Does the foundational theory of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels inherently necessitate the rejection of nationalism in favor of a singular, utopian internationalism? Erica Benner, an expert in political theory, challenges the conventional interpretations held by twentieth-century Marxists by re-examining the original texts of Marx and Engels. She argues that their work does not advocate for the abolition of nation-states but rather views nationalism as a complex, often necessary, vehicle for political mobilization and social freedom.

Scholars and political theorists recognize this work as a significant corrective to long-standing misinterpretations of Marxist political thought. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which demands a high level of familiarity with both historical materialism and nineteenth-century European history.