Left Perspectives on State- and Post-Socialism III: Bolshevik Marxism

Session Submission Type: Panel

Brief Description

This panel explores the intellectual and historical dimensions of Bolshevik Marxism, emphasizing its intersections with broader traditions of social thought and political practice. Marxism as theorized and practiced by the members of the Bolshevik Party was not a monolithic ideology but a dynamic and contested body of thought shaped by diverse influences. From its formative engagements with fin de siècle European and Russian social sciences to its philosophical debates and practical applications, Bolshevik Marxism evolved through dialogue with contemporary scientific and philosophical currents. The panel highlights the multifaceted nature of this tradition, tracing how Bolshevik thinkers grappled with questions of materialism, class psychology, and political praxis. They also adapted to historical challenges and internal tensions. Individual papers will examine distinct historical manifestations of Bolshevik Marxism across different periods.

Sub Unit

• History: 1900-1945

Chair

• Alexey Golubev, U of Houston

Papers

• Bolshevik Marxism and Fin de siécle Social Sciences - Anna Yu. Krylova, Duke U

• Lenin's Wrath: Early Bolshevik Philosophical Controversies Revisited - Evgeni V. Pavlov, Metropolitan State U of Denver

• Volodymyr Iurynets as Theorist of 'Militant Materialism' in Soviet Ukraine in the 1920s - Galina Babak, U Konstanz (Germany) / Masaryk Inst and Archives CAS (Czech Republic)

• The Crisis of Capitalist Imperialism as a Lived Experience of Bolshevik Deep-Time Scholars in the Soviet Union - Dmitrii Blyshko, U of Houston

Discussant

• Alexey Golubev, U of Houston