On the margins of an unclosable dispute

The study examines the relation between "existing socialism" and the diverse leftwing radical ideologies from a historic point of view. These, while founded on class based society, were uniform in the critique and refusal of the soviet type society. In the beginning leftwing radicals saw the cause of defeat of the revolution in the etatism of the Soviet sphere of interest, the emphasis shifted to the state capitalist character of "existing socialism". Although the leftwing radical movements marginalised after World War II and their arean has shrunk, it is worthwile to contemplate on the lessons of the critique for the end of state socialism.