This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7679758.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Marx popular amid credit crunch Marx popular amid credit crunch
(30 minutes later)
Karl Marx is back in fashion, says one German publisher, who attributes his new popularity to the economic crisis.Karl Marx is back in fashion, says one German publisher, who attributes his new popularity to the economic crisis.
Publisher Karl-Dietz said it sold 1,500 copies of Das Kapital this year - up from the 200 it usually sells annually.Publisher Karl-Dietz said it sold 1,500 copies of Das Kapital this year - up from the 200 it usually sells annually.
Written in 1867, sales of the tome rarely hit double digits but have been on the rise since 2005.Written in 1867, sales of the tome rarely hit double digits but have been on the rise since 2005.
Marxist economic philosophy - and in particular its Russian Leninist version - fell out of favour with the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s.Marxist economic philosophy - and in particular its Russian Leninist version - fell out of favour with the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s.
"It's definitely in vogue right now," said the publisher's director Joern Schuetrumpf."It's definitely in vogue right now," said the publisher's director Joern Schuetrumpf.
"The financial crisis brought us a huge bump.""The financial crisis brought us a huge bump."
I doubt they will read it all the way to the end, because it's really arduous Joern Schuetrumpf Karl-DietzI doubt they will read it all the way to the end, because it's really arduous Joern Schuetrumpf Karl-Dietz
He suggested that it was younger Germans who were buying the book unhappy with the direction their elders had led the country.He suggested that it was younger Germans who were buying the book unhappy with the direction their elders had led the country.
"There's a younger generation of academics tackling hard questions and looking to Marx for answers," Mr Schuetrumpf said."There's a younger generation of academics tackling hard questions and looking to Marx for answers," Mr Schuetrumpf said.
But he doubted their perseverance: "I doubt they will read it all the way to the end, because it's really arduous."But he doubted their perseverance: "I doubt they will read it all the way to the end, because it's really arduous."
Other publishers also print Das Kapital, and German media have reported that bookstores nationwide have seen a 300% increase in sales of the book in recent months.Other publishers also print Das Kapital, and German media have reported that bookstores nationwide have seen a 300% increase in sales of the book in recent months.
And suddenly too, some of the all-but-forgotten Marxist philosophers are having their say again, such as the historian Eric Hobsbawm.And suddenly too, some of the all-but-forgotten Marxist philosophers are having their say again, such as the historian Eric Hobsbawm.
"Globalisation, which is implicit in capitalism, not only destroys the heritage and tradition but it is incredibly unstable, it operates through a series of crises, and I think this has been recognised to be the end of this particular era," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."Globalisation, which is implicit in capitalism, not only destroys the heritage and tradition but it is incredibly unstable, it operates through a series of crises, and I think this has been recognised to be the end of this particular era," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Free market critics of Marxism have long argued that socialism leads to poor quality goods, authoritarianism, the gulags and the rest; but for now, certainly as long as the credit crunch lasts, the pro-lending expansionists are likely to stay under as dark a cloud as their Marxist rivals."