Berlin's Das Argument Rises Again as a Beacon for the Left
Left-wing print media has faced severe challenges in recent years, with many publications shutting down. Titles like Konkret and Vienna's Tagebuch have ceased their print editions. Yet Berlin now offers a rare bright spot: the revival of Das Argument, a historic left-wing journal that had paused publication for nearly a year.
Das Argument first appeared in 1959, founded by a group of academics and students politicised by protests against nuclear armament in West Germany. The journal soon became a central voice for an extra-parliamentary left, rejecting both social democracy and Stalinism. By the 1980s, it had evolved into a platform for Eurocommunist and feminist thinkers, blending Marxism with feminist theory.
Over the decades, the journal expanded its focus beyond a Eurocentric working-class perspective. Feminist contributions, such as those by Frigga Haug in the 1970s, brought gender politics to the forefront. The 1980s introduced anticolonial critiques, while the 1990s added ecological debates, including Degrowth and climate justice. The latest issue, released in mid-January 2026, highlights intersectional eco-socialism, featuring feminist anticolonialism and critiques of the Green New Deal.
Lukas Meisner, the key figure behind the revival, aims to maintain the journal's tradition of plural Marxism while incorporating Leninist viewpoints. The new edition, Argument 344, was presented at the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation's library in Berlin. It retains the publication's classic three-part structure: literary texts, political and philosophical analyses, and a detailed review section. The issue's theme, '35 Years of West German Unity: Anti-Communism, Neoliberalism, Militarism,' also distances itself from a left-liberal establishment the journal has long opposed.
Beyond its quarterly releases, Das Argument has an affiliated publisher, Argument Verlag. This imprint has produced works like the Historical-Critical Dictionary of Marxism and even a crime fiction series.
The return of Das Argument marks a rare revival in a struggling left-wing media landscape. The journal's latest issue continues its decades-long tradition of critical debate while adapting to contemporary political and ecological concerns. Its future now depends on sustaining this balance between historical roots and modern relevance.
