Introduction

The subject of this study is Rosa Luxemburg’s contribution to economic theory. It arose out of materials gathered for a broader monograph, on the economic views of the Polish-German socialist, that was abandoned by the author. Such a narrowing of the subject-matter may nevertheless have some practical advantages. At a certain stage of research, one of the fundamental duties of the historian of science should be to separate out those works and ideas that are seeking to resolve in an independent way some technical problem, from the works that are derivative, because they are publicizing ideas or entering into polemics. This procedure may also facilitate a change in attitudes towards Rosa Luxemburg among her resolute and diehard opponents. Such attitudes can be illustrated by the story of a certain scholar, with significant achievements in economic theory and the popularization of Marx’s theory in Poland, who once remarked ‘Eliminate Rosa Luxemburg, eliminate her ideas at every step.’ This is a measure of the antipathy that has been aroused by this author, entangled, as rarely anyone has been, in violent political and ideological disputes. In these matters her opponents will probably never change their established views. However, it is possible to undermine these opinions on the basis of the development of science, in particular that part of it that has been verified in real life.