An Introduction to the Kautsky Debate

All of a sudden, socialists in the U.S. have started talking about Karl Kautsky. Why? We provide an overview of the debate for comrades who haven't been following it.

Lenin, Kautsky, and the State

Did Lenin ever really break with Karl Kautsky? Lars Lih says no. But Lenin was clear about the need for the working class to smash the bourgeois state.

Anti-Imperialism and Socialism—A Reply to Charlie Post

The struggle for consistent anti-imperialism is a question of the first order for the socialist movement. A contribution to the current debate about the legacy of Karl Kautsky, focusing on the concept of the “labor aristocracy.”

Reformism and Imperialism – A Reply to Matias Maiello

It is reformists’ fetish of the capitalist nation-state that leads them invariably to adapt to their “own” imperialism. This is a contribution to the ongoing debate about the legacy of Karl Kautsky.

Revolution or Attrition: Reading Kautsky Between the Lines

Karl Kautsky argued that one could switch from a “strategy of attrition” to a “strategy of overthrow” as the situation changed. In this piece, one of the authors of “Socialist Strategy and Military Art” argues that these two strategies are irreconcilable.

When the North Star Turned Red: Against Reconciliation

The working class had seized power in Finland. Yet the bourgeoisie won the civil war and murdered tens of thousands of Reds. How was this possible? What lessons can we learn from the defeat?

Social Democracy and Imperialism: The Problem with Kautsky

The ongoing debate about the legacy of Karl Kautsky has touched on many issues of socialist strategy today. In this article, originally published in the magazine Ideas de Izquierda from Argentina, the author focuses on a central question: imperialism.

Does Lenin Apply Today? What Is To Be Done Now?

The current debate about Karl Kautsky's legacy is not simply a historical one about Kautsky and Lenin, but an informative discussion among socialists about what we should do today. This second installment will address the current debates in the U.S., particularly the question of whether socialists should support Bernie Sanders, and argue that Lenin remains an important political reference point for struggle and revolution in our times.

Does Lenin Apply Today? Historical Lessons from Chile

The current debate about Karl Kautsky's legacy is not simply a historical one about Kautsky and Lenin, but an informative discussion among socialists about what we should do today. This first installment will address the historical discussion, particularly the example of Chile.