by J. V. Stalin (Author)
Marxism and the National Question is a theoretical work on nationality and Marxism written by Joseph Stalin (1878–1953), the Georgian-born Bolshevik revolutionary who later became the leader of the Soviet Union. Originally a seminary student who became active in the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, Stalin wrote this essay in January 1913 while in exile in Vienna, at the encouragement of Vladimir Lenin. It first appeared in the Bolshevik journal Prosveshcheniye (Enlightenment) in 1913 and was later reprinted as a pamphlet.
The book defines the concept of a nation as “a historically constituted, stable community of people, formed on the basis of a common language, territory, economic life, and psychological make-up manifested in a common culture.” It critiques various contemporary socialist approaches to the national question, particularly “cultural-national autonomy,” and argues against forms of nationalism within the workers’ movement, including positions held by the Jewish Bund. Stalin examines the national movement, the right of nations to self-determination, and how the Social Democratic Party should address national issues within a multi-ethnic empire.
A primary source and influential early theoretical text by Stalin, Marxism and the National Question offers direct insight into Bolshevik thinking on nationality, self-determination, and internationalism for readers interested in Marxist theory, early 20th-century socialism, and the development of Soviet nationalities policy.
Number of Pages: 66
Dimensions: 0.14 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN
Publication Date: February 06, 2015