New Marxist Journal Formed; Womack Will Serve as Co-Editor

The first issue of Marxist Perspectives, a new journal attempting to reach a larger audience than existing Marxist journals, came out this month, co-edited by John Womack Jr., professor of History.

A large potential audience exists for the new journal, according to Womack. "A whole generation of people who grew aware during the 1960s are now interested in this kind of analysis," Womack said last week.

The first issue of the new journal, which also attempts to extend the scope of Marxist analysis, includes articles on Robert Altman movies and sexual conflict.

"There is no reason why Marxist analysis cannot be extended to matters as intimate as how a man and woman get along," Womack said.

The journal grew out of a series of informal conversations at academic conferences during the '60s. Eugene D. Genovese, of the University of Rochester, and Warren Sussman, of Rutgers University, were the key organizers of the new journal.

"We tried to create a forum for debate among different Marxist traditions, which would also appeal to non-Marxists," Genovese said yesterday. Existing Marxist journals leave large gaps in their scope and do not appeal to non-Marxists, he added.

Womack said the chief problems in founding the new journal were finding funds and writing talent.

"It's not easy to find smart people anywhere, not with the productivity to turn out a sparkling magazine four times a year," he added.

A major part of the funds was supplied by personal friends of the editors, with most donations ranging from $50 to $100. One small foundation gave $5000.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, portraying the new journal as extremely well-funded, "grossly exaggerated the situation," according to Genovese. "We're solvent right now but need another 50,000 bucks by Christmas," Genovese said.

The new journal will attempt to avoid the type of polemics common to other Marxist journals, Womack said.

"One man's argument is another's polemic, but we want to avoid accusations of mindlessness and heresy," he added.

Social thought currently suffers from overspecialization, according to Womack. "Everyone is up their own alley without seeing that the world is more than a collection of single alleys," he said.

Womack claims this specialization makes Marxism especially neccessary. "Marxism is the soundest perspective which gives us a grip on the world as a whole," he said.

However, Womack cautioned that Marxism itself currently suffers due to lack of purpose. "If Marxism can't change the world, then the whole idea is wrong, and it will go the way of belief in the divine right of kings," he said.

Genovese, author of "The World the Slaveholders Made," believes that the new journal will allow him to disseminate Marxist ideas to a wider audience than he reached with his books. "Not everyone is interested in slaves and a lot of people will read the journal who didn't read my books," Genovese said.