandon the fight for those victories either.
However, I wonder who he is addressing who does that, apart from a tiny handful of irrelevant maximalist sectarians. Every real workers’ party has made the struggle for performance as the main part of its activity. And this includes the American communist and socialist parties in their heyday.
In terms of thrilling expositions of socialism, I will vote for William Morris’ The Dream of John Ball, which has inspired me pretty much my entire adult life.
To pronounce his last name go here
https://www.howtopronounce.com/przeworski
For me, the last few pages of "Cap & Soc Dem" were both eye and mind opening.
That's where he explains that 'perfect' social democracy could be viewed as totally
antithetical to what 'socialism' was (supposed to be) about, and gives some account
of this latter. Basically, it was (is) about humans living in freedom, and we have no
idea what sort of world that would be. It might mean misery, as he says. He finally
ends by saying that the world as it is requires struggle to improve capitalism, but
that's not trying to achieve socialism.
Along with "Capitalism and Social Democracy", one should also read
his "Paper Stones: A history of electoral socialism" (co-written, as I recall).
He went on to do other stuff, some of which I looked at, but about which I have
nothing to say.
--RC
A friend of his tells me it's "Shaworski." And the postscript is awesome, as you say.
It’s a sobering and excellent book.
The Postscript is the most thrilling exposition of socialism that I have ever read.
Though I am somewhat puzzled about how he begins. It is true that Mark says that the first task of the working class must be to accomplish the political power, but he refined this point, and says specifically, and here I checked the German, to win the battle for democracy, which would seem in some broad way to fit into his theme. But it’s not just power, but democratic power than Marx calls on the worker to take.
I think the paradox of social democracy P discusses is very real and important. And of course, the fact that victories along the lines of reforms of capitalism diminish the urgency of social revolution, but that’s not a reason to abandon the fight for those victories either.
However, I wonder who he is addressing who does that, apart from a tiny handful of irrelevant maximalist sectarians. Every real workers’ party has made the struggle for performance as the main part of its activity. And this includes the American communist and socialist parties in their heyday.
In terms of thrilling expositions of socialism, I will vote for William Morris’ The Dream of John Ball, which has inspired me pretty much my entire adult life.