Engelsianism, Second Internationalism, and the Loss of Marx’s Critical Method

Abstract

This essay argues that the predominant view of ‘Marxism’ was largely shaped by Engels and the Second International. The predominant view of Marxism includes a metaphysical theory (Dialectical Materialism) and a Scientific Theory (Historical Materialism). Marx never used either phrase. Moreover, a close reading of his mature works and letters reveals that he explicitly rejected the content of those theories. Hence, in the shaping of ‘Marxism’, a series of confusions and inaccuracies about history and economic development were attributed to Marx. One source of miscommunication was Engels, who seems to have misunderstood Marx’s theories in Capital. Moreover, Engels’ writings provide the origin point for ‘Dialectical’ and ‘Historical Materialism’. These attributions to Marx were taken up by Lenin and Trotsky in the Second International. Unlike Engels, Lenin and the Second International had access to few of Marx’s writings, so they had to rely on Engels’ proclamations on Marx’s work for their understanding of ‘Marxism’. Subsequently, ‘Marxism’ has been perverted, as it relates to Marx’s actual method of analysis and presentation, in his critical engagement with capitalism. In this essay the author charts the miscommunication of Marx’s theories, and then provides the reader with Marx’s actual critical method for analyzing Capitalism.