,:AT ,AB\T ,M>XISM8 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ANTON ,PANNEKOEK 

,TEXT 3 

,PUBLI%$3 ,9DU/RIAL ,WORK]1 ,FEBRU>Y #g1 #a#i#d#h4 
,TRANSCRIPTION_/,M>KUP3 ,MICAH ,MU]1 #b#a#g4 

,9DU/RIAL ,WORK] PREFACE 

,AN UNUSUAL AM\NT ( EF=T IS BE+ EXP5D$ CURR5TLY 9 MANY PUBLICATIONS 
TO REFUTE ,M>XISM4 ,L,I,F,E MAGAZ9E USES MANY PAGES = AN >TICLE BY ,JOHN ,DOS 
,PASSOS ON 0,! ,FAILURE ( ,M>XISM0 ?AT HAS NO MORE TO DO ) ITS FAILURE ?AN 
CROOK$ BOOKKEEP+ HAS TO DO ) ! VALIDITY ( ! MULTIPLICATION TABLES4 
,P]HAPS ! OCCASION IS ?AT ,FEBRU>Y1 #a#i#d#h1 M>KS ! #a? ANNIV]S>Y ( ! 
5UNCIATION ( ! BASIC HI/ORICAL TEA*+S ( ,M>XISM 9 ! 0,COMMUNI/ 
,MANIFE/O0 ( #ahdh 444 :I* DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE MU* BE>+ ON :AT PASSES 
UND] ! NAME ( 0,COMMUNISM0 A C5TURY LAT]4 ,IT IS A PLEASURE UND] !SE 
CIRCUM/ANCES TO RUN ?IS >TICLE BY ONE ( ! WORLD'S BE/-KN[N EXPON5TS ( 
,M>XISM1 ,DR4 ,ANTON ,PANNEKOEK1 & WE HOPE ?AT WE HAVE NOT ALT]$ HIS MEAN+ 
:]E WE RAN 9TO WORDS :]E HIS H&-WRIT+ BAFFL$ US 444 BUT ,HOLL& IS TOO 
F> AWAY TO *ECK4 

,I4 

,9 SPEAK+ ( ,M>XISM TWO ?+S CALL$ BY ?AT NAME MU/ BE DI/+UI%$4 
,FIR/ ! SCI5TIFIC /UDIES & DISCOV]IES ( ,M>X ?AT =M A LA/+ 
CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN KN[L$GE4 ,SECONDLY ! PRACTICAL APPLICATION 9 POLITICAL 
OP9IONS & ACTION1 BY ,M>X HIMSELF & BY ?OSE :O CALL !MSELVES HIS 
FOLL[]S4 ,M>X HAS GIV5 US SCI5TIFIC KN[L$GE AB\T ! RELATIONS ( 
SOCIETY1 M9D1 ECONOMY1 CLASSES1 LAW1 IDEOLOGIES1 POLITICS1 ?AT BELONG TO ! 
MO/ IMPORTANT PROGRESS ( SCI5CE 9 ! #a#i? C5TURY4 ,! APPLICATION ( ?IS 
KN[L$GE TO PRACTICE & POLITICS ( ! DAY1 DEP5D5T AS IT WAS ON ! (T5 
IMP]FECTLY KN[N CONDITIONS ( ?AT DAY1 ( C\RSE WAS (T5 SUBJECT TO 
FAILURES4 

,SO ,M>XISM HAS MANY DIFF]5T SIDES4 ,FIR/ IT IS A PHILOSOPHICAL 
WORLD CONCEPTION4 ,JU/ AS 9 NATURAL SCI5CE ! 9VE/IGATORS PROCE$ 
FROM ! PR9CIPLE -- :I* CANNOT BE PROV5 BY EXP]IM5T -- ?AT ALL 
PH5OM5A >E CONNECT$ & DEP5D ON ONE ANO!R1 ! SO-CALL$ PR9CIPLE ( 
CASUALITY .<SIC.>1 BETT] ( UNITY ( NATURE -- SO 
,M>XISM PROCE$S FROM ! PR9CIPLE ?AT ! 5TIRE WORLD1 9CLUD+ ! SOCIAL 
& SPIRITUAL PH5OM5A PRES5T+ !MSELVES 9 MAN & SOCIETY1 =MS AN 
9T]CONNECT$ UNITY4 ,ALL IDEAS1 ?\<TS1 ACTIONS ( MAN ?US >E DET]M9$ BY 
! RE/ ( ! WORLD1 BY REALITY4 ,?IS EPI/OMOLOGICAL .<SIC.> WORLD CONCEPTION HE HIMSELF CALL$ 
MAT]IALISM4 ,TO EXPRESS ! EVOLUTION ( WORLD & KN[L$GE 9 
ITS ANTAGONI/IC =M1 ! ADJECTIVE 0DIALECTIC0 WAS ADD$2 BUT ?IS WORD1 :I* 
AT ?AT TIME HAD A REAL MEAN+1 N[ MO/LY HAS TO S]VE P>ROT-PROPAG&I/S TO 
OV]-AWE 9NOC5T LI/5]S4 

,M>XISM1 !N1 IS A SCI5CE4 ,FROM ALL ! FACTS & EV5TS ( HUMAN HI/ORY1 
,M>X D$UC$ ?AT IT WAS ! SY/EM ( PRODUCTION -- DEVELOP+ ?R\< ! 
GR[? ( TE*NICS & KN[L$GE -- ?AT MA9LY DET]M9$ ! SOCIAL1 
POLITICAL & SPIRITUAL PH5OM5A4 ,HE DISCOV]$ ! /RUGGLE ( ! SOCIAL 
CLASSES AS ! *IEF MOV+ =CE ( ! 9N] HI/ORY ( PEOPLES & EMPIRES1 
( !IR W>S & REVOLUTIONS1 REFLECT$ 9 !IR IDEOLOGIES & BELIEFS4 ,AS A 
SCI5CE ( SOCIETY ?IS DOCTR9E WAS CALL$ HI/ORICAL 
MAT]IALISM4 ,ITS !SES HAVE NOT ! /RICT *>ACT]1 = EXAMPLE ( 
! LAWS ( CLASSICAL PHYSICS4 ,9DIVIDUAL CONDITIONS & BEHAVIOR (T5 %[ A 
WILD V>IETY2 ! RULES APPE> 9 ! AV]AGES1 9 ! REGUL>ITY ( ! GREAT 
NUMB]S1 ! CLASSES4 7,MOD]N PHYSICI/S EMPHASIZE ?AT PHYSICAL LAWS TOO >E 
/ATI/ICAL LAWS47 

,AS A SCI5CE ( ! PRES5T SY/EM ( PRODUCTION1 ,M>XISM IS A NEW 
POLITICAL ECONOMY1 A COMPLETE !ORY ( CAPITALISM1 AS ! 
\TCOME ( HIS MA9 LIFE /UDY4 ,BY ?IS !ORY HE C\LD EXPLA9 EXPLOITATION & 
SURPLUS-VALUE1 & =ESEE ! GR[+ CONC5TRATION ( CAPITAL & 9DU/RY4 
,CAPITALISM WAS N[ SE5 AS A TRANSI5T /ATE TO BE TRANS=M$ BY A SOCIAL 
REVOLUTION 9TO A PRODUCTION SY/EM )\T CLASSES & EXPLOITATION1 :]E 
MANK9D IS 5TIRELY & CONSCI\SLY MA/] ( ITS WORK & LIFE4 ,9 ! 
CLASS FI<T ( ! WORK+ CLASS HE RECOGNIZ$ ! DRIV+ 
=CE 9 ?IS REVOLUTION4 ,?US HE TOOK SIDES ) ! PROLET>IAT 9 ITS UPW>D 
/RUGGLE4 

,SO ,M>XISM IS A CLASS-SCI5CE4 ,M>XISM N[ BECAME ! LIFE-SY/EM ( ! 
TOIL+ & /RUGGL+ WORK]S2 IT EXPRESSES 9 CONSCI\S !ORETICAL =M ?AT 
.<SIC.> !Y >E1 :AT !Y FEEL & ?9K1 ! DAILY 
EXP]I5CES ( !IR LIFE1 !IR ASPIRATIONS1 !IR WILL1 !IR FI<T4 ,IT IS 
REJECT$ & REFUT$ BY ?OSE :O TAKE !IR PO9T ( VIEW 9 ! RUL+ CLASS4 
,ITS NAME & AU?ORITY IS BORR[$ BY ?OSE :O SIDE ) ! WORK]S' AIMS2 SO 
!IR ]RORS >E N[ IMPUT$ TO ,M>XISM4 

,M>X SEE+ SOCIAL DEVELOPM5T ) SO LUCID CLE>NESS1 EXPECT$ IT TO BE 
MORE RAPID ?AN WAS POSSIBLE UND] ALL ! RET>D+ & OPPOSITE =CES4 ,UND] 
! RET>DATION CAPITALISM /EADILY /R5G!N$4 ,?+S ?AT HE C\LD NOT 
=ESEE AS TRU/S & WORLD W>S1 AIRPLANES & ATOM BOMBS1 *ANG$ ! 
CONDITIONS ( CLASS FI<T4 ,HE NECESS>ILY SAW ! WORK]S' EMANCIPATION 9 ! 
CONTEXT ( HIS [N TIME1 :5 B>RICADE FI<TS DECID$ OV] GOV]NM5TS & 
REVOLUTIONS4 ,AFT]W>DS HE WAS 5?USIA/IC OV] ! PLUCKY & SUCCESSFUL FI<T 
( ! ,G]MAN WORK]S1 BY ! USE ( ! BALLOT1 AGA9/ ,BISM>CK'S 
ANTI-SOCIALI/ LAW4 ,BUT HE NEV] BELIEV$ 9 P>LIAM5T>ISM1 AS DID MO/ ( HIS 
FOLL[]S 9 ! SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC MOVEM5T AT ! 5D ( ! #a#i? C5TURY4 ,H]E 
AGA9 ! EXPECTATIONS W]E TOO OPTIMI/IC1 *IEFLY ?R\< LACK ( 
UND]/&+ ( ! 5ORM\S GR[? ( CAPITALI/ P[]1 & ( ! S(T5+ 
9FLU5CES ( ECONOMIC CONJUNCTURE4 

,TRUE SCI5CE1 IT IS SAID1 IS DISC]N$ BY ! EXACTNESS ( ITS PR$ICTIONS4 
,LOOK AT ! NATURAL SCI5CES ) !IR ASC]TA9$ LAWS1 AT A/RONOMY OR 
PHYSICS2 & ! PR$ICTIONS ( ,M>X ON SOCIAL DEVELOPM5T & REVOLUTION PROV$ 
FALSE4 ,>E ?OSE :O TRY TO DISCR$IT ,M>XIAN SCI5CE ON ?IS >GUM5T -- 
TAK+ ,M>X AS A K9D ( SOO?SAY] -- ACQUA9T$ ) ! PRACTICE ( 
SCI5CE8 ,! HI/ORY = EXAMPLE ( A/RONOMY IS FULL ( PR$ICTIONS ?AT DID 
NOT COME TRUE1 ( DISAGREEM5TS ?AT AL>M$ ! SCI5TI/S & HAD TO BE 
EXPLA9$ BY NEW UN=ESE5 CIRCUM/ANCES4 ,MAY ,I H]E QUOTE MYSELF ON ! 
*>ACT] ( NATURAL LAW8 0,:AT C]TA9TY DO ,I HAVE ?AT ! EV5T ?US ASS]T$ 
& COMPUT$ REALLY TAKES PLACE8 ,! ANSW] CAN ONLY BE3 ,NONE4 444 ,NO SCI5TI/ 
ASSUMES ?AT = PR$ICTIONS ON ! BASIS ( KN[N LAWS !RE IS ABSOLUTE 
C]TA9TY4 ,HUNDR$S ( TIMES IT HAS HAPP5$1 CONTR>Y TO EXPECTATION1 ?AT IT 
DID NOT COME TRUE1 & ON SU* CASES DEP5D$ ! PROGRESS ( SCI5CE40 70,DAS 
,WES5 DES ,NATURGESETZES0 9 0,]K5NTNIS0 ,VOL4 ,I,I,I P4 #c#i#g47 

,& N[ ! SO-CALL$ 0PR$ICATIONS10 ?AT IS ! CONCLUSIONS D]IV$ BY ,M>X 
FROM HIS !ORETICAL WORK4 ,IF WE LOOK AT ! *ANGES ( SOCIETY 9 ! PA/ 
C5TURY1 :AT DO WE SEE8 ,A CONT9U\S DEVELOPM5T ( BIG 9DU/RY1 & DECL9E 
( SMALL BUS9ESS 9TO 5TIRE DEP5D5CE4 ,A CONC5TRATION ( CAPITAL1 MORE 
5ORM\S ?AN EV] C\LD HAVE BE5 EXPECT$2 A CONC5TRATION ( P[] 9 FEW 
H&S1 EXEMPLIFI$ = EXAMPLE BY 0,AM]ICA'S SIXTY FAMILIES40 ,AN 9CREASE ( ! 
WORK+ CLASS1 APP>5T 9 ALL /ATI/ICS1 9 ! *IEF 9DU/RIAL C\NTRIES N[ 
! MAJORITY ( ! POPULATION4 ,AN 9CREASE 9 !IR CLASS FI<T -- A 
C5TURY AGO ! FIR/ REVOLTS ( A SMALL DESPIS$ LOT ( />VEL+S1 N[ EV] 
! *IEF FACTOR DET]M9+ 9N] & EV5 =EIGN POLITICS4 ,ALL ?IS HAS LONG 
S9CE BE5 RECOGNIZ$1 ?\< CAVIL$ AT IT .<SIC.> 
DETAIL1 BY ! LE>N$ ECONOMI/S ( ! B\RGEOISIE4 ,BUT !Y HAD ONE /RONG 
PO9T4 ,M>X HAD SPOK5 ( ! 9CREAS+ MIS]Y1 ! CAPITALI/ CLASS NOT EV5 
BE+ ABLE TO FE$ ITS SLAVES4 ,?AT WAS FALSE2 ! FI<T ( ! WORK]S1 ! 
TRADE UNIONS1 ! SOCIAL RE=M1 ALL T5D$ TO RAISE ! /&>D ( LIV+ ( 
! MASSES1 9DICAT+ ! GRADUAL RISE ( SOCIETY TO A REAL COMMONWEAL?2 & 
,M>XIAN WRIT]S HAD TO PO9T \T AT LEA/ ! 0RELATIVE MIS]Y10 AS LIV+ 
/&>DS LAGG$ BEH9D ! GREAT 9CREASE ( ! PRODUCTIVITY ( LABOR4 ,?US IT 
WAS G5]ALLY ASSUM$4 ,& N[8 ,JU/ N[1 ?AT SCI5CE DEMON/RATES ITS P[] 9 
! HI<E/ DEGREE1 ?AT NEW IMM5SE S\RCES ( 5]GY >E BE+ OP5$1 N[ 
FAM9E RAGES OV] ! WORLD1 NAK$ HUNG] DE/ROYS ! MILLIONS1 DIRECT VISIBLE 
CONSEQU5CES ( CAPITALI/ DEVELOPM5T4 ,IF EV] A PR$ICTION CAME TRUE1 MORE 
T]RIBLY ?AN ANY /UD5T ( ,M>X C\LD HAVE EXPECT$1 IT IS ?IS4 

,M>X !N PROCE$$3 BUT AT ! SAME RATE AS !IR MIS]Y ALSO 9CREASES ! 
REBELLI\SNESS ( ! MASSES4 ,DO NOT WE F9D ?AT H]E ! PR$ICTION FAILS8 ,! 
RISE ( A P[]FUL WORK+ CLASS MOVEM5T 9 ! #a#i? C5TURY1 ) ITS 
REBELLIONS1 IT /RIKES1 ITS POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS1 ATTE/S TO ! TRU? ( HIS 
CONCLUSION4 ,:Y 9 LAT] TIMES WE SEE A TEMPOR>Y LULL IS EXPLICABLE4 

,I,I4 

,! FAILURE ( ,M>XISM1 PROCLAIM$ EV] AGA91 C5T]S >\ND ! 
NONOCCURR5CE AS YET ( ! EXPECT$ SOCIAL REVOLUTION4 ,?OSE WILY ,M>XI/S1 WE 
MI<T SAY1 ALWAYS OMITT$ TO 9DICATE 9 :AT YE> IT W\LD HAPP51 SO !Y 
NEV] C\LD BE CAU<T UP ) !IR FAILURE2 BUT ! DELAY C\LD NOT MISS TO 
?R[ D\BT UPON ALL !IR ASS]TIONS4 ,! IMPORTANT ?+ N[ IS NOT ! 
CONT5TS1 ! >GUM5TS ( ?IS ANTI-,M>XI/ CAMPAIGN2 AS TO SOCIAL DEVELOPM5T 
WE HAVE SE5 ?AT !Y >E FALSE2 NEV] W]E PR$ICTIONS MORE FULLY CONFIRM$ BY 
! FACTS ?AN ?OSE ( ,M>X'S !ORY4 ,! IMPORTANT ?+ IS ! CAMPAIGN 
ITSELF1 AS A SOCIAL PH5OM5ON4 ,:Y ALL !SE ATTACKS ON ,M>XISM JU/ N[8 

,M>XISM ALWAYS WAS ! OBJECT ( VEHEM5T ATTACKS1 FROM ! SIDE ( ! 
SPOKESM5 ( CAPITALISM4 ,MO/ VEHEM5TLY ( C\RSE :5 ! WORK+ CLASS 
MOVEM5T >OSE 9 A MI<TY ?REAT4 ,BUT TODAY IT IS DIFF]5T A RESULT NOT ( ! 
P[] BUT ( ! WEAKNESS ( ! WORK]S' FI<T4 ,IT IS NOT ! 5EMIES1 ! 
DEF5D]S ( CAPITALISM1 BUT ! FRI5DS ( WORK+ CLASS SOCIALISM FROM :OM 
! OBJECTIONS >E =?COM+4 ,IT IS NOT MOCK]Y OR TAUNT1 IT IS BITT]NESS 
?AT WE HE> 9 !IR CRITICISM4 ,IT IS NOT HATR$ BUT DISAPPO9TM5T ?AT LIES 
AT ! BASIS4 ,SO IT MU/ BE EXAM9$ SOME:AT MORE CLOSELY4 

,SOCIALI/ SOCIETY1 AS PUT =W>D BY SOCIAL DEMOCRACY AS ! GOAL ( ! 
WORK+ CLASS1 WAS JU/ :AT C\LD APPEAL /RONGLY TO SOCIAL M9D$ 
9TELLECTUALS4 ,!RE /ATE P[] BY MEANS ( ITS (FICIALS & M9OR POLITICAL 
BODIES1 DIRECTS PRODUCTION1 DI/RIBUTION1 & SOCIAL LIFE AT L>GE WAS TO BE A 
WELL-PLANN$ SY/EM4 ,?US ALL K9DS ( 9TELLECTUALS SCI5TI/S .<SIC.>1 MANAG]S1 SPECIALI/S W\LD F9D !IR TASKS1 NOT AS 
UND]L+S ( CAPITAL1 BUT AS HI<LY APPRECIAT$ S]VANTS ( ! COMMUNITY1 
EX]T+ ALL !IR CAPACITIES = ! WEAL ( ! WORK+ MASSES4 ,PHYSICIANS :O 
PREF]R$ TO BE HEAL? (FIC]S = ! PEOPLE TO E>N+ MONEY FROM ! 
IMAG9>Y ILLNESSES ( ! RI*2 SCI5TI/S :O >E DESIR\S ( APPLY+ !IR 
SCI5CE TO CREATE ABUNDANCE = ALL1 9/EAD ( SEE+ IT CONV]T$ 9TO PR(IT 
= CAPITAL2 >TI/S :O WI% TO BR+ BEAUTY 9TO ! LIFE ( ! MASSES2 
POLITICIANS COM+ =W>D AS SPOKESMAN .<SIC.> ( ! 
MIS]ABLE -- !Y ALL SAW SOCIALISM AS A NEW WORLD GIV+ SIGNIFICANCE & 
CONT5TM5T TO !IR LIFE4 ,:AT = ! WORK]S WAS ONLY P>TIAL LIB]ATION1 
ASSIGN$ TO ! SOCIALI/ 9TELLECTUALS ! GLORI\S ROLE ( BE+ ! ACTIVE 
LIB]ATORS FROM MIS]Y1 AS POLITICIANS1 LEAD]S & (FICIALS4 ,?US ! DOCTR9E 
( ,/ATE ,SOCIALISM TO BE BR\<T AB\T BY CLASS FI<T1 ATTRACTIVE = ! 
WORK]S !MSELVES ONLY AS LONG AS !Y DID NOT FEEL !IR FULL P[]1 WAS = 
! SOCIALI/ 9TELLECTUALS ! CONSUMMATION ( ! HI<E/ ASPIRATIONS ( 
MANK9D4 ,SO !Y HAIL$ ,M>XISM AS ! !ORY ( SOCIAL DEVELOPM5T1 ! 
SCI5TIFIC BASIS ( !IR IDEALS4 

,!RE IS NO ROOM H]E TO GO 9TO ! DETAILS ( :Y SOCIAL-DEMOCRACY 
COLLAPS$1 ) ALL ITS IDEALS & PROMISES4 ,= ! SOCIALI/ WORK]S ?IS 
COLLAPSE WAS A HEAVY DISAPPO9TM5T1 /IRR+ !M UP H[EV] TO LOOK = BETT] 
PA?WAYS4 ,= ! 9TELLECTUAL CLASS 9 ITS SOCIAL-M9D$ P>T1 IT WAS MORE ?AN 
A DISAPPO9TM5T2 IT WAS A TRAG$Y4 ,) ! HOPE ( AN IMPORTANT FUTURE SOCIAL 
FUNCTION ( !IR CLASS GONE1 !IR FAI? 9 ,M>XISM BROKE D[N4 ,& !IR 
REPROA* AGA9/ ,M>XI/ !ORY ?AT HAD LUR$ !M 9TO !SE ILLUSIONS TOOK 
! =M ( ATTACKS AGA9/ ITS TRU?4 ,?US WE SEE H]E AN 9/ANCE ( H[ 
!ORETICAL CONTE/S ON ,M>XISM REFLECT *ANGES 9 ! RELATIONS ( ! 
CLASSES4 

,! 9TELLECTUAL CLASS TURN+ AWAY FROM SOCIALISM N[ HAS TO LOOK = ITS 
SOCIAL FUNCTION 9 O!R DIRECTIONS4 ,?AT !Y WILL SEE IT 9 BE+ SIMPLY 
MEMB]S 9 ! COMMUNITY ( ! WORK+ P]SONNEL CANNOT BE EXPECT$1 N[ ?AT 
! WORK]S !MSELVES H>DLY BEG9 TO P]CEIVE ! WAY ( SELF-RULE BY MEANS ( 
C\NCIL ORGANIZATION4 ,RA!R !Y WILL TURN TO ! WAYS ( MANAG]IALISM OR 
/ATE CAPITALISM4 ,9 ?AT CASE ! =M] B5T T[>DS DEMOCRACY1 AS *OS5 
LEAD]S ( ! WORK+ MASSES1 WILL BE SUP]S$$ BY ! DESIRE = 
DICTATOR%IP1 = DOM9ATION1 AS MA/]S 9 !IR [N RI<T OV] ! WORK]S4 
,! ,RUSSIAN EXAMPLE %[S ?AT EV5 9 ?IS CASE SOME O!R DI/ORT$ =M ( 
,M>XISM MAY BE CON/RUCT$ AS ITS !ORETICAL EXPRESSION4 ,! WORK]S 9 ! 
DEF5SE ( TRUE ,M>XISM AGA9/ ! ATTACKS1 DEF5D ! !ORY ( !IR FI<T 
= FRE$OM4 

,FROM 3 ,M>XI/S4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,M>* #a1 #bba 3 ,:AT ,AB\T ,M>XISM8 -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #h1 #bbb 3 ,:AT ,AB\T ,M>XISM8 -- ,UPDAT$4 

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