The Marxist(.org) Internet Archive (MIA) provides information on Marxist literature, history and contemporary socialist movements and political parties. Five individual sections – Marxist Writers; History Archive; Subject Archive; Reference Writers; and an Encyclopedia of Marxism – consist of primary and secondary resources relevant to socialist studies. In addition, MIA includes navigational links that direct users to information about the site and how to use it. While under constant revision, the site currently contains more than 35,000 documents available in 37 different languages. Writings of over 300 prominent and lesser‐known authors, including Marx, Lenin, Eugene Debs, Che Guevara and others, whose works are relevant to socialist history, economics and social theory, are included here. A CD‐ROM version of the 2004‐2005 incarnation of the database is available for purchase directly from the site.
Originally developed in the early 1990s, MIA began as a digital distribution network designed to provide full‐text access to the works of Marx and Engels. Over the years, however, the site's administrators have widened their charter. They currently seek to provide full‐text, multi‐language access to authors and works that represent a broad spectrum of socialist thought and history. Though the site's administrators are US‐based, contributors represent a diverse geographical and philosophical network of people committed to promoting the distribution of socialist information on the internet. Appropriately, the archive features a helpful Student Section that defines the scope as well as the goals of the site. The political and philosophical bias of this resource are clearly evident, and teachers and librarians can reasonably point researchers to the site as a comprehensive and useful research tool on the history and current state of socialism in the world.
One of the most valuable sections is the Leftist Parties of the World page, an online directory of socialist political organizations. Socialist groups are searchable geographically and by political orientation, and the directory provides links to available internet resources. The What's New section features summaries of new and updated sections to MIA, notification of which interested users can receive via e‐mail. Despite such features, however, MIA is not consistently easy to use. For example, users interested in accessing the Student Section must click on a link labeled What is Marxism? on the home page. This is only one instance in which link titles do not directly correspond to the names of sections. On the other hand, searching the five main archive sections from the home page is straightforward. Users simply browse archive contents or select a specific author or subject search from a drop‐down menu.
Socialist studies scholars would require several print and/or electronic resources to access the volume of information available here. That the MIA continues to expand its coverage primarily through the efforts of dedicated volunteers is appropriately socialistic. While the archive's administrators have admirably coordinated these volunteer efforts, a few confusing design choices may frustrate users. On the other hand, the administrators clearly state their agenda, and thus offer users a credible and useful resource for people interested in socialist studies.
