The Retreat from Idealism: Reflections on Some Aspects of Contemporary East European Marxist Thought

Abstract

The nature of Marxist doctrine is explained here by reference to the opposed tendencies of political idealism and political realism. These two can be detected in Marx's own writings, with idealism being dominant. The idealist tendency also prevailed in the official ideology of Leninism and Stalinism. The realist tendency, latent for a long period, is now being seen to emerge more clearly in the writings of many East European Marxists who accept the fundamental tenets of official Marxism yet show themselves critical of some of its aspects. Their realism is manifested in the belief that, first, the socialist order of society contains antagonisms which are in some respects similar to those of capitalism, and secondly that basic existential problems are incapable of a definitive solution even in conditions of communism. Some constructive political proposals, advocating the introduction of a kind of pluralism, are analysed here and commented on critically. Also some philosophical views which start out from the recognition that alienation is an enduring feature of socialist society receive critical evaluation; they are shown to be self-contradictory. The article concludes by arguing, first, that the dualistic state of Marxist doctrine in Eastern Europe is likely to persist there for some time to come, and secondly that Marxist idealism is an ideology inapplicable to post-capitalist conditions, including those of East European society.