M-TH: centrism

[Rosser Jr, John Barkley]

     Well, the variety of answers we have gotten on this 
confirms what I have suspected: this is a concept so 
stretched and used that it is virtually drained of any 
meaning.  I suspect that Chris Burford's analysis of its 
use on these lists is about right, as a term of opprobrium 
by the user against anyone viewed as somewhere between them 
and someone they despise even more.
     Jerry Levy has argued for the earliest usage of the 
term, as by Lenin against various "unprincipled" reformists 
and social democrats before WW I and possibly even earlier. 
Care to grace us with any specific quotes or cites on that, 
Jerry, before we accept it as gospel?
Barkley Rosser

-- 
Rosser Jr, John Barkley
rosserjb at jmu.edu




     --- from list marxism-thaxis at lists.village.virginia.edu ---