Moderation and Revolution

Andrea Micocci

In the intellectuality of capitalism there are two alternative ways to conceive of reality: the moderate one, which mediates dialectically, and the revolutionary one, which also comprises ruptures with disappearance. The former conforms to, and helps shape, the metaphysics of capitalism itself. The second is akin to the mode of progressing of nature in general, and forms the basis for materialism. Moderate positions tend to be intolerant because they do not recognize the other, which is constantly compelled to mediate. Revolutionary positions instead, recognizing the other, are tolerant and intrinsically non-violent. In capitalism as we know it liberalism, Marxism and anarchism would potentially be revolutionary. But they have been transformed in moderate modes of thought, similar for instance to nationalism, communitarianism, Christian ideas, fascism, socialism. Thus capitalism has become an intolerant world that seems built to block, by means of mediations, its own historical evolution. The outcome is a fascistic economy and polity.

Lexington Books

Pages: 390 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7391-6718-2 • Hardback • December 2011 • $132.00 • (£85.00)

978-0-7391-6719-9 • eBook • December 2011 • $125.00 • (£85.00)

Subjects: Philosophy / Political, Political Science / Political Economy, Political Science / History & Theory, Political Science / International Relations / General, Political Science / Political Ideologies / General, Political Science / Political Ideologies / Communism, Post- Communism & Socialism

Moderation and Revolution

Hardback

eBook

Summary

In the intellectuality of capitalism there are two alternative ways to conceive of reality: the moderate one, which mediates dialectically, and the revolutionary one, which also comprises ruptures with disappearance. The former conforms to, and helps shape, the metaphysics of capitalism itself. The second is akin to the mode of progressing of nature in general, and forms the basis for materialism. Moderate positions tend to be intolerant because they do not recognize the other, which is constantly compelled to mediate. Revolutionary positions instead, recognizing the other, are tolerant and intrinsically non-violent. In capitalism as we know it liberalism, Marxism and anarchism would potentially be revolutionary. But they have been transformed in moderate modes of thought, similar for instance to nationalism, communitarianism, Christian ideas, fascism, socialism. Thus capitalism has become an intolerant world that seems built to block, by means of mediations, its own historical evolution. The outcome is a fascistic economy and polity.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 390 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7391-6718-2 • Hardback • December 2011 • $132.00 • (£85.00)

978-0-7391-6719-9 • eBook • December 2011 • $125.00 • (£85.00)

Subjects: Philosophy / Political, Political Science / Political Economy, Political Science / History & Theory, Political Science / International Relations / General, Political Science / Political Ideologies / General, Political Science / Political Ideologies / Communism, Post- Communism & Socialism

Author

Andrea Micocci teaches economics at the University of Malta Link Campus, Rome, and International Economic Policies at the Facoltà di Studi Politici e per l'Alta Formazione Europea e Mediterranea Jean Monnet of Seconda Università of Naples, San Leucio (CS), Italy.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Foreword
Chapter 2 Chapter 1. Individual, State, Community
Chapter 3 Chapter 2. Contradiction, Mediation, Opposition
Chapter 4 Chapter 3. Capitalism, Politics and Political Theories
Chapter 5 Chapter 4. The Pretended Variety of Economic Ideas
Chapter 6 Chapter 5. Classical Liberalism
Chapter 7 Chapter 6. Economic Liberalism
Chapter 8 Chapter 7. Utopian Socialisms and Russian Nihilism
Chapter 9 Chapter 8. Marx
Chapter 10 Chapter 9. Marxisms. Leninism and Stalinism, Trotzkysm
Chapter 11 Chapter 10. Anarchism
Chapter 12 Chapter 11. Revisions of Marxism, Fall of the Totalitarian "Socialist" Regimes
Chapter 13 Chapter 12. Democratic Theories, Conservatism
Chapter 14 Chapter 13. Christian Ideas of Social Reform
Chapter 15 Chapter 14. Nationalism, Racism
Chapter 16 Chapter 15. Imperialism, Theories of Underdevelopment
Chapter 17 Chapter 16. Fascisms
Chapter 18 Chapter 17. Communitarianism and Neoliberalism
Chapter 19 Chapter 18. New Ideas or New Movements?
Chapter 20 Chapter 19. Terrorism
Chapter 21 Chapter 20. Moderation against Revolution, Tolerance

Reviews

This is a daring book that one may like or not like, but represents in the clearest way capitalism’s convoluted nature while explaining with extreme clarity the perverse mechanisms of its resilience. The author brilliantly holds the reader’s attention through a journey in the history of ideas to come to the conclusion that moderation is the bond that keeps us socially and culturally tied, whereas revolution means individual emancipation. “Revolution” is the non-violent quest for individual freedom in a materialistic sense and in Micocci’s view has nothing to do with the bureaucratic and totalitarian organization propagandized at the time of the Soviet Union. This book dispels many misconceptions and popularly held beliefs and is recommended to unprejudiced readers.
— Mino Vianello, University of Rome

In this remorseless critique of modern ideologies, Andrea Micocci targets what he calls the metaphysics of capitalism informing them. Up-ending our normal assumptions, he argues that it is the true revolutionaries who champion individuality and toleration against the homogenizing tendencies of capitalism. This is a powerful challenge to the common sense of both the status quo and its conventional critics.

— Alex Callinicos, King's College, London

Explores the socialized intellectual structure behind the main economic, political, and social actions and theories of our times.
— Journal of Economic Literature

Moderation and Revolution

Andrea Micocci

Moderation and Revolution

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