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Hello lovelies, let's talk about the 19th century Russian philosopher Mikhail Bakunin.
He's considered the founder of collectivist anarchism, his views were anti-theologist & he's among the influential figures of social anarchist tradition through the strategy of syndicalism.
He's considered the founder of collectivist anarchism, his views were anti-theologist & he's among the influential figures of social anarchist tradition through the strategy of syndicalism.
It's important to point out that he used extremely gendered, anti-semitic & nationalist language, so a content warning applies moving forward.
He has been tortured, put on death row & exiled, but he was still a participant in the revolutions that spread through Europe in 1848.
He has been tortured, put on death row & exiled, but he was still a participant in the revolutions that spread through Europe in 1848.
He wrote: "If there is a state there must be domination of one class by another and, as a result, slavery; the state without slavery is unthinkable - and this is why we are the enemies of the State."
During the First International, where socialists demanded 8-hour work days,
During the First International, where socialists demanded 8-hour work days,
he argued that the State is the most flagrant, cynical & complete negation of humanity.
He criticized Rousseau's theory of the state by saying that states will always be in conflict with one another, because this is their fundamental nature - they'd face annihilation otherwise.
He criticized Rousseau's theory of the state by saying that states will always be in conflict with one another, because this is their fundamental nature - they'd face annihilation otherwise.
People inhabiting the states have little choice but to behave in an aggressive, anti-humanist way.
The state must conquer less to be conquered, enslave less to be enslaved. It's survival has more value than humanity's.
Also, by placing people in these constructed boundaries,
The state must conquer less to be conquered, enslave less to be enslaved. It's survival has more value than humanity's.
Also, by placing people in these constructed boundaries,
you severely priviledge those living within & severely underprivilege those living outside.
Look at the US behaviour towards undocumented immigrants at the Mexico border.
They're treated with inhumanity & at the same time, US citizens enjoy relatively higher living standards.
Look at the US behaviour towards undocumented immigrants at the Mexico border.
They're treated with inhumanity & at the same time, US citizens enjoy relatively higher living standards.
Within a state, the higher value is patriotism & it manifests in the violence towards those that come into conflict with its structure.
He says that these acts would otherwise be a crime, but when done in the interest of the state, they're suddenly ok.
Killing is killing,
He says that these acts would otherwise be a crime, but when done in the interest of the state, they're suddenly ok.
Killing is killing,
regardless of the context it occurs, he continues.
Bombing is a crime but if you put a US sticker on the bombs, it's now patriotic & heroic.
He states that even when nations provide humanitarian aid, this is just a political act & not because of respect for international law.
Bombing is a crime but if you put a US sticker on the bombs, it's now patriotic & heroic.
He states that even when nations provide humanitarian aid, this is just a political act & not because of respect for international law.
They don't have a sense of duty, it's just a good PR move.
Since the birth of the state, he notes, this cruelty is ever-present & patriotism has been used to justify the most horrific acts in history.
Bakunin believed in no gods, no masters, no states, just people & humanity.
Since the birth of the state, he notes, this cruelty is ever-present & patriotism has been used to justify the most horrific acts in history.
Bakunin believed in no gods, no masters, no states, just people & humanity.
People have been tricked into coming together in this modern flag-waving, nation form.
This "social contract" is perpetuated by the rich for profit.
In a way, he was kinda agreeing with Hobbes, at least in the way realist international relations scholars have applied Hobbes.
This "social contract" is perpetuated by the rich for profit.
In a way, he was kinda agreeing with Hobbes, at least in the way realist international relations scholars have applied Hobbes.
States are ruthless because other states behave the same way, even the so-called good ones.
He believed that "the state of nature" is an idea fabricated & designed for political purposes.
Human nature is constructed & dependent on external circumstances & individual choices.
He believed that "the state of nature" is an idea fabricated & designed for political purposes.
Human nature is constructed & dependent on external circumstances & individual choices.
Freedom, equality & solidarity are the 3 cores of his philosophy & you can't have one without the others.
He defined freedom as self-determination & as the development of oneself as a human.
Freedom is entirely social - society creates the individual freedom of all humans.
He defined freedom as self-determination & as the development of oneself as a human.
Freedom is entirely social - society creates the individual freedom of all humans.
Society is the root & freedom is its fruit.
Bakunin distinguishes between political, economic & social equality.
Political is the equality of political rights, everybody should be free to self determine but shouldn't be free to dominate others or violate their freedoms.
Bakunin distinguishes between political, economic & social equality.
Political is the equality of political rights, everybody should be free to self determine but shouldn't be free to dominate others or violate their freedoms.
Individuals should make decisions collectively & each individual should have an equal say in these decisions.
The political & economic organization of society shouldn't flow downwards or outwards but upwards & inwards.
Social equality is defined as the equality of opportunity.
The political & economic organization of society shouldn't flow downwards or outwards but upwards & inwards.
Social equality is defined as the equality of opportunity.
Society should be economically structured in such a way that each human may find equal means for his development in upbringing & education, like having enough food or access to dance lessons.
This equality should be established through spontaneous communes & not by the state.
This equality should be established through spontaneous communes & not by the state.
He wanted collective ownership of all means of production. Workers' emancipation requires collectivization of private property, he argued.
He believed in the abolition of state, of private property & of the judicial system & the creation of federations of autonomous communes.
He believed in the abolition of state, of private property & of the judicial system & the creation of federations of autonomous communes.
There're irreconcilable differences between the proletariat & the bourgeoisie because of their economic potitions.
This exploitation will be stopped with the destruction of the bourgeois.
People shouldn't only have the right to pursue happiness but also the means, he argued.
This exploitation will be stopped with the destruction of the bourgeois.
People shouldn't only have the right to pursue happiness but also the means, he argued.
No man is free unless all around him are equally free.
Liberty is a feature not of isolation & exclusion but of interaction & connection he continues.
Liberty is nothing more or less than the reflection of his humanity & his human rights in the awareness of all free men,
Liberty is a feature not of isolation & exclusion but of interaction & connection he continues.
Liberty is nothing more or less than the reflection of his humanity & his human rights in the awareness of all free men,
his brothers, his equals.
He therefore believed that in order for humans to be free, we must be immersed within friendly social relations with each other, like having friends & being a member of a community.
Bakunin was also a de facto insurectionary anarchist.
He therefore believed that in order for humans to be free, we must be immersed within friendly social relations with each other, like having friends & being a member of a community.
Bakunin was also a de facto insurectionary anarchist.
The concept of insurrection was introduced by Egoist Max Stirner in his book: "The ego and its own".
Mikhail Bakunin tho, advocated the development of an anarchism that focused its force in insurrection, and specifically in autonomous insurrections around the world.
Mikhail Bakunin tho, advocated the development of an anarchism that focused its force in insurrection, and specifically in autonomous insurrections around the world.
Here are some links if you want to learn more about Mikhail Bakunin:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Bakunin
https://libcom.org/library/works-mikhail-bakunin-reading-guide
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurrectionary_anarchism
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Bakunin
https://libcom.org/library/works-mikhail-bakunin-reading-guide
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurrectionary_anarchism
