The rise of Marxist theoretical tradition in Britain

In the history of Marxist theory development in Europe and America in the last 30 years of the 20th century, Marxists from Britain played a very important role: Eric hobsbawm, edward palmer thompson, Raymond Henry Williams, Ralph Miliband and Hogart. From Stuart Hall to Terry Eagleton, perry anderson and david harvey, a group of Marxist theorists with world influence suddenly emerged in Britain. Galloping on the broad theoretical Yuan Ye from history, historical sociology, literary criticism, cultural studies, politics to human geography has strongly influenced the development trend and prospect of contemporary European and American Marxist theory, and at the same time created a distinctive and dynamic British Marxist theoretical tradition that keeps pace with German and French traditions. In the current theoretical circles in China, the study of the works and thoughts of British Marxists has become a hot spot to a certain extent, which is particularly obvious in cultural research, literary criticism and historical research; However, on the whole, domestic academic circles still lack the necessary understanding of the theoretical tradition of British Marxism, completely unaware that this theoretical tradition is actually a very recent invention, and its rise can be traced back to around the Second World War.

1. Why didn't Britain form the tradition of Marxist theory earlier?

As we all know, Britain belongs to Marx and Engels? Second hometown? It is here that Marxism becomes mature and rich, and then goes to the world and becomes a material force to transform the world and create history. However, in the era when Marx and Engels lived and for a long time afterwards, Britain and even the whole English-speaking world failed to establish their own Marxist theoretical tradition, and there were basically no influential Marxist theorists. The theoretical origin of English leftism and Marxism can be traced back to 188 1? Social Democratic Union? And 1885? Socialist alliance? (1) especially the contemporary of Marx and Engels Morris (william morris, 1834? 1896), but Morris is mainly a writer and artist, and he has not left a theoretical legacy that can be directly inherited by later British Marxists. Why is this?

First of all, Marx and Engels mainly created their theories in German. Although they have published a large number of articles in English in British and American newspapers and periodicals, most of the great works that truly represent their revolutionary ideas have long lacked English versions, which has caused substantial obstacles for the British to understand and accept Marxism. According to the research of the Soviet scholar Levin, before Engels died, only the first volume of Das Kapital (1887), the Manifesto of the Producer Party (1888), the Theory of Free Trade (1889) and Das Kapital were excellent. (2) for a complete and accurate understanding of Marxism (especially its philosophical basis, historical view and methodology), they are obviously far from enough. After Engels died, the English translation of Marx and Engels' works was interrupted from time to time, but it never stopped. 1920 after the establishment of the British producer, this work has been strongly guaranteed by the system. In order to spread and publicize Marxism in the English-speaking world, after the 1920s, the British * * * Production Party and the Soviet * * * Production Party successively edited and published some widely circulated selected works of Marx and Engels, the most famous of which are Selected Works of Marx (1926) and Selected Letters of Marx and Engels. 1934), Marxism, Nation and War (1934), Selected Works of Marx and Engels (1935), Spanish Revolution (65438+). But at the same time, it must be pointed out that these selected works are too popular, thematic and politicized, which can't meet people's theoretical needs for a complete and accurate understanding of Marxism. In Britain, English versions (especially complete versions) of Marx and Engels' major theoretical works (especially philosophical works) can be easily obtained after 1960s: the first complete translation of economic philosophy manuscript 1844 appeared in 1959, and the frequently used complete translation appeared in1963. The full translations of Outline on Feuerbach and German Ideology appear in1968; 《 1857? The selected translation of the economic manuscript of 1858 appeared in 1964, and the full translation appeared in 1973? This is an objective constraint on the formation and development of British Marxist theoretical tradition.

Secondly, after19th century, reformism overwhelmed radicalism and became the mainstream ideology in British society, which inherently restricted the spread and development of revolutionary Marxism in Britain. In the revolutionary debate about the British working class in the 1950s and 1960s, Perry? The second generation of new leftists, represented by Anderson, once thought that the British working class and even the British people had never had a revolution. This view was opposed by the older generation of British Marxist historians such as christopher hill and Thompson. They used detailed historical research to prove that the British people were radical and revolutionary, although this radical revolutionary tradition gradually disappeared after entering the19th century. (3) Based on the research of the British Marxist historical school, in recent years, historians have rediscovered the radical thoughts and movements in Britain in the19th century, but it is an indisputable fact that in the second half of the19th century, reformism decisively crushed radicalism and became the mainstream ideology of British society and even the British working class. Results It was not until 188 1 England that the first Marxist society appeared? Social Democratic Union? But just four years later, the organization was because? Improvement or revolution? Debate split, Morris, Yan Ni? Marx and other staunch Marxists quit the organization and start a new stove? Socialist alliance? . However, is it? Socialist alliance? Or? Social Democratic Union? What happened afterwards? Independent labour party? The social and political influence of Marxist organizations in Britain is very limited. Even after the establishment of the British * * * production party, the situation has not changed substantially: 1924, the British * * * production party responded to the call of the third international, applied to join the largest workers' party in Britain, and advocated improvement? As a result, the British Labor Party voted very clearly against this motion at the annual meeting, firmly closing the door of the British * * * production party (whether it is a political party or an individual party member). In such an ideological environment, it is not easy for Marxism to survive in Britain, let alone develop.

Finally, the British producer is 1920? 192 1 was formed by the merger and reorganization of several major Marxist organizations in Britain with the support of the Soviet Party and the Third International. This is a real working-class political party, and its main body and leaders in party member are industrial workers. The British * * * production party has long followed the Soviet Union politically and theoretically. Therefore, it is neither necessary nor motivated to carry out theoretical innovation on Marxism. Frankly speaking, it does not have this ability? It is very difficult for party member and the workers to learn and understand the basic principles of Marxism, let alone to innovate and develop.

The second is the theoretical innovation of party member, an intellectual of the British Production Party in 1930s.

Although in essence, the British * * * production party does not have the need, motivation and ability to innovate Marxist theory, in fact, the formation of British Marxist theoretical tradition is closely linked with the British * * * production party, because in the middle and late 1930s, the British * * * production party achieved unprecedented development, and a large number of outstanding intellectuals joined the party, thus making theoretical research and innovation possible. For this change, we can explain it from the double changes of the British * * * production party and the British intellectual community.

First of all, after 1933, the British * * * production party followed the historical development trend, changed the previous ultra-left line and implemented the correct United front policy, which effectively improved its political image in Britain and enhanced its appeal to intellectuals. The first eight years after its establishment (1920? 1928), the British * * * production party strictly carried out the instructions of * * * production international and adopted the route of active cooperation with the Labour Party, which ended in failure. ⑤ After1928, the British * * * production party implemented * * * production internationally? Class confrontation? The ultra-left line has seriously damaged its own development. ⑥ 1933, after Hitler came to power, international producers began to adjust their own routes, implement the United front policy and lead the anti-fascist struggle. The British * * * production party faithfully carried out the instructions of the * * * production international, led the British anti-fascist struggle and actively supported the Spanish civil war, which greatly enhanced the political attraction and moral influence of the British * * * production party. ⑦ Secondly, while the British * * * production party has changed, important changes have taken place in the British intellectual community dominated by liberalism. Under the joint action of capitalist economic crisis, war and war threat, fascist rule, Spanish civil war and the great success of Soviet socialist construction, the original value system of British intellectuals has been fundamentally shaken, forming a profound cultural crisis. In this context, fascism has become the direct opposite of liberalism, while productism has become an alternative choice for intellectuals who are dissatisfied with the reality of liberal capitalism because of its increasingly prominent political appeal and moral influence. Therefore, after 1933, a large number of intellectuals in various fields joined the British * * * production party in succession, and the number of party member in the British * * * production party began to grow steadily. ⑩

With the continuous growth of party member, an intellectual, after the mid-1930s, the British * * * production party appeared the trend of studying and studying Marxist theory, and a number of accomplished theorists and some creative theoretical achievements appeared a few years later. The most valuable one is Christopher Caldwell, 1907? 1937), illusion and reality (1937) (1 1), Dobb (1900? Political economy and capitalism (1937) (1976), Moreton (1903? A history of the English people (1938) (1987), Bernard (John Desmond Bernard, 190 1? Social function of science (1939) (19438+0).

Caldwell was born in a middle-class family in England. He has worked in newspapers and publishing houses with excellent results. After 1933, Caldwell turned to literary creation and published seven detective novels, 1 novels, some poems and short stories. At the end of 1934, Caldwell came into contact with Marxist works and was immediately attracted, thus turning to Marxism. Subsequently, he devoted great energy to the study of literary theory, trying to establish a Marxist literary criticism theory, and the final result was "Illusion and Reality" which he finished in 1935+065438+ 10. 193565438+In February, Caldwell joined the British * * * Production Party and became an active member of the party. 1936 65438+February, Caldwell took part in the Spanish civil war, and later died heroically in the battle to defend Madrid on1February 937 12. A few months later, Illusion and Reality was published. In this book, Caldwell uses the basic principles of historical materialism to reveal the dialectical relationship between the mode of material production and the formation, development, transformation and artistic expression of modern English poetry under the background of modern British economic development. Although the structure of illusion and reality is messy, and Caldwell's application of the basic principles of Marxism is rather crude and sometimes quite mechanical, he creatively studied the relationship between literary forms and socio-economic processes and the social functions of literature, so he was considered as the only truly original Marxist in pre-war Britain. ( 15)

Dobb is an early core member of the British Marxist historical school formed after the war. (16) Before he entered Cambridge University on 19 19, he turned to socialism because of reading Marx's books, and joined the British * * * production party on 1922. This was extremely rare at that time. 1922? During 1924, Dobb studied at the London School of Economics, the stronghold of the British left at that time, and later became a Marxist. After 1924, Dobb returned to Cambridge University as a lecturer in economics, and published two books on capitalist enterprises and the economic development of the Soviet Union in 1925 and 1928. Political Economy and Capitalism: Essays on Economic Tradition is a famous book. The importance of this book lies in that it systematically reveals the relationship between the inheritance and sublation of the British classical plutonomy tradition under the dominant position of Marxist plutonomy and vulgar economics, and profoundly and systematically explains the crisis and contemporary development of capitalism and the vulgarization of modern economics with the basic principles of Marxist plutonomy. The book has been reprinted many times, providing a high-level textbook for British Marxists to fully and accurately understand and master Marx's political economy theory and historical materialism. Moreton was also an early member of the British Marxist school of history. From today's perspective, his History of the British People published in 1938 may be too popular or even too simplistic, but it is the first Marxist historical work in British history. Here, historical materialism is not only applied to the study of British history for the first time, but also a historical materialism that is completely different from traditional British history and conforms to the basic spirit of historical materialism. Bottom up? The concept of history is also vividly portrayed. Making a party in Britain? * * * The historians of the producer? That is, the predecessor of the British Marxist historiography school, initiated discussions on the revision of the history of the British people. In this regard, the book can be called the British Marxist school of history? Cradle? . Bernard is a famous physicist in contemporary Britain and an intellectual who joined the British Production Party in the early 1930s. His book "The Social Function of Science", published in 1939, is usually regarded as the pioneering work of science or sociology of science, but its Marxist theoretical value is basically ignored. In fact, this book can achieve great success because it follows the basic principles of historical materialism, abandons the traditional illusion that science is pure and transcendental, and reduces science to a social phenomenon, and then in social economy and politics.

By today's standards, the above four works are relatively rough in theory, and even have obvious traces of Marxism in Soviet textbooks, but they fundamentally changed the situation that there is no original Marxist theory in Britain and made a good start for the formation of British Marxist theoretical tradition.

Third,? * * * The historians of the producer? And the formation of British Marxist theoretical tradition.

According to the original trend, the British Marxist theoretical tradition could have been basically formed in the early 1940s, but the outbreak of World War II interrupted the original process, thus delaying its formal rise to the post-war. In the process of the formation of British Marxist theoretical tradition after World War II, the British * * * production party? * * * The historians of the producer? (communist party Historians Group) played a key role. (17) Why did the historian group play the most important role in the formation of this theoretical tradition?

Subjectively, this is because there is a good socialist tradition in British history. Under the influence of this tradition, a group of energetic young historians have accumulated within the British * * * production party. In the first half of the 20th century, the mainstream of British philosophy was analytical philosophy, and the mainstream of economics was vulgar economics as Marx said, both of which were fundamentally opposed to Marxism. On the other hand, with the efforts of Fabian historians such as Sydney and Beatrice Weber, G. D. H. Cole and R. H. Tawney, the British socialist historical tradition gradually formed from the end of19th century and gained more and more influence. Under the influence of this tradition, World War II? Before and after, the British * * * Party accumulated a group of energetic young historians, except Thompson, hobsbawm, Hill, Dobb, Moreton, and Thompson's wife Dorothy? Thompson (dorothy thompson), Hilton (Rodney Hilton), kiernan (Victor kiernan), Thomson (George Thomson), Harrison (Roden Harrison), Samuel (Raphael Samuel) and Ruud (George Ruud? ) and so on. More importantly, these young people have found their own mentors? Party member tolle (1883- 1957) is a senior member of the British * * * production party. Thor is a historian, the founder of the British Production Party, party member, and the editor-in-chief of the aforementioned Selected Letters of Marx and Engels and Marxism, Nation and War. It was under her guidance. * * * The historians of the producer? Starting from the original works instead of Soviet Marxist textbooks, the members systematically studied and studied the basic theory of Marxism and made fruitful explorations in Marxist history.

Objectively speaking, this is because? World War II? What will happen after these two academic debates? * * * The historians of the producer? Has been pushed to the forefront in history. From 65438 to 0946, Dobb published A Study on the Development of Capitalism, which carried out the basic spirit of historical materialism and systematically studied feudalism and capitalism as social forms from the perspective of economic history for the first time. As a result, the book triggered a great discussion about the transition from feudalism to capitalism within the Marxist camp. * * * The historians of the producer? It can also be seen from this. A few years later, a group of liberal economists and historians, represented by Hayek, questioned the traditional view of socialist historians that the living conditions of the British working class had deteriorated sharply during the industrial revolution since the19th century, and thought that the working class was actually the beneficiary of the industrial revolution at that time, and their living conditions were not deteriorating, but constantly improving. (18) As soon as this theory came out, it triggered a big debate, such as hobsbawm? * * * The historians of the producer? Members immediately joined the debate and assumed the responsibility of leading criticism. It is also in the course of these two debates that the formation process of British Marxist theoretical tradition, which was once interrupted, restarted, gradually took shape, gained more and more recognition, and finally became a tradition. For the formation of British Marxist theoretical tradition, the historians of the * * * production party? Our contribution is undoubtedly the greatest, but it is not the only source. As a literary theorist, Raymond? Williams and Contemporary? * * * The historians of the producer? In the formation of this theoretical tradition, mutual echo played an equally important role.

For the formation of British Marxist theoretical tradition, the historians of the * * * production party? Or what have British Marxist historians provided?

First, they inherited the tradition of British empiricism philosophy, paid attention to using historical materialism to study specific historical and practical problems, and refused abstract theoretical construction, thus making British Marxists immune to the systematic dogmatism of Soviet Marxism. As the theoretical organization within the British * * * production party, the group of historians of the * * * production party? Members themselves hope and strive to be consistent with the Soviet Marxist orthodoxy, but as a group of British intellectuals, they consciously inherit the British empiricism philosophy tradition, are used to studying specific historical and practical problems by using historical materialism, and are not good at or refuse to construct abstract theories in a big way. This means that they unconsciously correctly grasp and highlight the methodological essence of historical materialism, which leads to their understanding of Marxist theoretical truth completely different from that of Soviet Marxism: Marxist theory, as truth, should be constructed and presented in the process and result of solving specific problems, and should not exist as an established thing before specific research.

Secondly, they adhere to the empiricism tradition of British historical research and advocate concrete analysis of specific issues, so that British Marxists can avoid falling into the mode of economic determinism while adhering to the basic principles of historical materialism. As a group of historians, the group of historians of the producer? The most striking feature of the members is to use the basic principles of historical materialism to study modern British history, especially the history of modern British workers' movement. However, when they are engaged in this kind of research, they have inherited the empirical tradition of British historiography well, and advocated concrete analysis of specific problems and let the evidence speak for itself. Therefore, while affirming that the economic base determines the ultimate decisive role of the superstructure and the mode of production, they also fully acknowledge and affirm the reaction of the superstructure and even the decisive role in specific circumstances.

Third, they inherited the British socialist civilian tradition, adhered to the people's historical view, and paid attention to the analysis and research of ordinary people and their daily lives, thus raising the study of cultural traditions to a new height. Compared with Germany, France, especially Russia, British socialism has a profound civilian tradition. ? * * * The historians of the producer? Members consciously inherit this tradition, truly adhere to the people's historical view, and establish ordinary people and their daily lives as their own research centers, thus placing cultural and traditional issues that were rarely paid attention to in the humanities and social sciences in a very prominent position, which not only deepened their understanding of historical materialism, but also opened up new disciplines of cultural studies.

In a word, for the formation of British Marxist theoretical tradition, the group of historians who produced the Party? The greatest contribution is the pioneering exploration and partial success in solving the important problem of combining the basic principles of Marxism with the tradition of British national theory, which makes Marxism take root in the theoretical soil of Britain and finally produce fruitful results.

Precautions:

(1) See Bill: History of British Socialism, Volume II, translated by He Xinshun, Beijing: The Commercial Press, 1959, p. 200? 228 pages; Moreton and Ted: History of the British Workers' Movement (1770? 1920), Chapter 5, Reviving the Socialist Movement, translated by Ye Zhou, Beijing: Joint Publishing Company, 1962, p. 160? Page 193.

(2) Levin: The publication of The Complete Works of Marx and Engels, translated by Zhou Wei, Beijing: Sanlian Bookstore, 1976, 109? Page 1 13.

(3) see "British tradition", in Margaret Jacob and James Jacob (editor. ), The Origin of Radicalism in Britain and America, London: Allen &; Unwin, 1984, pp. 17? 184.

④ See Gao Lan et al. Thirty Years of British Production Party, translated by Fu Jiaqin et al., Beijing: People's Publishing House, 1953.

⑤ Willy Thompson, "Good Old Business: British Communism 1920- 199 1", London: Pluto Press, p. 16? 42.

⑥ Noreen Branson, History of communist party, UK 1927? 194 1, London: Lawrence and Wishart, 1985, page 365438 +0? 52.

7. Ibid., p. 1 10? 129、220? 239.

(8) James Krugman, "The Crisis in the 1930s: A View from the Left", edited by Jon Clark, etc. British Culture and Crisis in 1930s, London: Lawrence and Wishart, 1979.

Pet-name ruby noreen Branson, British communist party history 1927? 194 1, page 2 10? 2 13.

Attending the historical changes of the number of party member in Britain, please refer to Willie Thompson's "A Beautiful Old Cause: British Communism 1920? 199 1, page 2 18.

(1 1) For the Chinese translation, see Caldwell's Collection of Literary Prose, translated by Lu Jiande, Changsha: Baihuazhou Literature and Art Publishing House, 1995.

(12) Multi-step (step). Political economy and capitalism. Trans. Song Yuan et al., Beijing: Sanlian Bookstore, 1962.

Morton: British history. Trans. Xie lianzao, etc. Beijing: Sanlian Bookstore, 1962.

(14) Bernard. Social function of science. Trans. Chen Tifang and others. Beijing: Commercial Press, 1982.

(15) McClellan: Marxism after Marx, translated by Li Zhi, Beijing: Renmin University of China Press, 2004, p. 343.

(16) for the basic situation of the British Marxist historical school, please refer to H.J. Kay's "British Marxist Historians: An Introduction Analysis", London: Political Publishing House, 1984.

(17) Bill Schwartz, "People in History: communist party Historians Group, 1946? 1956 ",in World Population and Development Report 2005 edited by R. Johnson, etc. Making History: Historical Writing and Political Studies, London: Hutchinson cooperates with the Center for Contemporary Cultural Studies of Birmingham University, 1982.

(18) See Hayek's Capitalism and Historians, translated by Qiu Feng, Changchun: Jilin People's Publishing House, 2003.