Log in

View Full Version : Alan Woods accusations of reformism



Paul Cockshott
11th March 2012, 23:26
Alan Woods recently wrote a book Reformism or Revolution criticising the German/Mexican marxist writer Heinz Dieterich.
Reading the Woods book, one can see that Woods quite explicitly sees himself in the role of Engels attacking Duhring ( this is given away by the title of the microsoft word produced file you can download from the web).

The book Woods wrote is very wide ranging and much of it is unexceptional, but I think that many of his criticisms of Dieterich are unfair and based on a forced misreading of what Dieterich says. This is all the easier to do for his English language readership since almost none of Dieterich's work is available in English - it being originally in either German or Spanish.

For people who have read Woods but may not have read Dieterich in the original, I have written a critical review of Woods book here
http://glasgow.academia.edu/paulcockshott/Papers/1522267/Review_of_Alan_Woods_book_on_Dieterich


It has been pointed out that the above site wants you to give your email address when logging in to access documents so Ihave also put it up on scribd

http://www.scribd.com/doc/85016500/Review-of-Alan-Woods

Paul Cockshott
12th March 2012, 09:56
It has been pointed out that the above site wants you to give your email address when logging in to access documents so Ihave also put it up on scribd

http://www.scribd.com/doc/85016500/Review-of-Alan-Woods (http://www.anonym.to/?http://www.scribd.com/doc/85016500/Review-of-Alan-Woods)
__________________
The scribd system automatically brings up a link to Woods's book on the same page.

The Idler
12th March 2012, 22:03
You know things are bad when Alan Woods is accusing you of reformism.

Paul Cockshott
12th March 2012, 23:18
You know things are bad when Alan Woods is accusing you of reformism.

A point I make

An accusation of reformism levied against Dieterich by the CPI (Maoist) might carry some weight, from a left social democrat like Woods it is like the pot calling the kettle black. The real dispute between Woods and Dieterich is not about reform versus revolution, but about which strategy of reform would be best. Woods, in common with the main left tradion of the British Labour Party, favours a policy of nationalisation of industry.

Die Neue Zeit
13th March 2012, 01:41
To comrade Paul: This "critique" coming from a guy whose international Grantite fan club is sucking up to Chavez while echoing the populist line of attacking only "those around him." :rolleyes:

Deicide
13th March 2012, 01:43
You know things are bad when Alan Woods is accusing you of reformism.

rofl:laugh:

blake 3:17
14th March 2012, 00:26
Thanks for the thoughtful article and thanks also for making it available just a click away!

I'm not familiar with Dieterich's writings but will look into them.