The History and Meaning of the MEGA Project from its Inception until 1990
This article treats of the history of the Marx Engels Gesamtausgabe, or MEGA, edition of Marx and Engels’ collected works. The edition began under the editorship of David Ryazonov in 1924, and the article traces the evolution of the edition from this beginning until 1990. During this time, the edition came into being as the product of a particular tension: a tension between its claim to scientific status, on the one hand, and the dogmas of Marxism Leninism, on the other. The article explores the political pressures on the MEGA that occurred in the 1930’s, the 1950’s, and the 1970’s, and also the transitional issues that occurred in the wake of 1989. The varying scope of the edition’s contents during these historical periods, and the political and editorial reasons for this variation, are explored. Special attention is given to the relationship between Berlin and Moscow in the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s, with respect to the edition. Finally, the article notes the greatly reduced support for the MEGA staff in the post 1989 period, and, in conclusion, explores the international reception of the MEGA volumes.