José Carlos Mariátegui is one of Latin America’s most profound
but overlooked thinkers. A self-taught journalist, social scientist,
and activist from Peru, he was the first to emphasize that those
fighting for the revolutionary transformation of society must adapt
classical Marxist theory to the particular conditions of Latin
America. He also stressed that indigenous peoples must take an
active, if not leading, role in any revolutionary struggle.
Today Latin America is the scene of great social upheaval. More
progressive governments are in power than ever before, and grassroots
movements of indigenous peoples, workers, and peasants are
increasingly shaping the political landscape. The time is perfect for
a rediscovery of Mariátegui, who is considered an intellectual
precursor of today’s struggles in Latin America but virtually
unknown in the English-speaking world. This volume collects his
essential writings, including many that have never been translated
and some that have never been published. The scope of this
collection, masterful translation, and thoughtful commentary make it
an essential book for scholars of Latin America and all of those
fighting for a new world, waiting to be born.