The Long
Insurgency

Dossier · 1967–1971

Radical America

An American left journal that published Marcuse and argued over his ideas

Chronology

1967–1971

196719691971
6 dated events
  1. Radical America begins publication Reported · Source 1, paragraph beginning 'Paul and his wife'
  2. Editors meet in Madison Documented · Source 2, p. 1; dated issue masthead
  3. Journal prints Marcuse's essay and Leiss's review Documented · Source 2, masthead; pp. 55–63
  4. Journal prints the Marcuse debate Documented · Source 3, masthead; pp. 3–32
  5. New editorial board begins work Reported · Source 1, Paragraph beginning Toward the end of 1970
  6. Journal relocates to Boston Reported · Source 1, paragraph beginning 'This became the new modus operandi'

1967 onward

A journal for an American movement

Radical America began in 1967 as a volunteer journal linked to the SDS Radical Education Project. Brown University Library's collection history describes its early production in Madison, Wisconsin, and its move to Boston in late summer 1971. Its subjects grew from movement history to culture, race, women and political economy. (paragraphs beginning 'Paul and his wife' and 'This became the new modus operandi') [1]

The original issues show one route through which Herbert Marcuse reached American left readers. The July–August 1969 issue printed his essay on Marx's Eighteenth Brumaire. The April 1970 issue then printed Ronald Aronson and other writers debating his work. (pp. 55–59) [2] (contents and pp. 3–32) [3]

The journal gave these ideas a forum within a wider left culture. The two inspected issues contain praise, criticism and different views of what a socialist movement should do. They show discussion of Marcuse, rather than a single journal line that readers were expected to accept. (pp. 61–63) [2] (pp. 3–32) [3]

Explore this dossier

Culture, personal life and political power1969–1970 Printing and organizing a forum1969–1971 A visible channel, with reception still to trace1969 onward Original issues and collection history