I want to delve into theory, but have difficulty understanding

[redfist.]

So, I have been left-leaning/a leftist for about two years now (sounds like an AA introduction, I know) and I have always been able to understand and comprehend the basic principles of socialism (i.e. different economic models etc.), and the whole time I have been interested in delving deeper into it. I only recently got around to it, and I have a hard time understanding. I can understand the framework of some of the ideas (one of the ones I looked at and tried to understand was historical materialism), but I do not truly "get" them.

The specific topic that I looked into, was historical materialism, as it seemed to be at the end of a long chain of topics, that I should understand before I delve into any of the others. Can someone give a simple explanation of historical materialism, and perhaps point me in the right direction as to where I should go next?

I am much like Huey Newton, in that I was completely uninterested in anything that had anything to do with anything theoretical in nature. Socialism opened that door for me (well, that and punk rawk).

So, anyone got any tips for a prole with aspirations in the world of political theory?

[ckaihatsu]

Harman, _A people’s history of the world_ (1999)

http://www.marxists.org/archive/harman/1999/history/index.htm

[Yuppie Grinder]

Yu8Os4EWBI8
Watch this, and skip to 38 minutes in for the essentials.
I'd recommend reading Marx's Theses on Feuerbach and Engel's Anti-Duhring.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Historical materialism, simply put, is a way of analyzing history, society and so on or "the materialist conception of history," meaning the way in which commodities necessary for the sustaining human life and society are produced and the socio-economic/political relationships and dynamics that arise there from.

[redfist.]

Really? That's all? Guess I understood, then :P Thank you though

[Oswy]

So, I have been left-leaning/a leftist for about two years now (sounds like an AA introduction, I know) and I have always been able to understand and comprehend the basic principles of socialism (i.e. different economic models etc.), and the whole time I have been interested in delving deeper into it. I only recently got around to it, and I have a hard time understanding. I can understand the framework of some of the ideas (one of the ones I looked at and tried to understand was historical materialism), but I do not truly "get" them.

The specific topic that I looked into, was historical materialism, as it seemed to be at the end of a long chain of topics, that I should understand before I delve into any of the others. Can someone give a simple explanation of historical materialism, and perhaps point me in the right direction as to where I should go next?

I am much like Huey Newton, in that I was completely uninterested in anything that had anything to do with anything theoretical in nature. Socialism opened that door for me (well, that and punk rawk).

So, anyone got any tips for a prole with aspirations in the world of political theory?

Historical Materialism isn't all that complicated - Marxism posits that all human societies are organised primarily in economic terms (because economic arrangements underpin all other arrangements - without food or shelter there is no poetry or politics). Within the framework of HM Marxism then identifies something called the 'mode of production' which is the central mechanism by which economic arrangements are made. We can think of hunter-gathering as constituting such a mode, tribute societies as a mode of production, sefdom and so on. Capitalism is the mode of production we are experiencing right now. Such societies travel through time and as they do so they become subject to transformation or crisis according to how the mode of production affects things. The hunter-gatherer mode of production appears to have been highly stable (lasting hundreds of thousands of years) until, current theory suggests, overpopulation lead to crisis and transformation, into settled agricultural societies. Here then is the crux, as one mode of production suffers transformation or crisis so another appears to take its place, i.e. there is a discernable trajectory of human civilisation from one mode to the next - they don't follow each other randomly but one kind tends to grow out of another. All the while technology advances, social organisation changes and while some conflicts and contradictions are resolved so new ones emerge. For Marxists only when we have a mode of production which has resolved all the substantive of conflicts and contradictions will we see stability and widespread human happiness.

[Comrade #138672]

This is a pretty good explanation too.

Frederick Engels - Historical Materialism (http://marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch03.htm)

[Geiseric]

Read the Transitional Program by Trotsky, it's the political document that really got me interested in scientific marxism.

[ckaihatsu]

[1] History, Macro-Micro -- Precision

http://s6.postimage.org/zbpxjshkd/1_History_Macro_Micro_Precision.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/zbpxjshkd/)

[Ocean Seal]

So, I have been left-leaning/a leftist for about two years now (sounds like an AA introduction, I know) and I have always been able to understand and comprehend the basic principles of socialism (i.e. different economic models etc.), and the whole time I have been interested in delving deeper into it. I only recently got around to it, and I have a hard time understanding. I can understand the framework of some of the ideas (one of the ones I looked at and tried to understand was historical materialism), but I do not truly "get" them.

The specific topic that I looked into, was historical materialism, as it seemed to be at the end of a long chain of topics, that I should understand before I delve into any of the others. Can someone give a simple explanation of historical materialism, and perhaps point me in the right direction as to where I should go next?

I am much like Huey Newton, in that I was completely uninterested in anything that had anything to do with anything theoretical in nature. Socialism opened that door for me (well, that and punk rawk).

So, anyone got any tips for a prole with aspirations in the world of political theory?

Honestly, I would just spend time on this forum, and challenge those who are not clear in explaining themselves to do a better job of it. You can also PM some of the more knowledgeable members on this site. Try keeping a notebook for things that you read, and writing down questions and so on. It'll help you learn but it requires discipline.

[blake 3:17]

So, anyone got any tips for a prole with aspirations in the world of political theory?

What issues are primarily interested in? I'm into theory and philosophy, but have learnt a great from more straight forward historical writing that is informed by theory.

I've learnt a lot from radical intellectuals, who informed by theory and philosophy, write on historical and/or concrete issues. Michael Lowy, Cornel West, Angela Davis, Mike Davis are just a few who come to mind.

You might want to try some articles from Monthly Review http://monthlyreview.org/ their online zine http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/ and Solidarity's Against The Current http://www.solidarity-us.org/atc

They tend to be pretty thorough, well informed, mostly by people with strong theoretical backgrounds, either from the struggle or the universities or both.


Honestly, I would just spend time on this forum, and challenge those who are not clear in explaining themselves to do a better job of it. You can also PM some of the more knowledgeable members on this site. Try keeping a notebook for things that you read, and writing down questions and so on. It'll help you learn but it requires discipline.

Excellent suggestion!

[Red Commissar]

If you are interested in political theory, it helps to not only read up on Marxism or what ever your interest is, but be aware of other political positions. Even if it pains you, it helps to know why liberals, conservatives, libertarians, etc. believe what they believe and prepare for any shit they throw at you.

Take it slow. Don't rush into reading a stack of theory because you're bound to lose interest in it. Read some selections online, if you are interested in pursuing it you can find a full copy in print somewhere.

This site is useful too. Just reading threads can help you become more aware of things, even if you look beyond the more dense stuff or sectarian feuds. I've learned a great deal from my time on this forum so far, it really helped to clarify my views to a more concretely socialist one, as opposed to regulating capitalism. Don't be afraid to ask about these things when you come across them like you've done with Historical Materialism.