Revitalized Conversations: Marxism’s Resurgence in the 21st Century

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’ Marx-Engels-Gesamtausgabe (MEGA) is the most comprehensive collection of their works. The MEGA edition was initiated by David Rjazanov, who was arrested and executed during Stalin’s regime, before reaching fruition. The second series of the MEGA edition, begun in 1975, aims to provide a complete collection of all works published by Marx and Engels, along with many unpublished manuscripts and letters, all in their original languages, primarily German. This monumental effort has the potential to reshape Marxism in the 21st century. In today’s geopolitical climate, Marxism lends itself to discussions in America around income inequality, labor rights, and economic policy reform

The significance of this historical endeavor is profound, as noted by Marcello Musto in 2009: “What Marx is the new historical and critical edition? A Marx very different from that which many supporters and adversaries have smuggled for a long time. The tortuous process of the dissemination of writings and the absence of a complete edition, as well as the unfinished character of the work, the sometimes scoundrel work of epigones, tendentious readings and multiple non -readings, are the main causes of A great paradox: Karl Marx was the victim of a deep and repeated misunderstanding, and his theories were often overlooked. The granitic profile of the statue which, in so many places in the eastern regimes of Europe, represented it indicating the future with a dogmatic certainty, is today replaced by that of an author who Has unfinished a large part of his writings, to devote himself until his death to subsequent studies which would confirm the validity of his own theses. From the rediscovery of his work emerges the richness of a thought, problematic and polymorphic, as well as the path that remains to be traversed for Marxian research.”

The re-examination of Marx’s works has sparked renewed interest and new interpretations, particularly in the context of climate change and environmental sustainability. Japanese philosopher Kohei Saito, who dedicated his career to studying the MEGA documents, passed away in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. His landmark work, “Hitoshinsei no Shihihon” (##Capital in the Anthropocene”), sold an astonishing 500,000 copies. Saito’s thesis is compelling: the antidote to the ills of capitalism lies, paradoxically, in Marxism. This bold assertion resonates with current debates in the U.S. about climate justice and economic disparities.

Saito’s analysis explores how participative socialism, distinct from the authoritarian communism of the USSR and China, can manage common goods. Instead of focusing solely on increasing production, Saito argues that Marx, in the latter part of his life, emphasized the use value of shared resources, including environmental stewardship. As America confronts the reality of climate change, the interplay between environmental policy and economic structures is increasingly relevant.

In 2020, Saito vociferously criticized the role of the state in environmental regulation, which he saw as ineffective given the impacts of business and factory pollution. Four years later, he moderated his stance by emphasizing “the complementarity between international, national, and local action.” This shift could offer valuable insights for U.S. policymakers grappling with climate change, urban planning, and sustainable infrastructure. Saito believed that climate change is a collective issue that can only be met through citizen engagement willing to make small changes as well as large transitions.

Saito’s work culminated in 2020 with an optimistic quotation from Erica Chenoweth, a professor at Harvard University: “According to Erica Chenoweth’s research, a professor at Harvard University, it is enough that 3.5% of a population engages in a Movement of non -violent demand with conviction for this company in question to experience changes..” This quotation underscores the potential for grassroots movements to drive significant changes, a sentiment that has caught the fire of progressive American activists.

It is critical to distinguish this renaissance in Marxist thought from the far-right European movements. The rebooted Marxism of the Far-Right, announced with fanfare in early 2023 in Madrid, emphasizes nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiments. Saito’s formative views, grounded in meticulous research into the MEGA editon, contrasts sharply with these movements.

The pressing questions remain. As the mainstream’s disenchantment with capitalism grows and sustainability becomes a key issue, how can modern-day Marxism, informed by the MEGA editon, play a significant role in shaping America’s future?
Critical thinkers are finding Marx, represented by “an author who Has unfinished a large part of his writings, to devote himself until his death to subsequent studies which would confirm the validity of his own theses, From the rediscovery of his work emerges the richness of a thought, problematic and polymorphic, as well as the path that remains to be traversed for Marxian research.”
, might represent a significant opportunity for creating real change in society and environmental mitigation.

While the ongoing publication of the MEGA collection — currently in its second series, started in 1975, remains a rare scholarly endeavor. New digital insights could advance broader public awareness and foster participative governance, distinct from the inflexibility of traditional governmental structures. The evolving approaches to Marxism mirror broader societal shifts toward sustainable, equitable, and inclusive societal models.