The End of Isms?
Reflections on the Fate of Ideological Politics After Communism's Collapse
Alexander Shtromas(Editor)
Blackwell Publishers
Published on 25. August 1994
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-631-19055-4 (ISBN)
Description
Looking at the state of, and future prospects for, the politics of ideology after the collapse of Communism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the contributors to this book consider both universal intellectual trends and specific ideological situations in the major countries of the contemporary world. In the view of some contributors the history of the modern state is a voyage towards a perfect condition of things, a voyage which will continue without interruption, despite the fall of Communism. Others, however, think that the politics of ideology has had its day and is now in the process of being replaced by the "politics of modesty", which concentrate on limited and pragmatically defined goals. The complex and "peace-disturbing" issues put on the political agenda by increasingly self-assertive nationalisms are regarded, accordingly, as either the potential source of new ideologies seeking the establishment of the Utopian "perfect condition" or, on the contrary, as variations of the same modest, pragmatically motivated political pursuits. Two chapters of the volume are specifically devoted to the discussion of the fate of Marxism and the socialist idea generally.
The situation with regard to ideological politics in the United States, Western Europe and Russia is analyzed and evaluated in three special chapters, each focusing on one of these major protagonists of the contemporary world. The book concludes with a summary review of the issues discussed and an attempt at projecting a relatively coherent vision of the fate of "isms" in the post-Communist era.
The situation with regard to ideological politics in the United States, Western Europe and Russia is analyzed and evaluated in three special chapters, each focusing on one of these major protagonists of the contemporary world. The book concludes with a summary review of the issues discussed and an attempt at projecting a relatively coherent vision of the fate of "isms" in the post-Communist era.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
Weight
462 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-631-19055-4 (9780631190554)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Introduction. 1. Ideology after the Collapse of Communism: Kenneth Minogue. 2. Political Integration, the Limited State, and the Philosophy of Postmodernism: Noel O'Sullivan. 3. After Socialism: David Marquand. 4. Premature Obituaries: A Comment on O'Sullivan, Minogue and Marquand: Alex Callinicos. 5. Liberalism and Collectivism in the 20th Century: Richard M. Ebeling. 6. Decolonizing Liberalism: Bhikhu Parekh. 7. The Concept of Fundamentalism: Bhikhu Parekh. 8. Nationalism: Ambiguous Legacies and Contingent Futures: Eugene Kamenka. 9. The People, the Intelligentsia and Russian Political Culture: Marc Raeff. 10. The United States: Liberals, Conservatives and the Challenge of Liberation: Robert K. Faulkner. 11. Ideological Politics and the Contemporary World: Have We Seen the Last of 'Isms'? : Alexander Shtromas.