Western Marxism: A Brief Note

Western Marxism: A Brief Note

The term ‘Western Marxism’ covers the works of the German, the French, the British and the Italian leftist intellectuals belonging to the twentieth century. Gramsci is one of the major figures or practitioners of this idea. One of the most enduring concerns of these theorists is the reason why the intellectual revolution foretold by Marx did not happen in western Europe. The conventional reading of Marx was disseminated and obligatory by the Russian Bolsheviks. Again, such reading claimed political activities as well as rational beliefs amassing from commercial interests. As capitalism never does care for the financial interests of the workers, as the employees form a considerable section of the population and their number are a few, a grassroots-level revolution is to be introduced, be it sooner or be it later. Yes, the workers are subjugated and live in hopeless destitution. Still, the Marxists of the West take in for questioning that most of the workforces remain casually indifferent and antagonistic to the employees’ movement and communism. They uphold it as their philosophy to welcome a new era. Again, it is discerned that a great number of the workers support the fascist parties. They do so even when they seem to be unfriendly to the employees’ interests. Also, the Western Marxists do argue that financial interests are nothing other than a part of the story. This can be felt when one reflects the beliefs, the ethics, the promises and the ambitions. Well, these stimulate action. The cultural issues, too, are to be considered seriously. We should pay attention to the methods, by which culture affects attitudes and actions. Well, all this has made Western Marxism important for the studies of literature and culture.