Different Shades of Red: Socialisms in 20th Century EuropeMarie-Josée Lavallée |
Over the past two decades, the domination of the Right and Far-Right on the political stage has crushed the possibility of social justice, universal equality, freedom, and a sustainable future. But the recent emergence of popular protests—be they at the ballot box or in the streets—signals that the trend can be reversed.
While still weakened by the destruction of communist regimes in Europe, the Western Left mustn't waste time to break this newest wave of capitalist authoritarianism. It must organize swiftly before the repressive, violent, and murderous instruments of capitalism transform Earth into a permanent hellscape. To do this, the Left must rally around a project to build a sustainable society in which equality, freedom, and democracy are more than empty words; the key lies in socialism.
Revitalizing the Left necessitates revisiting its past. Communism and socialism were and are still widely used as defamatory labels for anyone who disagrees with the capitalist system and its enablers. These ideologies were discarded as failures, and were grossly reduced to the post-war welfare state or a despotic parody of Stalinism. Socialism has never been a monolith; it has been composed of a diversity of theories, formations, and practices, many of which have been eclipsed by dominant models.
The essays in Different Shades of Red, which revisit forgotten or overlooked trajectories of socialism, not only contribute to historical knowledge; they can also inspire Left theories and practices today.
2026; 286 pages
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