Published: 2020-04-16

Critical remarks on Evgeny B. Pashukanis and his Marxist theory of law

Maria Zmierczak Logo ORCID
Section: Rozprawy i artykuły
https://doi.org/10.31261/ZDP.2019.20.34

Abstract

Paszukanis (1891-1937)   is noted as the most influential  theorist of law in Soviet Russia. In his book on “General theory of law and Marxism”, issued in 1924. 1925 and 1927,  he  defines law as a form, expressing  the real  relation between people in process of production and exchange of goods;  the form, that reaches its highest  level as the  rule of law (Rechtsstaat), when it becomes a mirage, covering the real and deep conflict of interests.  Paszukanis is sure, that in communism any form of  law will disappear, because there will be no  class conflict of interests.  He also repeated the prophesy of Marx, that capitalism will disappear, as expressed in Communist Manifesto.  That the prophesy is false and that we cannot have a science of history  similar to physics showed and criticized Karl Raimund Popper. And reduction of  rule of law to   expression of only class interest seems to be false, because many legal regulations are not connected to  economic interests. The  thesis, that law is connected only with bourgeois society surely led to contempt of any law  by people ruling in Soviet Russia, taking into account that Paszukanis book was popular and used in education. Interesting enough, the book was printed in Poland in 1985, with the commentary that is  still a very instructive and important theory of law. 

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Zmierczak, M. (2020). Critical remarks on Evgeny B. Pashukanis and his Marxist theory of law. Z Dziejów Prawa, 12, 587–596. https://doi.org/10.31261/ZDP.2019.20.34

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Vol. 12 (2019)
Published: 2020-04-16


ISSN: 1898-6986
eISSN: 2353-9879

Publisher
Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego | University of Silesia Press

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