[Goldberk]

Eric Hobsbawm was one of the UK's leading historians and one of the most significant intellectuals of the past half century. His life and works were shaped by his emotional commitment to radical socialism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13980324

A great intellectual if there ever was one, not someone I agreed with all the time, but his historical analysis was always of the highest order.

[KurtFF8]

not someone I agreed with all the time, but his historical analysis was always of the highest or

That's how I feel as well. His prominence was well deserved.

[HoniSoit]

It seems curious to me that despite his hard left positions he has been saying essentially social democracy is the solution, or am I misunderstanding him? I remember Kurt posted an article of his along this line some time ago.

[Goldberk]

It seems curious to me that despite his hard left positions he has been saying essentially social democracy is the solution, or am I misunderstanding him?

I think he saw the cost of implementing his strict Marxist beliefs as to high (political violence etc) and so saw social democracy (a much more left version than we see right now) as a second best solution.

[The Clockwork Rat]

This guy saved my degree. Thank you Eric.

[KurtFF8]

It seems curious to me that despite his hard left positions he has been saying essentially social democracy is the solution, or am I misunderstanding him? I remember Kurt posted an article of his along this line some time ago.

Hmm I'm not sure which article you're referring to here

[Guillotine]

Teen vigil at Hobsbawm house

16-year-old Nikki Hollis said: “I’ve had tickets to his talk about the Spanish Civil War at the O2 Arena for months, it was the first time I was going to see a Marxist historian live.

[Goldberk]

16-year-old Nikki Hollis said: “I’ve had tickets to his talk about the Spanish Civil War at the O2 Arena for months, it was the first time I was going to see a Marxist historian live.

Oh the beautiful post-modern irony of a "Marxist" historian speaking at the O2.