Reinterpreting the Vanguard Perspective Within Marxism: From the Critique of Vanguardism Back to Marxism Itself

The “vanguard perspective” in Marxist revolutionary theory has long been a focal point of debate within leftist political thought, and it also represents an alternative path of social transformation beyond capitalist democracy and authoritarian rule. However, even in certain strands of contemporary leftist political thought, especially within post-Marxist thought, this perspective has essentially been misread as “vanguardism,” in which the binary opposition between the vanguard and the masses implies authoritarianism and is therefore to be thoroughly rejected. Among these critiques, Rancière, with his egalitarian thought, argues that vanguardism diminishes the subjectivity and agency of proletarians, thus creating an unequal power structure within. Despite Rancière’s profound critique of vanguardism, the fundamental issue lies in the fact that Marxist revolutionary theory upholds the “vanguard perspective,” not “vanguardism.” When returning to the thoughts of classical Marxist revolutionary theorists, one can see that the wisdom of Marxist vanguard stems from the proletariat and reflects its interests, with the connection between the two being grounded in democracy. Therefore, by reinterpreting the vanguard perspective, a form of substantive democracy and equality can be envisioned.