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Slovak Marxist–Leninist philosophy on work: experience of the second half of the twentieth century

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Abstract

The paper analyzes the concept of work in Slovak Marxist–Leninist philosophy and ethics in the second half of the twentieth century by referencing, in particular, Furnham’s critical assessment of the relationship between left-wing ideology and the values of work ethic. The author comes to the conclusion that, on the one hand, Marxist–Leninist ideology and the practice of building socialism made the notion and phenomenon of work into an ideological fetish; on the other hand, however, the real value of work and its contribution to the development of society was depreciated. Instead of bringing about the liberation of work all that it engendered was a new form of its alienation.

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Notes

  1. This was a political process, which started with Warsaw-Pact troops entering the territory of Czechoslovakia on August 21st, 1968, aimed at reversing the development of processes directed at the democratization of socialism and pursuing ideas of socialism with a human face, or the Prague Spring. During normalization, supporters of dogmatic Marxism and Brezhnevian socialism came to power once again, and removed all positive changes brought about by the previous period. Persecution of all who considered the entrance of Warsaw-Pact troops into Czechoslovakia as occupation and refused to accept a reinstatement of Orthodox socialism was part of normalization. The purges affected a significant part of society and paralyzed its development. A great number of people emigrated. This situation in Czechoslovakia continued until the second half of the 1980s, which saw the beginning of Gorbachev’s Glasnost and Perestroika.

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Acknowledgements

Author has received research grant from KEGA. Funding was provided by KEGA (Grant No. 013PU-4/2019).

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  1. Institute of Ethics and Bioethics, University of Prešov, 17 Novembra 1, 080 78, Prešov, Slovakia

    Vasil Gluchman

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Gluchman, V. Slovak Marxist–Leninist philosophy on work: experience of the second half of the twentieth century. Stud East Eur Thought 72, 43–58 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11212-019-09352-3

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