The Democratic Theory of the Early Marx

What is it about?

This article provides a new analysis of the early Marx's democratic theory, in connection with his early theory of alienation. Against most of the literature, I argue that Marx had a properly developed theory of alienation prior to his famous Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844; that this theory is not centred solely on a critique of the modern state, or Hegel’s conception thereof; that it consists in suppressing a human species-essence for participation in collective deliberation and decision-making via people’s subjection to external power and domination; that it therefore applies widely both to the modern state and the capitalist economy, as well as to feudalism; and that this sheds light on the connections between Marx’s theory of alienation on the one hand, and his early conception of non-alienated society, democracy, on the other.

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Why is it important?

This article is important for the new light it sheds on the early Marx's thought; because it helps to re-consider Marx's place in the history of democratic theory; and because Marx's earliest thoughts on alienation and a democratic society remain important today.