by Slavoj Žižek
One hundred years after the
Russian Revolution, Žižek shows why Lenin’s thought is still important today
Lenin’s originality and
importance as a revolutionary leader is most often associated with the seizure
of power in 1917.
But, Žižek argues in this new study and collection of
original texts, Lenin’s true greatness can be better grasped in the very last
couple of years of his political life.
Russia had survived foreign invasion,
embargo and a terrifying civil war, as well as internal revolts such as at
Kronstadt in 1921.
But the new state was exhausted, isolated and disorientated
in the face of the world revolution that seemed to be receding.
New paths had
to be sought, almost from scratch, for the Soviet state to survive and imagine
some alternative route to the future.
With his characteristic brio and
provocative insight, Žižek suggests that Lenin’s courage as a thinker can be
found in his willingness to face this reality of retreat lucidly and frontally.
No comments:
Post a Comment