Bill Warren (British Communist)
Encyclopedia
Bill Warren was a British Communist, originally a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain
and later a contributor to New Left Review
. In his last years he was a member of the British and Irish Communist Organisation
.
He is best remembered as the author of Imperialism: Pioneer of Capitalism. This unconventional Marxist analysis was published posthumously in 1980 and is still being debated.
He rejected the argument of Lenin's Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism
, that capitalist development outside of Europe had ceased to be possible. He considered that he was restoring the original view of Marx
and Engels
, particularly in regard to the results of Britain's rule in India: namely that imperialism
plays a progressive role in fostering the spread of capitalism
worldwide, which is a prerequisite for socialism
.
Some commentators have likened Warren's ideas on capitalism to other thinkers,such as
the Revolutionary Communist Party and
Nigel Harris
.
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
and later a contributor to New Left Review
New Left Review
New Left Review is a 160-page journal, published every two months from London, devoted to world politics, economy and culture. Often compared to the French-language Les Temps modernes, it is associated with Verso Books , and regularly features the essays of authorities on contemporary social...
. In his last years he was a member of the British and Irish Communist Organisation
British and Irish Communist Organisation
The British and Irish Communist Organisation was a small but highly influential group based in London, Belfast, Cork, and Dublin. Its leader was Brendan Clifford. The group produced a great number of pamphlets, and many regular publications including, The Irish Communist and Workers Weekly in...
.
He is best remembered as the author of Imperialism: Pioneer of Capitalism. This unconventional Marxist analysis was published posthumously in 1980 and is still being debated.
He rejected the argument of Lenin's Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism
Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism
Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism , by Lenin, describes the function of financial capital in generating profits from imperial colonialism, as the final stage of capitalist development to ensure greater profits...
, that capitalist development outside of Europe had ceased to be possible. He considered that he was restoring the original view of Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
and Engels
Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels was a German industrialist, social scientist, author, political theorist, philosopher, and father of Marxist theory, alongside Karl Marx. In 1845 he published The Condition of the Working Class in England, based on personal observations and research...
, particularly in regard to the results of Britain's rule in India: namely that imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
plays a progressive role in fostering the spread of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
worldwide, which is a prerequisite for socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
.
Some commentators have likened Warren's ideas on capitalism to other thinkers,such as
the Revolutionary Communist Party and
Nigel Harris
Nigel Harris (economist)
Nigel Harris is a British economist specializing in the economics of metropolitan areas. He is Professor Emeritus of the Economics of the City at University College London. He is also a senior policy consultant to the think tank, the European Policy Centre, in Brussels, on the subject of...
.