Anarchism: Evolution of Radical Ideologies in History

Anarchism encompasses diverse ideologies promoting freedom, equality, and opposition to coercive authority throughout history.

### Classical Anarchism: A Historical Overview
* 🗡 Anarchism is a challenging ideology to define, with its roots present in various movements and ideologies throughout history, such as the **Taoists in ancient China** and the current practice in **Rojava, northern Syria**.
* 📜 Towards the end of the 18th century, William Godwin began to define anarchism as an ideology for the first time, advocating for **universal condemnation of coercive authority** and the promotion of **freedom and equality**.
* 🏛 Godwin believed in a form of communism where property accumulation was replaced by a **common stock**, and communities governed themselves **face-to-face**.
* Max Stirner, in his work "The Ego and Its Own," argued for radical individualism, stating that **morality came from the individual ego** and that the state was an **unjust restraint on personal freedom**.
* 🏠 Pierre-Joseph Proudhon famously declared "**property is theft**," distinguishing between legitimate property resulting from labor and **illegitimate property from rents or interest**.
* 👥 Mikhail Bakunin, leader of the anarchists in the First International, believed in **collectivist anarchism**, where **workers' associations would own the means of production**.
* 🌍 Peter Kropotkin, a communist anarchist, published "Mutual Aid" and "The Conquest of Bread," advocating for **anarcho-communism** and highlighting **cooperation as a key factor in evolution**.
* 📚 Anarchism in the 19th century was divided into separate but sometimes overlapping schools, such as **communists and non-communists**, with various thinkers contributing to the **rich and varied history of anarchism**.

Introduction to the History of Anarchism

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Then & Now

Anarchism is a constantly evolving ideology that condemns coercive authority and promotes freedom and equality.

It was first defined by William Godwin in the 18th century and became popular during the 19th century, often associated with terrorism.

Godwin's ideas of equality, communal ownership, and gradual reform were influential in shaping anarchist thought.

Max Stirner later introduced a radical individualistic perspective to anarchism, influenced by Hegel's dialectics, challenging the concept of the state as the embodiment of the community.

Maximilian Sterner believed that individual ego and self-interest are the basis of morality, making the state and government unjust restraints.

He advocated for unions of egoists to achieve a balance of power.

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, on the other hand, argued that property is theft, distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate property.

He also foresaw the authoritarian nature of the communist system, emphasizing the subordination of the individual to the collective.

The Anarchist Vision of Prudhomme, Bakunin, and Kropotkin

Prudhomme advocated for a bottom-up organized Federation of communes based on mutualism and contracts between people and groups.

Bakunin believed in the commune and argued for equal means of subsistence and opportunity for every child, as well as the ownership of the means of production by workers' associations.

Kropotkin, a Russian prince turned anarchist, emphasized the idea of voluntary cooperation and mutual aid, rejecting the legitimacy of the state's authority.

Peter Kropotkin, a communist anarchist and geographer, is best known for his work "Mutual Aid" published in 1902.

He challenged Darwin's theory of "survival of the fittest," advocating for mutual aid and cooperation as the driving forces of evolution.

Kropotkin believed in the inherent goodness of humanity and the unnecessary role of the state, drawing similarities to Rousseau's ideas.

His observations of nature and examples of voluntary organizations supported his concept of mutual aid.

Anarchism encompasses six main schools of thought: mutualist, individualist, collectivist, communist, Christian, and literary.

Kropotkin's classification in the Encyclopedia Britannica in 1905 notably excluded anarcho-syndicalists, who advocated for worker-controlled decision-making and ownership of the means of production through unionization.

The rich and varied history of anarchism defies a brief overview, but it is often referred to as classical anarchism.