Marcel Liebman
Encyclopedia
Marcel Liebman was a Belgian
Marxist historian of political sociology and theory, active at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
and Vrije Universiteit Brussel
.
and of communism
, he published a number of well known essays, notably on the Russian Revolution, Leninism
and the history of the labour movement in Belgium. He was also an early initiator of Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. His intellectual methodology was engaged, critical and rigorous.
On July 9, 1943, Marcel's older brother, Henri, was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Malines. Several weeks later, on July 31, he was transported to Auschwitz with 1,555 other deportees where he was in all probability sent to the gas chambers upon arrival as he had not yet turned 16 years of age. Henri was born October 15, 1927 in Brussels and died in August 1943. (Of the 1,556 deportees sent to Auschwitz on July 31, 1943, only 40 returned after the camps were liberated.)
From 1962 to 1967, he was editor of the weekly journal La Gauche (The Left) and in 1968 founded the journal Mai (May) which existed until 1973.
In 1976, he participated in the creation of the Association Belgo-Palestinienne, with Naïm Khader and Pierre Galand, where he was General-Secretary.
Riton Liebman, his son, is a comedian, author and director. Riton's actual name is Henri, named after Marcel's lost brother.
A foundation under the directorship Mateo Alaluf was created at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
upon Marcel Liebman's death in 1986. In December 2005, the foundation was converted into the Marcel Liebman Institute. This Institute aims to contribute to socialist thought and the study of the left, as well as a critical reflection on the practices of social movements.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Marxist historian of political sociology and theory, active at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
and Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has two campuses referred to as Etterbeek and Jette.The university's name is sometimes abbreviated by "VUB" or translated to "Free University of Brussels"...
.
Biography
An historian of socialismSocialism
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,...
and of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, he published a number of well known essays, notably on the Russian Revolution, Leninism
Leninism
In Marxist philosophy, Leninism is the body of political theory for the democratic organisation of a revolutionary vanguard party, and the achievement of a direct-democracy dictatorship of the proletariat, as political prelude to the establishment of socialism...
and the history of the labour movement in Belgium. He was also an early initiator of Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. His intellectual methodology was engaged, critical and rigorous.
On July 9, 1943, Marcel's older brother, Henri, was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Malines. Several weeks later, on July 31, he was transported to Auschwitz with 1,555 other deportees where he was in all probability sent to the gas chambers upon arrival as he had not yet turned 16 years of age. Henri was born October 15, 1927 in Brussels and died in August 1943. (Of the 1,556 deportees sent to Auschwitz on July 31, 1943, only 40 returned after the camps were liberated.)
From 1962 to 1967, he was editor of the weekly journal La Gauche (The Left) and in 1968 founded the journal Mai (May) which existed until 1973.
In 1976, he participated in the creation of the Association Belgo-Palestinienne, with Naïm Khader and Pierre Galand, where he was General-Secretary.
Riton Liebman, his son, is a comedian, author and director. Riton's actual name is Henri, named after Marcel's lost brother.
A foundation under the directorship Mateo Alaluf was created at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
upon Marcel Liebman's death in 1986. In December 2005, the foundation was converted into the Marcel Liebman Institute. This Institute aims to contribute to socialist thought and the study of the left, as well as a critical reflection on the practices of social movements.
Books
- "Introduction" in Isaac Deutscher, Russia After Stalin (Jonathan Cape, London, 1969).
- The Russian Revolution (Vintage Books, 1972).
- Leninism Under Lenin (Merlin Press, 1973).
- Born Jewish: A Choldhood in Occupied Europe (Verso BooksVerso BooksVerso Books is a publishing house based in London and New York City, founded in 1970 by the staff of New Left Review. The company claims "global sales approaching $3 million per year and over 350 titles in print," possibly making it "the largest radical publisher in the English-language...
, 2005)
Essays
- "The Webbs and the New Civilisation," Survey, n° 41 (April 1962).
- "Communication on ‘Survey’ (letter)," New Left ReviewNew Left ReviewNew 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...
, n° 18 (January-February 1963). - "1914: The Great Schism," Socialist RegisterSocialist RegisterSocialist Register is an annual journal. It was founded in 1964 by Ralph Miliband and John Saville. They had criticisms of the New Left Review after Perry Anderson assumed leadership of the NLR. Miliband and Saville sought to bring about a journal in the orientation of The New Reasoner....
, Vol. 1 (1964). - "The Crisis of Belgian Social Democracy," Socialist Register, Vol. 3 (1966).
- "Israel, Palestine and Zionism," Socialist Register, Vol. 7 (1970).
- "Lenin in 1905: A Revolution that Shook a Doctrine," in Lenin Today: Eight Essays on the Hundredth Anniversary of Lenin’s Death, ed. by P. M. SweezyPaul SweezyPaul Marlor Sweezy was a Marxist economist, political activist, publisher, and founding editor of the long-running magazine Monthly Review...
& Harry MagdoffHarry MagdoffHenry Samuel Magdoff , was a prominent American socialist commentator. He held several administrative positions in government during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt and later became co-editor of the Marxist publication, Monthly Review.-Early years:A child of poor Russian-Jewish immigrants,...
(New York: Monthly Review Press, 1970). - "Isaac Deutscher as Historian of the Russian Revolution," in Isaac Deutscher: The Man and His Work, edit. by David HorowitzDavid HorowitzDavid Joel Horowitz is an American conservative writer and policy advocate. Horowitz was raised by parents who were both members of the American Communist Party. Between 1956 and 1975, Horowitz was an outspoken adherent of the New Left before rejecting Marxism completely...
(London: Macdonald, 1971). - "Bukharinism, Revolution and Social Development," Socialist Register, Vol. 12 (1975).
- "Reflections on Anti-Communism" (with Ralph Miliband), Socialist Register (1984) and Monthly Review, Vol. 37 (July 1985).
- "Preface" (with Ralph MilibandRalph MilibandRalph Miliband , born Adolphe Miliband, was a Belgian-born British sociologist known as a prominent Marxist thinker...
, John SavilleJohn SavilleJohn Saville was a Greek-British Marxist historian, long associated with Hull University. He was one of the most influential writers on British Labour History in the second half of the twentieth century.- Life and career :...
, Marcel Liebman and Leo PanitchLeo PanitchLeo Panitch is a Distinguished Research Professor, renowned political economist, Marxist theorist and editor of the Socialist Register. He received a B.A. from the University of Manitoba in 1967 and a M.Sc. and PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1968 and 1974,...
), Socialist Register, Vol. 22 (Social Democracy and After) (1985-1986). - "Reformism Yesterday and Social Democracy Today," Socialist Register, Vol. 22 (1985-1986)
- "Beyond Social Democracy" (with Ralph Miliband), Socialist Register, Vol. 22 (1985-1986)
Articles
- "Trotsky assassiné," La Gauche (August 1965).
- "Lenin in 1905. A revolution that shook a doctrine," Monthly Review (1970).