Border-Marxisms and Historical Materialism: Untimely Encounters

This book explores the diverse traditions of non-Western Marxisms, rejecting the idea of a "pure" Marxism and acknowledging the residual force of certain elements while challenging the conceptual lens of Western Marxism. It emphasizes the importance of rendering the experience of the Global South legible and invites a re-examination of "untimely encounters" between pre-capitalist and capitalist social relations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 263 pages
Publication date: 10 May 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book delves into the rich tapestry of non-Western Marxisms, unfolding across the Global South. It stands in opposition to demands for a "pure" Marxism, seeking to understand these diverse traditions in their unique contexts. The author perceives Marxism as a conceptual "field," akin to electromagnetic or gravitational fields, where bodies and objects exert influence on each other without necessarily coming into direct contact. Similarly, within the realm of Marxism, individuals exhibit specific behaviors and employ languages and concepts with their distinct nuances and accents. While rejecting the notion of Marxism as inherently European and fully formed, which would be corrupted by contact with alien contexts, Nigam simultaneously acknowledges the lingering impact of certain elements of the theory and the gravitational pull exerted by authoritative figures on the evolution of Marxism in non-Western contexts. He posits that since a significant portion of Marxism's journey unfolded in the Global South, it is crucial to render this experience legible by setting aside the conceptual lens of Western Marxism, which often misreads such experiences. Ultimately, the book invites a fruitful and challenging re-examination of a multitude of phenomena arising from the contemporaneous co-existence of pre-capitalist and capitalist social relations, which has been a defining feature of the majority of the world. The author refers to these "untimely encounters" as a central theme of the work.

Weight: 498g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031228940
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023