BROADLY speaking, all the elements in Marx's philosophy which are derived from Hegel are unscientific, in the sense that there is no reason whatever to suppose them true. (Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, George Allen and Unwin, London, 1961 edition, P.754), Basic Marxist writings by Marx, Engels and Lenin, which expound what contemporary specialists refer to as “‘orthodox Marxist theory”, in fact comprise not one theory but several, which present or attempt to present, a comprehensive and integrated system of philosophical, economic and socio-political views. This monolithic world outlook is what, in the final analysis, gives Marxist theory its totalitarian nature. Such an interconnection is the direct outcome of Hegel's dialectics, which reached Karl Marx by way of the German philosopher Ludwing Feuerbach, leader of the left-wing Young Hegelians who turned away from Hegel to form the school of dialectical materialism. This interconnection between all the aspects of Marxist ideology not only gave Marxist intellectuals their totalitarian view, it is also the reason behind the present crisis of Marxism. A large part of the world began to apply a system entirely derived from this totalitarian and many-faceted ideology, which deals not only with the economic aspect of life but with all other aspects as well, soon after the Bolsheviks came to power in Russia some sixty years ago. Practical application proved that some of the fundamental and major aspects of orthodox Marxist theory did not follow the course they were theoretically supposed to. The failure of socialist experiences to fulfil many expectations at all levels, along with other reasons to be mentioned further led to the emergence of what has come to be known as Euro-communism. This movement, which started within the communist parties of Western Europe, then moved on to other communist parties in various countries around the world, rejected a number of orthodox Marxist premises and moved away from what had hitherto been the main objective of all communist parties, namely, to follow the Soviet model of building socialism. Some Marxists are desperately trying to interpret the trend as being a natural evolution of the theory, as adjustments of nonessential aspects of Marxist thought, imposed by reality and experience in different parts of the world. Is it, however, really so? In fact, the adjustments were not limited to secondary concepts but touched on the very essence of Marxist thought. The theories challenged by the Euro-communists are an integral part of the logical continuum of Marxist thought: a change in any of these theories necessarily calls into question the validity of those on which it is predicated as well as those for which it serves as a basis. The collapse of those fundamental premises of Marxist ideology caused cracks in the very foundations of the theory and signalled the beginning of its end. Like many other positivist theories in man's history, it would eventually end up on history's shelves and in the museum of ideas, having affected men's lives here and there, without being, in any way, the definitive, comprehensive and exclusive theory for human life! Orthodox Marxist ideas have been proved false both empirically and through critical analysis. The failure of these ideas in application led communist movements in several countries to abandon them, rejecting tenets which for orthodox or traditional Marxists are pillars on which the entire theory rests. This position constitutes a break in the totality of the ideology, whose exponents have always considered a “package deal”, as it were, to be adopted or rejected in toto. Events and experience have proved that history does not accept a positivist ideology in its entirety: for those segments of humanity who apply such an ideology, the experience does not last for more than a few years, almost a speck in the archives of man's history. One of the first signs of its fall was the emergence of Euro communism, which is diametrically opposed to the Marxist theory as expounded by the traditional Marxists, headed by Marx, Engels and Lenin. Communist parties in industrially developed democratic countries have taken several steps towards moderation and, at long last, separation from the orthodox Marxist theory. The French youth who launched the 1968 student revolution in France saw their leaders turn away from Marxism. These leaders had been raised under the wing of dialectical materialist thought. particularly Marxism. After 1968, they gradually distanced themselves from Marxist thought, having acquired some experience and having come to intellectual maturity. Less than one decade after the May 1968 movement, they came to form the anti-Marxist current dubbed by European intellectuals the “New Philosophers”. Even though the New Philosophers do not, in fact, represent one single trend but several, they all agree that a totalitarian theory which presents a world view encompassing all phenomena and all aspects of life, of which Marxism is the most striking example, must be rejected. Their rejection is based on a profound knowledge of Marxism, since it is within its fold that they were formed. The most renowned of the New Philosophers are Bernard Henri Levi, author of Barabarity with a Human Face, Andre' Glucksman, author of The Cook and the Cannibals and The Masters of Thought in which he criticises the major German philosophers, and Jean Marie Benoit, author of Marx is Dead. The fame of these New Philosophers spread widely in French cultural circles and beyond. The Italian Communist Party, one of the most active communist parties in Europe and in all non-communist countries, also announced its rejection of some fundamental concepts of Marxism-Leninism. In fact, Lucio Lombardo, one of the outstanding intellectuals and theoreticians of the IPC, openly urged his party totally to abandon its support for Marxism Leninism. In an interview in La Stampa, he says: “The term ‘Marxism-Leninism' disappeared naturally from the Party's lexicon without being officially banned; the same is true of the term ‘dictatorship of the proletariat'.”
