Marxists Internet Archive: Difference between revisions

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{{Stub}}{{Infobox website|name=Marxists Internet Archive|logo=MIA symbol.png|screenshot=MIA english archive.png|type=Online literature collection, encyclopedia|language_count=80|founding_date=1990|founding_name=''The Marx/Engels Archive''|url=[https://marxists.org/ marxists.org]|espoused_ideology=[[Marxism]]<br>[[Trotskyism]]}}
{{Stub}}{{Infobox website|name=Marxists Internet Archive|logo=MIA symbol.png|screenshot=MIA english archive.png|type=Online literature collection, encyclopedia|language_count=80|founding_date=1990|founding_name=''The Marx/Engels Archive''|url=[https://marxists.org/ marxists.org]|espoused_ideology=[[Marxism]]<br>[[Trotskyism]]}}<!--
The '''Marxists Internet Archive''' (also known as '''MIA''' or '''Marxists.org''') is a non-profit public library run by volunteers which hosts the works of various socialist writers.<ref>[https://www.marxists.org/admin/intro/index.htm Introduction] ''marxists.org''</ref>
 
-->The '''Marxists Internet Archive''' (also known as '''MIA''' or simply '''Marxists.org''') is a [[non-profit]] online archive of [[Marxist]] and [[socialist]] texts. Marxists.org hosts writings from "close to 1,000 authors" in 83 languages,<ref name="mia intro">[https://www.marxists.org/admin/intro/index.htm Introduction] ''Marxists Internet Archive.'' Accessed 23 Sep 2023.</ref> often with explanatory notes and introductions providing historical context for the reader. In addition, the site maintains the '''Marxists Internet Archive Encyclopedia''' ('''MIAE'''), which contains brief entries on topics relevant to [[Marxist philosophy]], [[Marxist economics]], [[historical materialism]], and [[left]]ist history. The MIA claims to have over 100 active volunteers from several dozen countries around the world.<ref name="mia intro" /> In addition to leftist authors, the site also hosts some material which is otherwise relevant to the study of Marxism, including selected works from [[Adam Smith]], [[David Ricardo]], and [[J. M. Keynes]]. The founders of the site were primarily [[Trotskyist]], and the Encyclopedia and other aspects of the site are considered to have a Trotskyist bias.
 
As of April 2014, the Marxists Internet Archive is missing a significant number of rarer Marx and Engels works, primarily letters, due to a copyright notice from the holders of the rights to the ''[[Marx/Engels Collected Works]]''.<ref>[https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/410.htm “File No Longer Available!”], ''Marxists Internet Archive''. Accessed 23 Sep 2023.</ref>
 
== Content ==
The Marxists Internet Archive is most notable for its library and encyclopedia but also hosts other types of resources, including photos, [https://www.marxists.org/encyclopedia/people/album/index.htm portraits], artworks, and images of historical documents.
 
=== Library ===
In addition to annotated reproductions of dozens of works from Marx and Engels, the MIA Library contains works from the most prominent socialist writers of the 20th century, including [[Lenin]], [[Stalin]], [[Trotsky]], [[Mao]], [[Kautsky]], [[Plekhanov]], [[Bukharin]], [[Gramsci]], [[Rosa Luxemburg]], [[Ho Chi Minh]], [[Fidel Castro]], [[Louis Althusser]], [[Kim Il Sung]], [[Kwame Nkrumah]], [[Enver Hoxha]], and hundreds of others in addition to articles from dozens of [[communist]] and [[anarchist]] publications. Many of the most notable works are available in PDF format. However, other sites may be considered better resources for more specific areas or tendencies, such as [[marx2mao.com]], [[bannedthought.net]], or [[The Anarchist Library]].
 
=== Encyclopedia ===
The Marxists Internet Archive Encyclopedia (also known as the Glossary) contains entries on various topics:
* Marxist economic concepts, such as [[alienation]], [[productive forces]], [[exploitation]]
* Political theory, such as [[fascism]], [[liberalism]], the [[state]], [[proletarian democracy]]
* Leftist history, such as the [[October Revolution]]
* Marxist historiography, such as [[slave society]]
* Philosophy, such as [[dialectics]], [[Being]], [[Becoming]], [[structuralism]], [[species being]], [[reification]]
* Biographical and intellectual sketches of various authors and figures
 
The Encyclopedia is cumbersome to use, but it can be searched using the Index or the modified Google search box, both available [https://www.marxists.org/glossary/index.htm here].
 
== History ==


== Criticism ==
== Criticism ==
=== Bias ===
The Marxists Internet Archive's potential use as an educational resource is hampered by the [[Trotskyist]] bias imparted by the site's earliest contributors. The most obvious example is the inclusion of Trotsky's writings on the curated "[https://www.marxists.org/archive/selected-marxists.htm Selected Marxists]" page while omitting authors like [[Stalin]] and [[Mao]].<ref>[https://www.marxists.org/admin/janitor/faq.htm#stalin-mao Frequently Asked Questions.] ''Marxists Internet Archive''. Accessed 23 Sep 2023.</ref> Trotsky's portrait is also featured on many of the front pages for different languages on the site, including Chinese, French, Spanish, and Persian. The site's glossary entry for "[[Stalinism]]" holds the [[USSR]] under Stalin's leadership, and "Stalinism" itself, to be unrepresentative of Marxism, having "uprooted the very foundations of Marxism and [[Leninism]]" {{Failed verification span|and representing a "totalitarian" and "bureaucratic dictatorship."}}<ref>[https://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/s/t.htm#stalinism Glossary of Terms — Stalinism] ''Marxists Internet Archive''. Accessed 23 Sep 2023.</ref><ref group="Note">The MIAE classifies [[Josip Broz Tito]] and [[Mao Zedong]] and others as "Stalinists",{{Cn}} both of whom were known for theoretical disagreements with Stalin.</ref>
==Notes==
<references group="Note" />


=== Trotskyist bias ===
==References==
The Marxists Internet Archive's potential use as an educational resource is hampered by the [[Trotskyism|Trotskyist]] bias of the site's owners. The most obvious example of this bias is the absence of [[Stalin]] and other important writers on the main pages of each of the language sections and on the list of  selected significant Marxist authors, but the inclusion of [[Leon Trotsky|Trotsky]].<ref>[https://www.marxists.org/admin/janitor/faq.htm#stalin-mao Frequently Asked Questions] ''marxists.org''</ref> By the site's own admission, the owners think that the [[USSR]] under Stalin's leadership does not represent Marxism. Their glossary of terms claims that [[Stalinism]]<ref group="Note">A term which they employ incorrectly as a mere epithet, even classifying figures such as [[Josip Broz Tito]], [[Deng Xiaoping]], and [[Mao Zedong]] as "Stalinists."</ref> had uprooted [[Marxism]] and [[Leninism]] and represents a "totalitarian" and "bureaucratic dictatorship."<ref>[https://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/s/t.htm#stalinism Glossary of Terms — Stalinism] ''marxists.org''</ref>
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.marxists.org Front page], including links to several language options
*[https://www.marxists.org Front page], including links to several language options
*[https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/date/index.htm Index of works by Karl Marx]
*[https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/date/index.htm Index of works by Karl Marx]
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
[[category:internet]]
[[category:internet]]
[[category:online left]]
[[category:online left]]
[[category:marxism]]
[[category:internet resources]]
[[category:marxist websites]]
[[Category:Trotskyists]]
[[Category:Trotskyists]]
===Notes===
<references group="Note" />

Revision as of 22:41, 23 September 2023

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Marxists Internet Archive
MIA symbol.png
MIA english archive.png
Type Online literature collection, encyclopedia
Available in 80 languages
Founded
The Marx/Engels Archive

1990
Espoused ideology Marxism
Trotskyism
URL marxists.org

The Marxists Internet Archive (also known as MIA or simply Marxists.org) is a non-profit online archive of Marxist and socialist texts. Marxists.org hosts writings from "close to 1,000 authors" in 83 languages,[1] often with explanatory notes and introductions providing historical context for the reader. In addition, the site maintains the Marxists Internet Archive Encyclopedia (MIAE), which contains brief entries on topics relevant to Marxist philosophy, Marxist economics, historical materialism, and leftist history. The MIA claims to have over 100 active volunteers from several dozen countries around the world.[1] In addition to leftist authors, the site also hosts some material which is otherwise relevant to the study of Marxism, including selected works from Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and J. M. Keynes. The founders of the site were primarily Trotskyist, and the Encyclopedia and other aspects of the site are considered to have a Trotskyist bias.

As of April 2014, the Marxists Internet Archive is missing a significant number of rarer Marx and Engels works, primarily letters, due to a copyright notice from the holders of the rights to the Marx/Engels Collected Works.[2]

Content

The Marxists Internet Archive is most notable for its library and encyclopedia but also hosts other types of resources, including photos, portraits, artworks, and images of historical documents.

Library

In addition to annotated reproductions of dozens of works from Marx and Engels, the MIA Library contains works from the most prominent socialist writers of the 20th century, including Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky, Mao, Kautsky, Plekhanov, Bukharin, Gramsci, Rosa Luxemburg, Ho Chi Minh, Fidel Castro, Louis Althusser, Kim Il Sung, Kwame Nkrumah, Enver Hoxha, and hundreds of others in addition to articles from dozens of communist and anarchist publications. Many of the most notable works are available in PDF format. However, other sites may be considered better resources for more specific areas or tendencies, such as marx2mao.com, bannedthought.net, or The Anarchist Library.

Encyclopedia

The Marxists Internet Archive Encyclopedia (also known as the Glossary) contains entries on various topics:

The Encyclopedia is cumbersome to use, but it can be searched using the Index or the modified Google search box, both available here.

History

Criticism

Bias

The Marxists Internet Archive's potential use as an educational resource is hampered by the Trotskyist bias imparted by the site's earliest contributors. The most obvious example is the inclusion of Trotsky's writings on the curated "Selected Marxists" page while omitting authors like Stalin and Mao.[3] Trotsky's portrait is also featured on many of the front pages for different languages on the site, including Chinese, French, Spanish, and Persian. The site's glossary entry for "Stalinism" holds the USSR under Stalin's leadership, and "Stalinism" itself, to be unrepresentative of Marxism, having "uprooted the very foundations of Marxism and Leninism" and representing a "totalitarian" and "bureaucratic dictatorship."[failed verification][4][Note 1]

Notes

  1. ↑ The MIAE classifies Josip Broz Tito and Mao Zedong and others as "Stalinists",[citation needed] both of whom were known for theoretical disagreements with Stalin.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Introduction Marxists Internet Archive. Accessed 23 Sep 2023.
  2. ↑ “File No Longer Available!”, Marxists Internet Archive. Accessed 23 Sep 2023.
  3. ↑ Frequently Asked Questions. Marxists Internet Archive. Accessed 23 Sep 2023.
  4. ↑ Glossary of Terms — Stalinism Marxists Internet Archive. Accessed 23 Sep 2023.

External links

Retrieved from "https://wiki.leftypol.org/index.php?title=Marxists_Internet_Archive&oldid=15409"