UTOPIA & REVOLUTION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arendt, H. ‘On revolution’, Penguin Classics, London, 2006

Bacon, F. ‘New Atlantis’, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2014

Herzl, T. ‘The Jewish state’, American Zionist Council, New York, 1946

Lowy M. “The Romantic Socialism of Gustav Landauer and Martin Buber” in Jacobs, J.
(ed), ‘Jews and Leftist Politics: Judaism, Israel, Antisemitism, and Gender’, Cambridge
University Press, New York, 2017

Martinson, M. “Adorno, Revolution, and Negative Utopia” in Elena Namli, Jayne Svenungsson
& Alana M. Vincent (eds), ‘Jewish Thought, Utopia, and Revolution’, Philosophy and Religion,
Brill, Amsterdam, 2014, pp. 33–48

Marx, K. & Engels, F. ‘Karl Marx, Frederick Engels: Collected Works’, International Publishers,
New York, 1975-1987

More, T. ‘Utopia’. Translated by Paul Turner, Penguin Classics, Baltimore, 1965

Near, H., ‘Where community happens: The kibbutz and the philosophy of communalism’,
Oxford, New York, 2011

Seidler, V. J. “Tikkun olam---Repairing the world: Embodying redemption and utopia” in Elena
Namli, Jayne Svenungsson & Alana M. Vincent (eds), ‘Jewish Thought, Utopia, and Revolution’,
Philosophy and Religion, Brill, Amsterdam, 2014, pp. 10-21

Trotsky, L. ‘The permanent revolution’. Translated by Shachtman, M., Pioneer Publishers, New
York, 1931

van Ree, E. “Marxism as permanent revolution” in History of Political Thought, 34(3), Imprint
Academic Ltd, 2013, pp. 540–563

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4. Transcendent vision
a. Biblical – eschatological
b. Metanarratives

Discussion

Analysis

1. Utopia & revolution as that which facilitates the idea that man can forge his own
history and destiny
a. As an ideal = theory
b. Praxis = revolution
2. Zionism as revolution
3. Utopia & revolution as amplified by Judaeo-Christian thought
4. Parallels between Zionism and Marxism
a. Leninism and Trotskyism
5. Transcendent vision – going beyond a materialistic, socio-economic view of these
phenomena, utopias and revolutions are ultimately driven by metanarratives

Conclusion (300w)

Preliminary points

1. The notion of utopia is more than a literary genre or political theory manual.
2. The vast political and socioeconomic changes of 18th and 19th centuries made it
ripe for utopias to move from simple critiques and projections of lofty ideals to
concrete action which was ultimately revolutionary in nature
3. This action although highly materialistic in its framework is ultimately driven by a
transcendental metanarrative which has been highly influenced by a Judaeo-
Christian worldview
4. It can be argued that Zionism as a sort of textbook embodiment of both utopic and
revolutionary ideas, has been successful in various ways in bringing these to life

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Intro (150w)

• Introduce main contention, structure of the argument and the framework that will
be used to develop these

Body (1200w)

Definitions & framework

1. Key definitions
a. Utopia
b. Revolution
c. Zionism
2. Key conceptual elements of utopia and revolution that will be explored in this
essay through the notion of Zionism as espoused in Herzl’s ‘The Jewish State’
Historical context

1. A broad historical context of Zionism & Herzl’s work

a. The revolutionary phenomena of the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and
its socio-political landscape
b. Emancipatory movements of the 19th century – The Americas
Conceptual themes of utopianism present in The Jewish State

1. Spatial-temporal dimension
a. Notion of space as a Promised Land, destiny, and time (it is a going to the
past as well as looking to a future)
b. Use of legal structures as that of a limited company and trust fund for the
initial establishment
2. Technology as a tool for shaping and advancing history and the Zionist project
3. Societal vision
a. Institutions
b. Family
c. Work
d. Trade

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UTOPIA AND REVOLUTION IN ZIONISM

An analysis of the confluence of utopianism and revolution in
Zionism as espoused by Theodor Herzl

Preliminary argument

• The notion or concept of utopia is inherently human

• Thomas More’s 16th-century work, Utopia, sets a precedent by defending the
idea that societies can forge their destinies rather than merely complying with
inherited status quos
• This perspective forms the heart of the notion of revolution
• The political and socioeconomic upheavals of the 18th and 19th centuries
allowed utopian ideas to flourish through various movements of concerted
social action, argued to be revolutionary. Examples include Marxism, anarchism,
Zionism, and the emancipatory movements of the Americas
• However, I will argue that Zionism, as espoused by Theodor Herzl in his late 19th-
century work, "The Jewish State," is perhaps one of the strongest embodiments
of these ideas
• After providing an overall framework, including key concepts, thematic
elements, and a brief historical context, I will highlight how Zionism strongly
characterizes utopian ideals and becomes revolutionary when put into action.
• I will explore four main utopian thematic elements in its vision
• I will contrast these ideas with Marxism as a parallel movement, considering that
both movements have survived to the present day

Total words (not including bibliography and footnotes): 1650w

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