State Socialism in Eastern Europe: History, Theory, Anti-capitalist Alternatives

This book explores the interpretation of "actually existing" socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, focusing on state socialism and its theoretical roots in Hungary. It highlights the historical significance of Hungary's 1968 experiment and generates a common point of reference for anti-systemic thinkers and activists to discuss anti-capitalist alternatives.

Format: Hardback
Length: 335 pages
Publication date: 14 August 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive volume brings together a diverse array of scholars to delve into the intricate and multifaceted debate surrounding the interpretation of "actually existing" socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. While the major paradigms, such as totalitarianism, neo-totalitarianism, revisionism, post-revisionism, modernization, and world-system analysis, are well-known in the Western (English-language) literature, the concept of state socialism, with its strong theoretical roots in Hungary (tracing back to the works of György Lukács and István Mészáros), has received less international attention. This book makes a significant contribution to the ongoing discussion about viable alternatives to capitalism by introducing and theoretically elaborating on the concept and practice of state socialism. It highlights the historical significance of Hungary's experiment with the "new economic mechanism" in 1968, serving as a common point of reference for various generations of anti-systemic thinkers, scholars, and activists. By transcending Cold War simplifications and ideological divides, this book fosters a deeper understanding of anti-capitalist alternatives and their relevance to the global left.

Additionally, the chapter "Dance Around a 'Sacred Cow: Womens Night Work and the Gender Politics of the Mass Worker in State-Socialist Hungary and Internationally" is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivatives 4.0 International License via link.springer.com. This chapter offers valuable insights into the gender politics of women's night work in state-socialist Hungary and its international implications.

Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031225031
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023