Marxism Reading Group: Marxism & Imperialism

The late 1800s represented a perfect storm: the emergence of the second industrial revolution and the high age of modern imperialism. As technological innovation led to a massive groundswell in industry, the European powers set forth on an unrelenting project of conquest and domination across the globe.

Marxists presented some of the most powerful critiques of imperialism and led revolutionary projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In the first of two imperialism sessions, we will look at Lenin's pathbreaking analysis of imperialism and read David Harvey to consider whether we still live in the imperial age.

Readings:
V.I. Lenin, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism
David Harvey, The New Imperialism

The Marxism Reading Group meets regularly to discuss the writings of Marx and Engels as well as writings from the broader tradition of Marxist political struggle across the globe. Past readings have come from figures such as Lenin, Angela Davis, Franz Fanon, Louis Althusser, Rosa Luxemburg, Ellen Meiksins Wood, and Antonio Gramsci. Regardless of the topic, the goal of the group is to encourage education, discussion, and critical thinking about the history of Marxism and its place in contemporary politics.