Julius Jacobson
Encyclopedia
Julius Jacobson was an American
socialist writer and editor who edited Anvil, New International, and New Politics
, all publications in the Third Camp
tradition of socialism, a democratic Marxist tradition sometimes called "Shachtmanite" after its significant theorist, Max Shachtman
.
. The family was politically leftist and he was politically active at a very young age, first joining the Communist Party
's Young Communist League
, but soon leaving that group for the Young People's Socialist League
of the Socialist Party
, where he became a Trotskyist and met his wife Phyllis Jacobson
.
Drafted into military service during World War II
, he saw combat in Europe and participated in the liberation of Paris
. While in Europe, he participated in contact between European and American Trotskyists.
An early ally of Max Shachtman
and Hal Draper
, he followed them out of the Socialist Workers Party and with them was one of the founding members of the Workers Party, later known as the Independent Socialist League, eventually becoming editor of its journal New International.
Like Hal Draper, Jacobson was opposed to the merger of the ISL into the Socialist Party of America
and to Shachtman's drift toward the right politically. Unlike Draper, he did not turn his energies toward creating a new socialist group, but rather into the creation of an independent Left journal, New Politics
, in 1961, together with Phyllis Jacobson
. He remained active as a writer and editor of New Politics up until his death in 2003.
In addition to his work published in Anvil, New International and New Politics, Jacobson contributed to the following books: The American Communist Party. A critical history, 1919-1957 (pub 1957 with Irving Howe
and Lewis Coser), The Negro and the American Labor Movement (1968), Soviet Communism and the Socialist Vision (1972) and Socialist Perspectives (1983, with Phyllis Jacobson).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
socialist writer and editor who edited Anvil, New International, and New Politics
New Politics (magazine)
New Politics is an independent socialist journal founded in 1961 and still published in the United States today. While it is inclusive of articles from a variety of left-of-center positions, the publication leans strongly toward a Third camp, democratic Marxist perspective, placing it typically to...
, all publications in the Third Camp
Third camp
The third camp, also known as third camp socialism or third camp Trotskyism, is a branch of socialism which aims to oppose both capitalism and Stalinism, by supporting the organised working class as a "third camp"....
tradition of socialism, a democratic Marxist tradition sometimes called "Shachtmanite" after its significant theorist, Max Shachtman
Max Shachtman
Max Shachtman was an American Marxist theorist. He evolved from being an associate of Leon Trotsky to a social democrat and mentor of senior assistants to AFL-CIO President George Meany.-Beginnings:...
.
Biography
Jacobson came from an East European Jewish immigrant family in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The family was politically leftist and he was politically active at a very young age, first joining the Communist Party
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
's Young Communist League
Young Communist League, USA
The Young Communist League USA is the fraternal youth organization of the Communist Party USA. Although the name of the group has changed a number of times over the years, it dates its lineage back to 1920, shortly after the establishment of the first communist parties in America.-Early years:The...
, but soon leaving that group for the Young People's Socialist League
Young People's Socialist League
The Young People's Socialist League , founded in 1989, is the official youth arm of the Socialist Party USA. The group's membership consists of those democratic socialists under the age of 30, and its political activities tend to concentrate on increasing the voter turnout of young democratic...
of the Socialist Party
Socialist Party
Socialist Party is the name of several different political parties around the world that are explicitly called Socialist. All of these parties claim to uphold socialism, though they might belong to different branches of the socialist movement and might therefore have different interpretations of...
, where he became a Trotskyist and met his wife Phyllis Jacobson
Phyllis Jacobson
Phyllis Jacobson was an American socialist. Together with her lifetime political and personal partner Julius Jacobson, she co-edited the independent left journal New Politics from the 1960s until the end of the 20th century....
.
Drafted into military service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he saw combat in Europe and participated in the liberation of Paris
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on August 25th. It could be regarded by some as the last battle in the Battle for Normandy, though that really ended with the crushing of the Wehrmacht forces between the...
. While in Europe, he participated in contact between European and American Trotskyists.
An early ally of Max Shachtman
Max Shachtman
Max Shachtman was an American Marxist theorist. He evolved from being an associate of Leon Trotsky to a social democrat and mentor of senior assistants to AFL-CIO President George Meany.-Beginnings:...
and Hal Draper
Hal Draper
Hal Draper was an American socialist activist and author who played a significant role in the Berkeley, California, Free Speech Movement and is perhaps best known for his extensive scholarship on the history and meaning of the thought of Karl Marx.Draper was a lifelong advocate of what he called...
, he followed them out of the Socialist Workers Party and with them was one of the founding members of the Workers Party, later known as the Independent Socialist League, eventually becoming editor of its journal New International.
Like Hal Draper, Jacobson was opposed to the merger of the ISL into the Socialist Party of America
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
and to Shachtman's drift toward the right politically. Unlike Draper, he did not turn his energies toward creating a new socialist group, but rather into the creation of an independent Left journal, New Politics
New Politics (magazine)
New Politics is an independent socialist journal founded in 1961 and still published in the United States today. While it is inclusive of articles from a variety of left-of-center positions, the publication leans strongly toward a Third camp, democratic Marxist perspective, placing it typically to...
, in 1961, together with Phyllis Jacobson
Phyllis Jacobson
Phyllis Jacobson was an American socialist. Together with her lifetime political and personal partner Julius Jacobson, she co-edited the independent left journal New Politics from the 1960s until the end of the 20th century....
. He remained active as a writer and editor of New Politics up until his death in 2003.
In addition to his work published in Anvil, New International and New Politics, Jacobson contributed to the following books: The American Communist Party. A critical history, 1919-1957 (pub 1957 with Irving Howe
Irving Howe
Irving Howe was an American literary and social critic and a prominent figure of the Democratic Socialists of America.-Life and career:...
and Lewis Coser), The Negro and the American Labor Movement (1968), Soviet Communism and the Socialist Vision (1972) and Socialist Perspectives (1983, with Phyllis Jacobson).