Michael Harringtons̓ radical liberalism

This is a study of the political thought of Michael Harrington. Harrington may be the most important figure in the post-world War II American Left. He succeeded Norman Thomas, not only as the head of the Socialist Party of America, but also as the spiritual leader of American radicalism. But he soon left the Party and divorced himself from traditional socialism. Since the early seventies he has come under the influence of European neoMarxism and has developed his own unique vision of socialism.

This dissertation analyzes Harrington's special conception of Marxism, what he called "spiritual materialism." It also examines Harrington's general approach to the theory and practice of social ism, his assault upon what he called the "anti-socialist social isms" of the past, and his quest for a more humanistic and demo cratic alternative. His reinterpretation of Marx and alternative approach to socialism place him in the neo-Marxist school of political thought. The overall purpose of his work in this field has been to further the cause of democracy in the economics of post-industrial societies.

The theoretical foundation of Harrington's thought comes, not from the standard ideological categories of the American Left, but from the integration of neo-Marxian ideas and America's democratic traditions. In this context, he is neither an orthodox Marxist nor New Deal-style liberal , but a radical liberal who has attempted to push every liberal cause in the direction of humanist socialism by integrating a new Marxism with today's American liberalism.

Michael Harrington is not a Marxist socialist in the orthodox sense, but a humanist and genuine democrat who began to seek the roots of democracy in Marxism and the democratic traditions of America for the twenty-first century's vision of American society. The average American may not be familiar with Harrington's politi cal thought, but he cannot be overlooked in a time when an ideological alternative to New Deal-style liberalism is so desperately needed.