ilchinealach reviewed Evolutionary socialism by Eduard Bernstein
Review of 'Evolutionary socialism' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
work of proto-Marxology from an SPD rightist, arguing against notions including i) the notion that capital is increasingly concentrated ii) that the working class is increasing in size iii) that revolution (or perhaps even socialism!) is possible or desirable
was most struck by the extent of its nihilism; Bernstein affords no space to the ingenuity intelligence or capacity of the working class, he more or less just stops short of calling them ignorant and incompetent to manage their own affairs.
read symptomatically this is the Communist Manifesto re-packaged for the self-exoneration of those who spend the next century averting their eyes; the English and the German proletariat were not interested in revolution; they had their trade unions, their political parties and their living standards were, in relative terms, increasing. their political leadership was cut to cloth