tempt to pass independent criticism on the philosophico-historic or economic theories of Marx, but merely borrowed this criticism from older and more outspoken opponents of Marxism. The work of Revisionism proper still remained the criticism of what may be conveniently, though rather inaccurately, called the sociological theories of Marxism, that is, the theories as to the probable future development of our social system, which we have attempted to set forth in the last chapter. It is, therefore, not to be wondered at that Franz Oppenheimer puts at the head of his book on Marxism the thesis that "the foundation pillar of Karl Marx's social theory, the most important premise for all its important conclusions, is 'the law of capitalistic ac-cumulation.'" The center of gravity of Bernstein's book "Die Voraussetzungen des Sozialismus,"[1] the chief pronunciamiento of Revisionism, is what Bernstein has to say on the tendencies of the development of modern capitalism, although he criticizes both the philosophic and economic theories of Marx. The discussion of those tendencies forms the bulk of Revisionist literature. And in the forefront of this discussion is the question: Does capital concentrate and the middle-class disappear, and as rapidly, as Marx predicted?
In his now famous book Bernstein attempted to prove: 1st, that capital does not concentrate in the manner, and certainly not with the rapidity, that Marx predicted; and 2nd, that the middle-class does not disappear. To substantiate his assertions he cites some statistics to show that while there certainly is a tendency towards concentration, and even rapid concentration, in some industries, this tendency is not universal, and moreover, in the very industries in which this tendency does exist it is in a measure neutralized by the birth of new enterprises in the place and instead of those which disappear owing to the process of concentration. The conclusion to which he arrives, therefore,
- ↑ Eduard Bernstein, Die Voraussetzungen des Sozialismus und die Aufgaben der Sozialdemokratie. Stuttgart, 1899.
