It is with deep respect and solemn reflection that we acknowledge the passing of Michael Parenti, the renowned Marxist historian, political scientist, and anti-imperialist thinker, who died peacefully at the age of 92 on January 24, surrounded by his family. His death marks the loss of one of the most influential and uncompromising critical voices in modern political thought.
Born on September 30, 1933, in New York City and raised in a working-class family, Michael Parenti’s life and scholarship were shaped by his early experiences with inequality, power, and social struggle. From what he often described as his journey from a New York street kid to an internationally respected scholar, Parenti never lost sight of the people whose lives are most affected by political and economic systems. He earned his PhD in political science from Yale University and went on to teach, write, and lecture extensively across North America and around the world.
Michael Parenti was widely recognized for his penetrating analyses of capitalism, imperialism, democracy, media, and U.S. foreign policy. His work provided generations of readers and activists with the intellectual tools to challenge dominant narratives and question entrenched power structures. Among his many influential books, Blackshirts and Reds stands as a defining contribution, offering a materialist analysis of fascism and exposing its relationship to capital, class interests, and the suppression of working-class movements.
Parenti was also a principled critic of left anti-communism. He challenged theoretical purity that dismissed the real, material achievements of socialist societies under constant external pressure, emphasizing gains in literacy, healthcare, and social security won under extraordinary circumstances. His scholarship consistently insisted on historical context, class analysis, and intellectual honesty.
Beyond his writings, Michael Parenti was a compelling lecturer and cultural critic whose clarity, wit, and moral conviction inspired countless students, activists, and readers. He combined rigorous scholarship with accessibility, making complex ideas understandable without sacrificing depth.
As capitalism continues to generate inequality, conflict, and instability, Parenti’s work remains deeply relevant. His legacy endures not only in his extensive body of writing but in the critical consciousness he helped cultivate worldwide.
Michael Parenti will be remembered as a fearless thinker, a dedicated scholar, and a lifelong advocate for social justice. While his passing is mourned, his ideas continue to inform struggles for a more equitable and humane world. His voice may be gone, but his analysis, courage, and commitment endure.
