Marxism holds that capitalism’s collapse could end in barbarism, not only communism.
Evidence
Thirdly, historical materialism is a non-teleological theory of social evolution: not only does it deny that capitalism is the final stage of historical develop ment, but communism, the classless society which Marx believed would be the outcome of socialist revolution, is not the inevitable consequence of the contradictions of capitalism, since an alternative exists, what Marx called ‘the mutual ruination of the contending classes’, Rosa Luxemburg ‘barbarism’. — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism, 161
Categorization
- DEFINE: Clarifies historical materialism as non-teleological — collapse of capitalism yields barbarism or communism, not inevitability.
- XREF: Directly counters Jameson’s/postmodernism’s reading of Marxism as teleology; relevant to the stated reading purpose of challenging Jameson. — connects to: Marxism holds that capitalism may end in barbarism rather than communism; Capitalism may lead to barbarism rather than socialism — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory: Nations, Classes, Literatures, 354; A degraded working class can turn equally to fascism or communism — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 1373 (+3 more)
Broader Connections
- Marxism holds that capitalism may end in barbarism rather than communism
#corroborates(0.98) - Capitalism may lead to barbarism rather than socialism
#corroborates(0.92) — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory, 354 - A degraded working class can turn equally to fascism or communism
#expands(0.85) — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 1373 - A disintegrating society can recrystallize ideologically around the prospect of massacre
#expands(0.80) — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 186 - The coming barbarism may be the empire of civilization itself.
#expands(0.75) — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 887