Algiers 1882: The Last Journey of Marx

Abstract

In the last years of his life, Karl Marx expanded his research in new directions—studying recent anthropological discoveries, analyzing communal forms of ownership in precapitalist societies, supporting the populist movement in Russia, and expressing critiques of colonial oppression in India, Ireland, and Algeria. Algeria was also a concrete destination for Marx, since he visited its capital in February 1882 and remained there for 72 days. This was the only time in his life that he spent outside Europe. Marx made a number of interesting observations in the sixteen letters he wrote from the southern rim of the Mediterranean, and the ones that really stand out are those dealing with social relations among Muslims. Focusing on the reconstructions of the main events of this journey, this article reveals Marx’s main preoccupations at the end of his life.