Rosa Luxemburg: Writings and Reflections

An advocate of radical democracy and individual responsibility, Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) remains the most eminent representative of the libertarian socialist tradition. A re-evaluation and renewal within the Left has allowed the ideas of Luxemburg to assume greater vitality and relevance today than ever before. This volume provides an essential representative sampling of Luxemburg’s writings that have generally not been among those commonly anthologised. That she had a powerful impact on every generation of the 20th century is documented in the accompanying essays, which include scholarly reflections, comradely arguments, and even a loving reminiscence. Paul Le Blanc, who has been active in labour and social movements for many years, explains that the socialism that animated Luxemburg as a thinker and revolutionary activist involved a vision of society in which our economic resources would be socially owned, democratically controlled, and utilised for the benefit of all people. Luxemburg was convinced this goal could only be realised through the struggles of the working-class majority. The goals Luxemburg sought-popular sovereignty, rule by the people, democracy-were lost in the decades following her 1919 martyrdom.