Marxism in the Age of Imperialism. The Second International

Abstract

This chapter offers a brief analysis of the main views and currents in the Marxism of the Second International in regards to imperialism. Arguing with the commonplace idea that characterizes this period of Marxist thought as mechanic and deterministic, we try to show the wide variety of positions that developed in the different national sections of the Second International on subjects such as the position socialists should adopt towards European colonial expansion and the perils of war stemming from Great Power competition. We trace the development of the debate on imperialism from the initial clashes on particular positions and problems to the development of full-fledged theories that explained imperialism in terms of a particular phase of capitalism. Our main documentary sources are the debates of the Congresses of the Second International and the analyses offered by its German, French and Italian organizations.