Communism, Fascism, and Democracy

This highly regarded reader, intended for courses in both Philosophy and Political Science departments, remains unsurpassed in the breadth and depth of its coverage and in its exceptionally clear and provocative presentation of the theoretical foundations of communism, fascism, and democracy. Carl Cohen's text allows the theorists to speak for themselves, supplementing their writings with complete and lively introductions for each political ideology, each topic, and each selection. Part One, Communism, presents the development of Marxist thought from the early utopian socialists through the twentieth century. This third edition has been updated to reflect the fall of communism as a functioning political system. Also new to this edition is an expanded account of the theory of dialectical and historical materialism with more from Marx's economic writing - notably the passage from Capital on the "Fetishism of Commodities.". Part Two, Fascism, presents central passages from notable Italian and German fascists not readily accessible elsewhere. In this third edition, Part Two is reorganized to exhibit more clearly the relation between the early theoretical defenses of irrationalism and n