eBook The Communist Horizon (Pocket Communism) download

Useful as an exercise in attempting to understand contemporary society and politics through the prism of a traditional Marxist analysis, and notable for its insistence on a role for the Party. But American Marxism was never as intellectually robust as the European variants. I don't think anyone who has not previously drunk the koolaide is likely to find it persuasive. If you are a believer, it may be. If you are not, there are probably better starting points. For one, try Colin Crouch's Post-Democracy. Or Liquid Modernity, by Zygmunt Bauman.

"The Communist Horizon" by Jodi Dean boldly argues that Communism must guide our struggle to create a better future. Professor Dean is a leading post-Marxist scholar and educator based in Geneva, New York whose thoughtful, passionate and inspirational writing reflects her profound experiences as both an academic and activist. This excellent book will interest those who may be pondering the legacies of the Occupy movement and what might come next.

To begin, Professor Dean believes the Left has been paralyzed for too long by a depressingly negative narrative which posits that Communism must inevitably result in Stalinism, decay and collapse. Indeed, the silly reductionist myth that Communism must be a dire threat to democracy serves those who would have us believe there is no alternative to capitalism. In its place, Professor Dean asserts a positive vision where the Communism Horizon is at once a metaphor representing the possibility of an equitable and sustainable future for all; and the rejection of capitalism as the natural order of things.

Few would disagree that the current situation is grim. Professor Dean believes that the kind of identity politics practiced by the Democratic Party to date has merely succeeded in increasing access to an inherently unjust system and as a practical result, has strengthened capitalism. In fact, the corporate culture of selfish individualism has lately unburdened capital from dealing with labor as a collective force, resulting in rising inequality and declining wages. Therefore, the mass of people who have 'a part in no part' (after Jacques Ranciere) in the decisions that affect their lives must assert its power if we wish to improve our material conditions.

I found Professor Dean's analysis of 'communicative capitalism' to be enlightening. Although information networks hold out the false promise of inclusion to end users, Professor Dean argues that mere participation in the social media/infotainment spectacle does not approximate empowerment. In this light, Professor Dean suggests that the media's symbolic representations of the Occupy movement have been all too eagerly and easily swallowed up by an insatiable corporate communications network, with little concrete result to show for those of us who desire meaningful change.

Fortunately, Professor Dean demonstrates how the rhetoric of Occupy has the merit of being congruent with Communist philosophy. The theme of the 99 percent versus the 1 percent poses the problem of class struggle in an accessible, truthful and persuasive manner. The actualization of the 99 percent as a potent political force (the 'negation of the negation') can allow the expropriated to turn the tables on the expropriators in a manner that Marx himself might have recognized. The bottom line, Professor Dean suggests, is that talking is not enough: collective action is urgently needed.

In my opinion, Professor Dean has succeeded in explaining why Occupy must become a Communist (not anarchist) movement. Organization is critical if we wish to alter the reality of elite privilege, working class enslavement and environmental catastrophe. If we are wise enough to heed Professor Dean, a Party guided by Communist principles can have the strength to put people before profits, wrest power from the hands of the one percent and guide us into a more promising future.

I highly recommend this timely and important book to everyone.

Good product and good service.

gift, didn't read

This is a great book from a very prolific writer and editor. Very interesting perspective on the coming collapse of capitalism, and definitely worth reading. It's also very useful as an overview of communism in general and really sets the record straight.

This was a short but great read. We all need a little optimisim on the Left and this book provides it. Good food for thought.

Disappointing for its tepid treatment of Occupy. Little connection to communism historically, but much to post-New Left, esp. of the Negri/Hardt variant.

This powerful and inspiring manifesto opens the door to communism that the 20th century attempted
to slam shut. Not everyone will agree with Dean's provocative attempt to rehabilitate the party, but
anyone committed to equality will be excited by the new possibilities for radical politics that
arise when we focus our eyes on the communist horizon.