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and self-confidence there began to develop new, ul1lrammelled and
sometimes even creative social analysis from a Marxist viewpoinl.
In
the turmoil of the late 1960's, this thinking, with its emphasis on the
humanisti c side of Marx, was sometimes alli ed to elitist conspiratorial
allitudes. Though Stalinism was certainl y repudiated, the ideal still
seemed to be the Bolshevik side of Lenin before the days of power, with
Mao Tse-Tung as his present avatar. But the end of the da ys in which
the revolutionary Parousia seemed to be at hand has left a legacy of
thought which and a body of intell ectuals who can now perhaps be
directed toward electoral politics.
A Marxian analysis which will achi eve th ese ends must show first
of all the compatibility of Marxism with democratic politics , second,
the fruitfuln ess of reformist policies within a basic commitment to the
end of capita lism, and third, a willingness to enter into a dialogue with
present-day Marxist thinkers without insisting on a past impeccably
devoted to the ballot box as the sole instrument of change. Harring–
ton 's book flows naturally from this histori c condition and in addition
seeks to vindicate Marx against current detractors and to show the
fruitfuln ess of Marxian analysis for an understanding of the current
economic situation.
Let me make clear that I am not for a moment suggesting that
Harrington is in any way deliberately adjusting his analysis for
politi cal success. His sincerity is beyond doubt; but clearly understand–
ing of and action in the current conjuncture are seen together.
The book is divided into two parts; th e first seeks
to
interpret Marx
correctly and appropriately, the second
to
apply Marxist analysis to the
current economic and politi ca l situation.
The first part is largely devoted to critical analysis of Marx's words
and actions and to th e comments of others on them. The theme, if I
may desperately simplify, is that the model of society envisaged by
Marx is much less rigid than usually contemplated. The "superstruc–
ture" is not strictly determined by the economic base, and, indeed, it is
precisely the contradictions which impel the course of social change.
Consciousn ess of th e social structure comes neither from disembodied
intell ectual thought nor mechani ca lly from economic conditions but
interacts di a lectica lly with them.
As part of his theme, Harrington deni es the contradiction between
the humanist Marx of the 1844 manuscripts and th e scientific Marx of
Capital.
The latter was simply examining in great detail the economic
basis for the alienation of human labor in the capitalist system; but the
aim is still the achievement of th e unifi ed man.
