Marxism, pluralism, and beyond : classic debates and new departures
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Marxism, pluralism, and beyond : classic debates and new departures
Polity Press in association with B. Blackwell, 1989
- : hard
- : pbk
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Note
Bibliography: p. [276]-294
Includes index
Description and Table of Contents
- Volume
-
: hard ISBN 9780745603506
Description
Examining developments in two of the central traditions of social and political theory - Marxism and pluralism, this work investigates whether the relation between them is one of progressive convergence. The author begins by considering conceptual and empirical shifts in each tradition since their more orthodox or classical formulations. In a closely interwoven argument, he then traces the sociological, philosophical and political debates between these perspectives. The issue of class, for instance, highlights the challenges which the Marxist tradition has had to face, as the pivotal role of the proletariat has increasingly come into question. Equally, pluralists have had to accept that pervasive structural divisions - including class, race and gender, for example - shape political and social interaction. A further major issue is considered - in the current climate of "postmodern" thought is the entire debate between Marxism and pluralism now outmoded? In a series of critical assessments of positions which attempt to go "beyond" Marxism/pluralism, McLennan argues that the central tensions and positions within this classic dialogue have not yet been superseded.
Table of Contents
- Part I A tale of two traditions: historic oppositions, contemporary questions
- conventional to critical pluralism
- Marxism and the "question of pluralism" - historical materialism
- Marxism - the class analyis of politics
- modalities of antagonism and convergence. Part 2 Beyond the debate?
- the conundrums of philosophical pluralism
- eclecticism and synthesis in social theory
- statism - two variants of a third way
- conclusion - "modest eclecticism" and the restructuring of social theory.
- Volume
-
: pbk ISBN 9780745603513
Description
In this book, Gregor McLennan examines developments in two of the most central traditions of social and political theory - Marxism and pluralism - and asks whether the relation between them is one of progressive convergence. McLennan begins by considering conceptual and empirical shifts in each tradition since their more orthodox or classical formulations. In a closely interwoven argument, he then traces the sociological, philosophical and political debates between these perspectives. The issue of class, for instance, highlights the challenges which the Marxist tradition has had to face, as the pivotal role of the proletariat has increasingly come into question. Equally, pluralists have had to accept that pervasive structural divisions - including class, race and gender, for example - shape political and social interaction. A further major issue is considered: in the current climate of `postmodern' thought is the entire debate between Marxism and pluralism now outmoded? In a series of critical assessments of positions which attempt to go `beyond' Marxism/pluralism, McLennan argues that the central tensions and positions within this classic dialogue have not yet been superceded.
Table of Contents
- Preface PART ONE: A Tale of Two Traditions 1. Historic oppositions, contemporary questions 2. Conventional to critical pluralism 3. Marxism and the 'question of pluralism': historical materialism 4. Marxism: the class analysis of politics 5. Modalities of antagonism and convergence PART TWO: Beyond the Debate? 6 . The conundrums of philosophical pluralism 7. Eclecticism and synthesis in social theory 8. Statism: two variants of a third way 9. Conclusion: 'modest eclecticism' and the restructuring of social theory Bibliography Undergraduates (2nd and 3rd years) in Politics, Sociology and Philosophy
- specialists in political and social theory
- informed political commentators and observers
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