Suchergebnisse

'Behemoth: Main Currents in the History and Theory of Political Sociology' by Irving Louis Horowitz is reviewed.

The dominance of neoliberal policies in Anglo-American countries during the past two decades has not only had a profound impact on the character and programs of major parties, but has also led to dramatic changes within the ranks of former Marxists and critical theorists. These former radicals now either believe that the old categories of Left and Right are irrelevant, or argue that the political concepts used by these historical movements have been largely rendered obsolete by contemporary conditions. The present article specifically focuses upon the quite different, contextually driven responses to neoliberal regimes by two post-Marxist schools of thought that are expressed in the American journal Telos and British journals, especially Economy and Society. These new exponents of an anti-Marxist Realpolitik not only oppose the universal values of the radical Left, but draw upon a mixture of traditions and theories that continue to be associated with anti-class and anti-Marxist elite theory. These anti-socialist analyses should not be ignored for they raise a number of pertinent questions to do with the possibility and the form of a viable alternative politics given the impact of neoliberalism, globalization and postmodern cultural processes on contemporary societies. 47 References. T. K. Brown

In consideration of the likelihood that left-leaning political parties in many economically advanced capitalist societies will want to borrow strategies used by the electorally successful Australian Labor Party (ALP), which held power continuously from 1983 through 1996, this article outlines & analyzes the nature of the ALP's successes & failures. It is hoped that this analysis will serve to inform those who might wish to import the ALP's model, such that those who turn to that model in order to replicate its success will harbor no illusions about the legacy of the Keating & Hawke governments. It is suggested that rather than being a parochial episode in the history of the labor movement, the recent Australian experience represents not only the demise of traditional labor politics, but prefigures a new political model not yet fully seen in European social democratic & labor parties. The reasons for the ALP's popular success are discussed, as are the party's turn towards conservative economic policies & its simultaneous support of liberal social policies. Comparisons are made with the situations of the political left in other countries, particularly in Great Britain. 57 References. T. K. Brown