Ludwig Guede Chamberlain
Ludwig Guede Chamberlain (1867-1921) was a socialist writer and agitator, who was a fierce opponent of Marxism in the early 1900s. Chamberlain mentioned that Marxism was like a "hellish plague" which had infected socialism, and which "robbed it of its noble sentiments and undying devotion." Like many critics of Marxism, many claim that the Soviet Union's trajectory proved Ludwig Chamberlain right.
He was a French socialist of German heritage, and was very vocal about the politics of Germany. He once famously wrote, "If there were a German ruler as noble as each claims of himself, this noble man would emigrate to a grandiose folk tale." He also said, of older German socialism, "that the word 'utopian' is borrowed from our enemies to denigrate our genuine socialism, that is truly a corruption of benign socialism." He also says, "what you will decry as 'utopian,' this was the foundation of the early socialism, the socialism that pointed a true way forward from the mess of today, the socialism which strove for a true break with modern society." He also presciently notes, "What folly of capitalism does Marxism not take it upon itself to advocate? Yet very well, we are told that it is socialist after all of that. Yet its first act is to advocate all of the folly and ridiculousness of capitalism, and it shall duly reproduce this when it aims at 'socialism'." Although he was obscure during the mid-1950s, as Russian 'Marxism-Leninism' grew more influential, he was soon revived by some who were in opposition to this take on socialism.
He is often regarded as a 'German nationalist,' however no such sentiment is found in his writings. Perhaps it is an error resulting from his interest in classical German socialism, despite declaring himself a "reluctant Frenchman, when I see what our state has perpetuated."
He was a French socialist of German heritage, and was very vocal about the politics of Germany. He once famously wrote, "If there were a German ruler as noble as each claims of himself, this noble man would emigrate to a grandiose folk tale." He also said, of older German socialism, "that the word 'utopian' is borrowed from our enemies to denigrate our genuine socialism, that is truly a corruption of benign socialism." He also says, "what you will decry as 'utopian,' this was the foundation of the early socialism, the socialism that pointed a true way forward from the mess of today, the socialism which strove for a true break with modern society." He also presciently notes, "What folly of capitalism does Marxism not take it upon itself to advocate? Yet very well, we are told that it is socialist after all of that. Yet its first act is to advocate all of the folly and ridiculousness of capitalism, and it shall duly reproduce this when it aims at 'socialism'." Although he was obscure during the mid-1950s, as Russian 'Marxism-Leninism' grew more influential, he was soon revived by some who were in opposition to this take on socialism.
He is often regarded as a 'German nationalist,' however no such sentiment is found in his writings. Perhaps it is an error resulting from his interest in classical German socialism, despite declaring himself a "reluctant Frenchman, when I see what our state has perpetuated."
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