Mikhail Bakunin Criticism
Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876) stands as a pivotal figure in the history of anarchism, renowned for his passionate advocacy for social revolution across Europe in the nineteenth century. Born into an aristocratic family in Czarist Russia, Bakunin's early exposure to liberal ideas and his subsequent studies in philosophy profoundly influenced his radical political philosophy. His writings and actions aimed at dismantling institutional government and establishing a federation of cooperative communities, reflecting his commitment to anarchism even as Marxism overshadowed his ideological contributions.
Bakunin's political journey began in Moscow, where his engagement with German philosophy set the stage for his radical activism. He gained notoriety with his 1842 pamphlet, "Die Reaction in Deutschland," which led to a conviction in absentia by Russian authorities. This period marked his nationalist "pan-Slavic" phase, during which he envisioned a united Slavic uprising against monarchical regimes. Despite his arrest and life sentence in Russia, Bakunin's escape to London in 1861 rejuvenated his revolutionary zeal, leading him to shift focus towards international anarchism.
In London, Bakunin collaborated with other revolutionaries and founded the International Brotherhood in Italy, articulating anarchist principles that emphasized the abolition of government, religion, and private property. His ideas often clashed with Marxist thought, particularly regarding power distribution post-revolution, culminating in his expulsion from the International Workingmen's Association in 1872. Despite financial and health struggles in his later years, Bakunin remained active in promoting anarchist thought until his death in 1876.
Bakunin's legacy as a thinker has been mixed. As noted by Bertrand Russell, his writings lacked coherence, focusing predominantly on the destructive aspects of revolution. Similarly, Isaiah Berlin critiqued his work as derivative of earlier philosophies. Conversely, scholars like George Woodcock and Brian Morris have recognized the significance of Bakunin's anarchist principles, highlighting his influence on later radical activism. His major works, although fragmented, continue to inspire debates on anarchism's role in political discourse.
Contents
- Principal Works
- Principal English Translations
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Essays
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St. Petersburg—First Journey to Western Europe
(summary)
In the following excerpt from his memoirs, originally published in 1899, Kropotkin recalls the mark Bakunin had made on a group of Swiss radicals.
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Bakunin and Anarchism
(summary)
In the excerpt below, Russell praises Bakunin's achievements as an activist, although he finds the anarchist's writings lacking in coherence and thoroughness.
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Herzen and Bakunin on Individual Liberty
(summary)
Berlin is a noted twentieth-century critic of Russian literature, much of whose work has focused on Alexander Herzen. The characterization of Bakunin that follows, excerpted from a 1955 essay comparing him with Herzen, has often supplied later critics with an exemplary devaluation of Bakunin. Although Berlin lauds Bakunin's political motives and spirit, he emphasizes Bakunin's apparent weaknesses as a theorist and a writer.
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The Destructive Urge
(summary)
George Woodcock is one of the leading anarchist historians of the twentieth century. The following chapter from his book combines a detailed biography with a largely favorable assessment of Bakunin 's political philosophy, as manifested in both his actions and his writings.
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Requiem
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Mendel conducts a psychoanalytic study of Bakunin, looking primarily at his conflicted relationship with authority. Ultimately, Mendel finds the authoritarian streak in Bakunin's personality definitive, dismissing his Utopian aspirations as 'corrupted by narcissistic and oedipal disorders.'
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An introduction to From Out of the Dustbin: Bakunin's Basic Writing, 1869-1871
(summary)
In the excerpt that follows, Cutler examines a selection of Bakunin's writings against the backdrop of Marxist doctrine, in order to delineate certain coherent strands in his anarchist philosophy.
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Social Philosophy
(summary)
In the following chapters from his book, Morris considers Bakunin's writings in-depth in order to recuperate them from the condemnation of previous criticism, which he also reviews in detail.
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St. Petersburg—First Journey to Western Europe
(summary)
- Further Reading