Anarchism in the US

Starting period of Anarchism as an idea (before it became a movement)

Mid-19th century

‘What is Property?’ Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1840): ideas

A foundational work in anarchist theory, where Proudhon famously declared that "property is theft." This text critiques the concept of property and advocates for a society based on mutualism. It argues against private property and supports communal ownership.

• Mutualism

• Federalism

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865)

• French anarchist, socialist, philosopher and economist.

• Considered the father of anarchism (Was the first to call himself an anarchist)

• Introduced the idea of mutualism

• Is known for his critiques of capitalism and property

• Is regarded as one of Anarchism’s most influential theorist

• Wrote What is Property? (1840)

Mutualism

• Sometimes known as 'contractualism' or 'guaranteeism'

• Self-management/anti-statism

• Collectivist anarchism

• Notion of ‘working together’ so that both parties benefit from that

Federalism

• Decentralised system

A system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government

= The idea that government authority rests in both the national and state governments

1848

Revolutions throughout Europe

• + 1848 French Revolution

  • Groundwork for future anarchist activism

Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921)

• 1880s

• Theorised anarchist practices

• Published works that would serve as references

  • ‘The Conquest of Bread’ (1892) (= Anarchist communism)

  • ‘Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution’ (1902)

  • ‘Fields, Factories, and Workshops’ (1910)

• Was proponent of the idea of decentralised communist society, free from central government and based on voluntary association of self-governing communities and worker-run enterprises

Mutual aid and cooperation

• Key elements of human evolution 

• Against the dominant social Darwinism idea of the ‘survival of the fittest’

Classical era

Paris Commune to the Spanish Civil War (1871-1939)

IWA (International Workingmen’s Association)

• Created in 1864

• Leding figures: bAKUNIN, Marx and Engels

Socialism during the time of the creation of the IWA

It regrouped Anarchists, Communists and Marxists

September 3, 1866

First Congress of the IWA

In the US

• Tensions between the Marxists and the Proudhonians

  • Marxists: organised and disciplined organisation

  • Anti-Authoritarians: decentralised and self-management

• American IWA chapters played a crucial role in the development of an anarchist tradition in the US

1872, Congress of the Hague

Expulsion of Bakunin and his followers by Marx and his followers

• That split created Marxism and Communism

Anti-Authoritarian International or Anarchist International (1872-1877)

• (I fuss) Italy; France, the US, Switzerland, Spain

• Anarchism = global phenomenon after 1872

1881