ject, which is the result of a basic misunderstanding of the Marxian theory.
Almost all of the Revisionists proceed upon the theory, more or less clearly expressed, that Marx expects the transformation from capitalism to socialism to be effected by at least two independent causes: the economic breakdown of the capitalist system, and the revolt of the proletariat against capitalism. Some go even so far as to split up the second cause into two: the growing weight of the burden of capitalism on the working class, and the growth of the power of the working class. Each of them therefore attempts to argue against the allowance of that particular cause, the admission of which he thinks would interfere with the method of fighting for socialism which he believes to be the best. Most of them are vehemently opposed to Marx's supposed prediction of an economic breakdown of capitalism, the so-called Zusammenbruchstheorie, and try to prove that socialism will never be brought about by that "factor" and that we must, therefore, look to other factors if we want socialism. A good many of them are also opposed to the ascribing of any great importance to the increasing burdens of capitalism on the working class, the so-called Verelendungstheorie.
It is sometimes really amusing to see how they argue about these "factors" or causes as if these were absolutely independent of each other and could exist one without the other and without reference to each other. One of them, Rudolph Goldscheid, the latest in the field, has even managed to show that these various factors neutralize each other by working in different directions. And none of them has ever stumbled on the fact which is as clear as day-light to those who can see, that Marx presents only one argument showing only one cause for the transformation from capitalism to socialism—the economic development of society which evolves the economic conditions necessary for the change, and produces the social forces which will bring it about. The cause being one, its separate parts or aspects
