Norman Geras’s Political Thought from Marxism to Human Rights

Description

This book provides a critical account of the main controversies involving Norman Geras, one of the key modern political thinkers. It moves from his youthful Trotskyism on to his book on Rosa Luxemburg, then his classic account of Marx and human nature, and his highly regarded discussion of Marx and justice. Following this, Geras tried to elaborate a Marxist theory of justice, which involved taking on-board aspects of liberalism. Next he attacked the post modernism of Laclau and Mouffe and criticised Rorty’s pragmatism, and then elaborated a contract of mutual indifference from a detailed study of the Holocaust. Lastly he wrote a book on human rights and humanitarian intervention, defending the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Cowling varies from exposition and admiration, to ideas about how Geras’s work should be interpreted, to criticism of his Trotskyism and of his support for the invasion of Iraq. The book will appeal to readers interested in Norman Geras and Marxism in particular, and social and political theory in general. Front Matter ....Pages i-x Introduction (Mark Cowling)....Pages 1-7 The Legacy of Rosa Luxemburg (Mark Cowling)....Pages 9-22 Geras and Trotskyism (Mark Cowling)....Pages 23-57 Marx and Human Nature (Mark Cowling)....Pages 59-76 Geras and Althusser (Mark Cowling)....Pages 77-84 Marx and Justice (Mark Cowling)....Pages 85-93 Marxism, Socialism and Morality (Mark Cowling)....Pages 95-106 Geras and Postmodernism 1: Laclau and Mouffe (Mark Cowling)....Pages 107-122 Geras and Postmodernism 2: Richard Rorty (Mark Cowling)....Pages 123-137 The Enlightenment and Modernity (Mark Cowling)....Pages 139-142 The Contract of Mutual Indifference (Mark Cowling)....Pages 143-173 Crimes Against Humanity (Mark Cowling)....Pages 175-195 Conclusion (Mark Cowling)....Pages 197-201 Back Matter ....Pages 203-211