MARXISM OR POST-MARXISM?

In: New left review: NLR, Heft 167, S. 107-123

Abstract

THE MAJOR THESIS OF THE WRITINGS OF ERNESTO LACLAU AND CHANTAL MOUFFE IS THAT THE CORE OF ALL MARXIST THEORY IS BASED ON A NECESSITARIAN, DETERMINISTIC LOGIC THAT EMPHASIZES IRON LAWS, A STRICT SUCCESSION OF STAGES, THE INEVITABILITY OF THE PROLETARIAN REVOLUTION, AND SO FORTH. THIS LOGIC REDUCES COMPLEXITY AND LEADS TO AN ESSENTIALIST VIEW OF THE SOCIAL AND TO A CLOSED, MONISTIC TYPE OF THEORETICAL DISCOURSE. ALL ATTEMPTS TO SOFTEN MARXISM'S DETERMINISTIC CORE BY STRESSING INDETERMINACY, COMPLEXITY, THE IMPORTANCE OF AGENCY, AND THE RELATIVE AUTONOMY OF THE POLITICAL ARE SIMPLY AD HOC ADDITIONS TO A THEORETICAL EDIFICE THAT, IN ITS FOUNDATIONS, REMAINS IRRETRIEVABLY MONISTIC.