Evolutionary Socialism

This is a 1961 English translation of the classic 1899 work by Edward Bernstein, leader of right wing of famous Second International of Working Men's Associations. This work sought to revise Marxism and suggest that revolution was not necessary for a Workers' Party to come to power in the governments of the world--they could be elected to office. Thus the title of the book--evolutionary socialism as opposed to revolutionary socialism. This became the predominant ideology of the Second International and was roundly condemned as heresy by Kaul Kautsky, Rosa Luxembourg and Leon Trotsky among others and resulted in a breaking away of members from the Second International to form the so-called 2-1/2 International. Later following the Russian Revolution, the Third International was formed which once again espoused the requirement of revolution to bring the workers' parties to power. This work then stands as a marker for a special time in European History. It adds much to the understanding of Europue during that time.