Mikhail Bakunin Flashcards
Bakunin’s key split from Marxism
Key objection = Marxism proposed replacing the capitalist state with a workers state - although Marxists saw this as only temporary
Bakunin argued that the state would just become socialist, as socialism established itself in people’s consciousness
Bakunin’s key distinctions between Anarchism and Socialism
Anarchists oppose any state, even if said state operates in interest of working class
Argued the state corrupts people - both the government and the governed
Although socialists have the right idea, of putting the working class first, the state would just end in disaster
Bakunin’s inspiration
Bakunin was inspired by the 1871 Paris Commune
This was a spontaneous uprising against the French state on the back of the Franco-Prussian war - a revolution of Parisians
Bakunin saw the revolution as anarchist rather than socialist due it’s replacement of the oppressive state with a smaller commune
Political rule was replaced by economic equality, public property and direct democracy
It served as an example to follow, although it only lasted a few weeks
Bakunin’s idea of order and a just society
Order and a just society can be created without a coercive state
He believed there was no conflict between an order society and individual liberty
In his book ‘God and the state’, he wrote that freedom is achieved when the individual obeys the laws of nature
No one can be forced to obey, they have to choose to obey due to them realising it is the best path in life
Laws include the sociability of mankind, natural empathy for each other equality and respect for freedom
Bakunin’s federalism
Bakunin’s idea of order through natural laws = the concept of federalism
Workers / peasants group together in federations (communities), which have common ownership of property, equal distribution of rewards on a voluntary basis - NO COERCION
Relationship in federations based on mutual benefit
Bakunin’s economic systems within federations
No capitalist market system which promotes inequality
Rather a system of free negotiation + exchange based on the true value of goods + services
