The MEGA Project The Unknown Marx and Engels Michael R. Krätke University of Amsterdam

What is the MEGA Project? One of the biggest editorial projects in the world One of the biggest editorial projects in the world One of the longest lasting editorial projects One of the longest lasting editorial projects One of the most internationalized editorial projects One of the most internationalized editorial projects

Scope, scale and structure of the MEGA How many volumes ? (164 according to original plan – now 112) How many volumes ? (164 according to original plan – now 112) Double pack (text volume plus apparatus) Double pack (text volume plus apparatus) Everything published /unpublished plus a lot more Everything published /unpublished plus a lot more Four sections Four sections

Editorial principles of the new MEGA Completeness and integrality Completeness and integrality Fidelity to the original Fidelity to the original Evolution of the texts Evolution of the texts Exhaustive comments Exhaustive comments (no political comments) (no political comments)

The four sections of the MEGA I Writings, articles and sketches (32 volumes, 18 published) I Writings, articles and sketches (32 volumes, 18 published) II Marx’ Capital and all the preparatory texts (15 volumes, all published except one) II Marx’ Capital and all the preparatory texts (15 volumes, all published except one) III The correspondance of Marx and Engels (35 volumes, 11 published) III The correspondance of Marx and Engels (35 volumes, 11 published) IV Excerpts, notebooks and marginal notes (32 volumes, 12 published) IV Excerpts, notebooks and marginal notes (32 volumes, 12 published)

New elements in all four sections Many new texts (newspaper articles) in section I Many new texts (newspaper articles) in section I Original versions of classical texts for the first time Original versions of classical texts for the first time Many texts that have been coauthored and / or edited by Marx and Engels – or written by others under their supervision or rewritten by Marx or Engels Many texts that have been coauthored and / or edited by Marx and Engels – or written by others under their supervision or rewritten by Marx or Engels The complete correspondance in section III – letters from Marx and Engels plus letters written to them by others The complete correspondance in section III – letters from Marx and Engels plus letters written to them by others

Section IV for example Welcome to the study of Marx - and Engels Welcome to the study of Marx - and Engels Hundreds of notebooks, excerpts, material collections Hundreds of notebooks, excerpts, material collections marginal notes in books (reading books from Marx’ and Engels’ personal libraries - including copies of their own books - as they left them) marginal notes in books (reading books from Marx’ and Engels’ personal libraries - including copies of their own books - as they left them)

How the MEGA project works International Marx-Engels Foundation IMES International Marx-Engels Foundation IMES Plus its international scientific council Plus its international scientific council Four institutes (IISG, BBAW, FE, Russian State Archives) Four institutes (IISG, BBAW, FE, Russian State Archives) Permanent working group at the BBAW Permanent working group at the BBAW Plus a variety of smaller groups – one working group for each volume Plus a variety of smaller groups – one working group for each volume

Very short history of the MEGA The first plan of 1911 The first plan of 1911 The first MEGA - 12 volumes published between 1927 and 1941 (Marx – Engels Institute in Moscow, founded in 1922) The first MEGA - 12 volumes published between 1927 and 1941 (Marx – Engels Institute in Moscow, founded in 1922) Its first director, David Rjazanow, and many of its collaborators perished in the great purges Its first director, David Rjazanow, and many of its collaborators perished in the great purges The new (second) MEGA started officially in 1972 The new (second) MEGA started officially in 1972 After 1989/90 it was continued within a new framework (as outlined above) After 1989/90 it was continued within a new framework (as outlined above)

First MEGA – its Historical Achievements First publication of the “German Ideology” - not in the original form! First publication of the “German Ideology” - not in the original form! First publication of the “ Paris Manuscripts” of 1844 – also not in the original form! First publication of the “ Paris Manuscripts” of 1844 – also not in the original form! First publication of the “Grundrisse”, Marx’ manuscript of 1857/58 First publication of the “Grundrisse”, Marx’ manuscript of 1857/58

The second (new) MEGA continues in the same direction First publication of many texts by Marx and Engels in their original form – for instance: the First publication of many texts by Marx and Engels in their original form – for instance: the “ German Ideology”, the “Paris manuscripts” “ German Ideology”, the “Paris manuscripts” Discovery / rediscovery and first publication (in the integral and / or original form) of many articles (journal articles) by Marx and Engels Discovery / rediscovery and first publication (in the integral and / or original form) of many articles (journal articles) by Marx and Engels First publication of Marx’ manuscripts written for “Capital” between 1857 and 1881 (only smaller parts have been published before – for instance the “Theories of Surplus Value” in 1905 – 1910) First publication of Marx’ manuscripts written for “Capital” between 1857 and 1881 (only smaller parts have been published before – for instance the “Theories of Surplus Value” in 1905 – 1910)

For instance: Marx’ political writings on Spain (1854) A series of journal articles on the events in revolutionary Spain A series of journal articles on the events in revolutionary Spain 9 published, 3 lost, 2 retrieved (1 fragment, one complete) 9 published, 3 lost, 2 retrieved (1 fragment, one complete) Plus Marx’ notebooks of 1854 Plus Marx’ notebooks of 1854 Marx on the making of the European state system, on liberal constitutions, on liberalism in the 19th century Marx on the making of the European state system, on liberal constitutions, on liberalism in the 19th century Part of Marx’ “political theory” (that allegedly does not exist) Part of Marx’ “political theory” (that allegedly does not exist)

A historical achievement Section II is complete (or nearly) This year (in May and October) the two This year (in May and October) the two last volumes of section II have been published last volumes of section II have been published Vol II / 11 and Vol II / 13 – the manuscripts for Capital, volume II, written between 1868 and 1881, and Engels’ edition of volume II of 1884 Vol II / 11 and Vol II / 13 – the manuscripts for Capital, volume II, written between 1868 and 1881, and Engels’ edition of volume II of 1884 Only one small volume to go: II / 4.3 Only one small volume to go: II / 4.3 (containing two manuscripts from ) (containing two manuscripts from )

What does this mean? Reconstruction of the long road towards Capital is possible (for the first time) – we have at least five different versions of Marx’ “critique of political economy” Reconstruction of the long road towards Capital is possible (for the first time) – we have at least five different versions of Marx’ “critique of political economy” When, how, why, in which context did Marx study political economy (see excerpts)? When, how, why, in which context did Marx study political economy (see excerpts)? What progress did he make? What problems did he leave unresolved? Where are the lacunae? Where are the great findings (albeit left in a rudimentary form)? What progress did he make? What problems did he leave unresolved? Where are the lacunae? Where are the great findings (albeit left in a rudimentary form)? What about Marx’ famous change of plan? (Not one, but several changes) What about Marx’ famous change of plan? (Not one, but several changes)

Rediscovering the unknown Marx (I) What does the new MEGA offer today (or will tomorrow) for the rereading of Marx’ “ Grundrisse”? What does the new MEGA offer today (or will tomorrow) for the rereading of Marx’ “ Grundrisse”? A) the integral and original text of the Grundrisse A) the integral and original text of the Grundrisse B) Marx’ “books on crisis” of 1857/58 B) Marx’ “books on crisis” of 1857/58 C) Marx’ journalistic articles on the events of the first world economic crisis 1857/58 C) Marx’ journalistic articles on the events of the first world economic crisis 1857/58 The correspondance between Marx, Engels and others (dealing with the project of the Critique of Political Economy and with the events of the crisis. The correspondance between Marx, Engels and others (dealing with the project of the Critique of Political Economy and with the events of the crisis.

Rediscovering the unknown Marx (2) Against the legend of the “late Marx” Against the legend of the “late Marx” What do Marx’ notebooks and excerpts of the period 1867 – 1882 show us? What do Marx’ notebooks and excerpts of the period 1867 – 1882 show us? What do Marx’ unpublished notes for the remaking / new issues of Capital Volume I show us? What do Marx’ unpublished notes for the remaking / new issues of Capital Volume I show us? What do Marx’ unpublished manuscripts for Capital, volume II and III show us? What do Marx’ unpublished manuscripts for Capital, volume II and III show us?

Rediscovering the unknown Marx (3) How do Marx’ many notebooks and excerpts fit together? How do Marx’ many notebooks and excerpts fit together? For instance: Mathematical notebooks – and the renewed study of the dynamics of the capitalist accumulation process For instance: Mathematical notebooks – and the renewed study of the dynamics of the capitalist accumulation process For instance: Agrochemistry, geology and the study of the industrialization of agriculture in the USA For instance: Agrochemistry, geology and the study of the industrialization of agriculture in the USA

Rediscovering Engels as interpreter and editor of Marx’ work In section II, two surviving redaction manuscripts by Engels have been published for the first time (in II / 12 and II /14) In section II, two surviving redaction manuscripts by Engels have been published for the first time (in II / 12 and II /14) We can reconstruct most of Engels’ work as an editor of Marx’ manuscripts for Capital, volume II and III We can reconstruct most of Engels’ work as an editor of Marx’ manuscripts for Capital, volume II and III Against the legend: Engels has ruined Marx’ Capital Against the legend: Engels has ruined Marx’ Capital The Marx – Engels Problem once again – Conclusion: Engels made some mistakes, but did a hell of a job The Marx – Engels Problem once again – Conclusion: Engels made some mistakes, but did a hell of a job

Rereading Marx and Engels A Farewell to many myths of Marxism – and/or Anti- Marxism A Farewell to many myths of Marxism – and/or Anti- Marxism Several unfinished projects – the critique of political economy at the core Several unfinished projects – the critique of political economy at the core Many unsolved “Marxian problems” of political economy Many unsolved “Marxian problems” of political economy Marx as a very modern researcher (both theoretical and empirical researcher) Marx as a very modern researcher (both theoretical and empirical researcher) Marx as a pioneer in many fields Marx as a pioneer in many fields Marx’ potential – and the challenge to continue the project of a critique of political economy Marx’ potential – and the challenge to continue the project of a critique of political economy

How far are we? Halfway – 56 volumes published, one section nearly finished Halfway – 56 volumes published, one section nearly finished Still 3 sections to go – another 25 years Still 3 sections to go – another 25 years Working parties on the notebooks (3) Working parties on the notebooks (3) Working parties on the articles, writings in section I (4) - German Ideology Working parties on the articles, writings in section I (4) - German Ideology Working parties on the correspondance (4) Working parties on the correspondance (4) More to be established in the next years More to be established in the next years