Struggle, Consciousness and Politics: Review Article. The Retreat From Class: A New True’ Socialism, by Ellen Meiksins Wood

This review article engages with Ellen Meiksins Wood's critique of contemporary Marxist revisionism as presented in her book 'The Retreat From Class.' It underscores the defense of materialism against idealistic trends that downplay the proletariat's role in social change, highlighting Wood's argument that traditional class struggle is essential to socialist movements. The article critiques the historical context of class struggle and the dynamics of political consciousness as vital to understanding the retreat from orthodox Marxism, emphasizing the need for empirical analysis in defending Marxist principles.