Harold Laski Criticism
Harold J. Laski (1893-1950) was an influential English political theorist known for his left-wing political ideas and extensive body of work. His writings, spanning over two dozen books, gained significant traction among students and intellectuals in Britain, the United States, and eventually in Asia and Africa. Laski's appeal lay in his ability to offer a version of Marxism that appeared more humane than the Soviet model, attracting a devoted following, particularly among the youth and academics. Despite his popularity, Laski's ideas sparked controversy, largely due to his outspoken nature and his affiliation with the British Labour Party.
Born to Jewish parents in Manchester's prosperous cotton industry, Laski broke traditional norms by marrying outside his faith and pursued an academic career despite health-related military rejection during World War I. He taught at McGill and Harvard universities before taking a long-term position at the London School of Economics, maintaining connections with prominent Americans such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. His pivotal work, A Grammar of Politics, reflects his early commitment to individual rights against state power, as noted by J. S. MacKenzie.
Laski's intellectual journey saw a shift from libertarianism to a more totalitarian perspective during the 1930s, as evidenced by his growing interest in Soviet Communism during the Great Depression, a shift critically examined by Carroll Hawkins and Hans J. Morgenthau. His works such as The Foundations of Sovereignty advocate for a pluralistic state over a unified, sovereign state, emphasizing the importance of individual institutions, a critique explored in Political Metaphysic. Despite his shift in political beliefs, Laski consistently supported democratic socialism tailored to the British and American contexts.
Although his influence waned after his death in 1950, Laski's legacy continues to be the subject of scholarly interest, such as in Laski's Legacy, which evaluates his enduring impact on political thought.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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Political Metaphysic
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In the following essay, Beard reviews Laski's The Foundations of Sovereignty and Other Essays, discussing the eight essays included and their common thesis that the unified and sovereign state is morally inadequate and administratively inefficient, advocating for a pluralistic state instead.
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The Pragmatic Politics of Mr. H. J. Laski
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In the following essay, Elliott evaluates theories of the state and government in Laski's early writings.
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Harold J. Laski: A Grammar of Politics
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In the following essay, MacKenzie reviews Laski's A Grammar of Politics, noting that while the title may be misleading, the book is largely occupied with the exposition of a definite political programme, which may be more interesting than a purely theoretical discussion.
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Mr. Laski Proceeds
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In the following essay, Niebuhr reviews Laski's The State in Theory and Practice, noting that no contemporary political scientist has analyzed the problems of sovereignty and the state with greater clarity and precision. He praises Laski for refuting the metaphysical theory of the state as held by Hegel and Bosanquet and elaborating his theory in more consistently Marxian terms.
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Normative, Descriptive, and Ideological Elements in the Writings of Laski
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In the following essay, Zerby distinguishes between Laski's statements about existing political conditions, and his views of the ideal society.
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A review of The American Democracy
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In the following essay, Wright reviews The American Democracy.
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Harold J. Laski: A Preliminary Analysis
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In the following essay, Hawkins takes a critical look at Laski's Marxism, and the ways this ideology affected his interpretation of the world.
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Professor Laski and Political Science
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In the following essay, Soltau examines the foundations of Laski's political thinking, and the applications of his philosophy to various realms of political life.
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The Holmes-Laski Correspondence
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In the following essay, originally published in 1953, Wilson offers an overview of the correspondence between Laski and Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
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Harold Laski
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In the following essay, originally published in 1953, Carr profiles Laski's correspondence with Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
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The Nature of the State and Political Power
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In the following excerpt, Deane explores Laski's changing views on the state and the legitimacy of its political power.
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The Corruption of Liberal Thought: Harold Laski
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In the following excerpt, Morgenthau takes a critical look at Laski's shift from liberalism to socialism.
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Laski Redivivus
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In the following essay, Peretz evaluates Laski's relevance to America in the 1960s.
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The Jewishness and Zionism of Harold Laski
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In the following essay, Gorni discusses Laski's attitude toward his own Jewishness, and toward the cause of Zionism.
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Laski and British Socialism
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In the following essay, Greenleaf examines the development of Laski's socialist ideas.
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Harold J. Laski: The American Experience
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In the following essay, Ekirch assesses Laski's impact on American politics, in part through his relations with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and other prominent Americans.
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Laski, Labour & Moscow
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In the following essay, Hunt offers a critical look at Laski's pro-Soviet writings, particularly an essay in The Danger of Being a Gentleman.
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Laski's Legacy
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In the following excerpt, Kramnick and Sheerman recount events that occurred in the decades following Laski's death and evaluate his overall influence.
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Reputations: Harold Laski Today
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In the following essay, Newman offers a late twentieth-century analysis of Laski's ideas and works.
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Political Metaphysic
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- Further Reading