Berlin, Moscow and Bombay: The Marxism that India Inherited
Author(s)
Sherlock, Stephen
Abstract
Since the 1920’s, Marxism has played an influential role in Indian political thinking. Specifically, Soviet Marxism with its emphasis on nations (not classes) as the leading historical actors has been used to justify authoritarian government. The dominance of Soviet Marxism had a critical effect on the political direction of the Indian Left, causing it at most periods to be predominantly nationalist and in favor of “socialism in one country.” The Soviet-inspired idea of state-centered developmentalism had a broad appeal to Indian politicians after 1947, including Congress Party members, who favored industrialization and national economic sovereignty. Since the collapse of the USSR, however, the old ideology of Soviet Marxism stands totally discredited.
