Women in dark times: Rosa Luxemburg and Hannah Arendt

Abstract

In spite of Hannah Arendt's critique of Marxism, she had a very dose proximity of thought with the Marxist Rosa Luxemburg. The author argues that it seems as Arendt opens up for an out-definition of Luxemburg from Marxism, rather than admitting that Luxemburg's concept of political action and revolutionary view constitute important anti-totalitarian elements within the Marxist tradition itself, elements which Arendt in her turn seems to be strongly influenced by in her own concept of political action and her view on revolution. Arendt's critique of Karl Marx leads her on a path away from Marxism, but at the same time Arendt's dose proximity of thought with the Marxist Rosa Luxemburg in turn brings her closer to the Marxist tradition again.