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To reject or not to reject nationalism: debating Marx and Engels’ struggles with nationalism, 1840s–1880s

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2018

Michal Kasprzak
Michal Kasprzak*
Affiliation:
Department of History, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*
*Email: michal.kasprzak@utoronto.ca
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Abstract

The relationship between Marxism and nationalism has been tumultuous. While theoretically attempting to reject nationalism as a transient product of capitalism, Marxism has in practice oftentimes exploited its appeal and utilized its extensive institutional repertoire. To a large extent, the difficult dialogue between the two ideological constellations can be traced back to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels who neglected to leave a definitive statement on the nationality question. The article traces the evolution of Marxism's conceptualization of the nationality question – a slow shift from an outright rejection of nationalism to an acceptance of its progressive features, complexity, varieties and influences. It re-evaluates Marx and Engels’ views on the nationality question, from its outright denial to limited acceptance and application. After identifying factors that shaped their perception of the nationality question, the study offers an analysis of the evolution of these attitudes from the 1840s to the 1860s. The objective is to show how Marx and Engels’ theoretical dogmatism was tainted by their desire for activism. Their views were not inflexible but rather evolved in response to changing circumstances in the mid 19th century.

Keywords

MarxismnationalismKarl Marx and Friedrich Engelshistoriography
Type
Articles
Information
Nationalities Papers , Volume 40 , Issue 4 , July 2012 , pp. 585 - 606
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 Association for the Study of Nationalities 

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