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Re-Examination of the Concept of Revolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2024

Herbert Marcuse
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The concept of revolution in Marxian theory telescopes an entire historical period: the final stage of capitalism; the transitional period of proletarian dictatorship, and the initial stage of socialism. It is in a strict sense a historical concept, projecting actual tendencies in the society; and it is a dialectical concept, projecting the counter-tendencies within the respective historical period, in as much as they are inherent in this period. These tendencies and counter-tendencies are manifestations of which Marxian theory and practice themselves are essential elements. Marxian theory itself is a power in the historical struggle, and to the degree to which its concepts, “translated” into practice, become forces of resistance, change and reconstruction; they are subject to the vicissitudes of this struggle, which they reflect and comprehend, but do not dominate. “Re-examination” is therefore an element of the concept of revolution, part of its internal development.

Type
Research Article
Information
Diogenes , Volume 16 , Issue 64 , December 1968 , pp. 17 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © 1968 Fédération Internationale des Sociétés de Philosophie / International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP)

Footnotes

1

This paper was written before the May-June events in France. I have added only a few lines to indicate their historical significance.