Marcel Mauss and the Durkheimian Tradition: Social solidarity and critique of utilitarianism, fascism and bolshevism

The hegemony of a Parsonsian reading of Durkheim in Iranian social science has led to the formation of a conservative, pro-status quo image of Durkheimian sociological tradition. Consequently, Durkheim’s major critique of various forms of existing order, from free market economy and utilitarianism to fascism and bolshevism, has been mostly overlooked in Iranian academia. This is while the Iranian society has not only been subject to free market policies throughout the last three decades; due to lack of powerful social associations and syndicates it has always been prone to the danger of moving towards a mass society.The works of Marcel Mauss, Durkheim’s nephew, disciple and assistant and the main follower of his uncle’s scientific tradition can offer an alternative vision of Durkheimian sociology. In this paper we focus on two of his important texts, “The Gift” and “The Sociological Assessment of the Bolsheviks,” which contain Mauss’s critique of utilitarianism, fascism and bolshevism. This could be helpful in portraying another Durkheim, a radical one, which is seemingly more relevant to the analysis of Iranian society.