5 sentences with “anarchist”

Two rival, post-utopian forms of socialist theory matured in this period: state socialism and anarchist socialism.

In the case of 19th century anarchist socialism, there were two great thinkers: the Frenchman Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and the Russian Mikhail Bakunin.

They were inspired by the anarchist socialism of the exiled Mikhail Bakunin, whose vision of an apocalyptic revolutionary transformation referred directly to the social and political conditions in his native Russia.

In stark contrast was anarchist socialism. One semantic point: anarchism means the rejection of the state, not the rejection of all forms of social organisation or even of hierarchy (i.e. it is perfectly consistent for there to be an organised anarchist movement, even one with leaders).

Meanwhile, the Spanish communists sought a Russian-style communist revolution and, even further to the left, a substantial anarchist coalition aimed at the complete abolition of government. The centre-left coalition was thus increasingly under siege, as the far left gravitated and the nobility and clergy joined the army in an anti-parliamentary right. Two years of anarchy ensued, from 1933 to 1935.