postMarxist

Post-Marxism refers to a loose set of political-theoretical approaches that seek to move beyond traditional Marxist emphasis on economic determinism and fixed class analysis, while retaining a critical, emancipatory aim. It developed in the late 20th century, most notably through Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe, who argued that politics is structured by discourse and that social antagonisms are stabilized by contingent meanings rather than solely by economic forces. In their view, identities and coalitions are constructed through language, with "empty signifiers" (like "the people") enabling broad, inclusive mobilizations.

A central aim is a pluralist, democratic politics—often termed radical democracy—rather than the state-centered vanguardism of orthodox Marxism. Post-Marxism stresses contingent, contestable democracy and treats class as one among multiple axes of social conflict, not the sole determinant. It has been influential in debates about populism, nationalism, identity, and globalization, and has found application in cultural studies, political communication, and critical theory.

Critics argue that post-Marxism downplays material conditions and economic structure, risking libertarian or technocratic drift. Proponents counter that the approach retools socialist strategy to address contemporary pluralism, identity politics, and transnational networks without abandoning the aim of emancipation. The label is sometimes contested, and various thinkers – including Žižek and others – are associated with post-Marxist ideas to differing degrees. Across its spectrum, post-Marxism seeks to revise Marxist theory for postindustrial and postcolonial realities while maintaining a commitment to social justice.