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"Neil Davidson left us with some of the clearest Marxist writing on nationalism that engages with the vast quantity of work published on the subject since the 1980s. His essays draw on a huge range of sources and clarify some of the fundamental concepts we need to make sense of the debate."—Daniel Finn, JacobinPraise for How Revolutionary Were the Bourgeois Revolutions? and Holding Fast to an Image of the Past
“I was frankly pole-axed by this magnificent book. Davidson resets the entire debate on the character of revolutions: bourgeois, democratic, and socialist. He’s sending me, at least, back to the library.”
—Mike Davis, author of Planet of Slums
“This is, quite simply, the finest book of its kind.”
—Tony McKenna, Marx and Philosophy Review of Books
“This is Neil Davidson at his very best. In a sparkling set of essays, Davidson offers a conceptually sophisticated and historically wide-ranging analysis of the work of classical and contemporary political thinkers. . . . In terms of its depth of learning it stands in comparison with Perry Anderson’s Zone of Engagement. An essential read.”
—Satnam Virdee, professor of sociology, University of Glasgow
“Holding Fast to an Image of the Past is illuminating, authoritative, and sometimes very funny. . . . This new collection fruitfully combines wide-ranging erudition with vivid vignettes.”
—Bridget Fowler, emeritus professor of sociology, University of Glasgow“Neil Davidson is probably the most influential socialist writer on the subject of nations and nationalism in Scotland today. His analytical power has made him a force not only in academia, where he has pushed the boundaries of nationalism studies in general and interpretations of Scottish national history in particular, but more importantly in political activism where he has helped to transform the left’s relationship to the national question.” –Scottish Left Review
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Neil Davidson: 1957–2020
Haymarket Books are deeply saddened by the death of Neil Davidson, one of the most important Marxist thinkers of his generation, a true working class intellectual, and a socialist who fought with extraordinary energy for a better world. Here, we gather a selection of tributes.
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Understanding the British Election: An Interview with Neil Davidson
With both the Labour Party and the Conservatives having launched their manifestos in recent days, Britain’s snap general election is gathering momentum. Jeremy Corbyn’s program has been widely described as Labour’s most radical and left-wing for decades; meanwhile, the Tories continue their sharp shift to the right under Theresa May. Added to this, Brexit and renewed calls for Scottish independence mean that the election is taking place in a context of profound change and uncertainty. Haymarket Books' Duncan Thomas interviewed Neil Davidson, British socialist and author of How Revolutionary Were the Bourgeois Revolutions?, to glean some meaning from the madness.
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25% off some of our 2016 highlights for UK customers until the end of December. Just in time for Christmas!
Other books by Neil Davidson
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What Was Neoliberalism?
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Revolutionary Rehearsals in the Neoliberal Age
Edited by Colin Barker, Gareth Dale, et al. -
How Revolutionary Were the Bourgeois Revolutions? (Abridged Edition)
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We Cannot Escape History
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Holding Fast to an Image of the Past