“The revolutionary collectivists [i.e. Anarchists] try to diffuse science and knowledge among the people, so that the various groups of human society, when convinced by propaganda, may organise and spontaneously combine into federations, in accordance with their natural tendencies and their real interests, but never according to a plan traced in advance and imposed upon the ignorant masses by a few ‘superior’ minds.”
Mikhail Bakunin
“What do we mean by respect for humanity? We mean the recognition of human right and human dignity in every man, of whatever race [or] colour…”
Mikhail Bakunin, 1867,
Federalism, Socialism, Anti-Theologism,
“… 5. Equal rights for all without distinction of sex or race…”
From the Pittsburg Manifesto, 1883,
founding charter of the International Working Peoples Association,
historic mass U.S. anarcho-syndicalist organisation.
“Your revolutionary duty is to stifle all nationalist persecution by dealing ruthlessly with the instigators of anti-Semitic pogroms [racist attacks]…”
Makhnovist Army and Nabat Anarchist Group,
“Workers, Peasants and Insurgents.
For the Oppressed, Against the Oppressors – Always!”
proclamation issued in 1919 during course of
Anarchist-led Ukrainian revolution, 1918-21.
[In this struggle] only the workers and the peasants will go all the way to the end…
Augustino Sandino
Anarchist leader of 1927-33 armed rising
against the US occupation of Nicaragua
The division of the globe is not between Europe and the Three Continents, but between those above and those below.
Autonomous Actio
Let’s Stop the Congress: Against
the World Bank and IMF
“[Our movement]… has always fostered an intense interest in the proper ecological management of the Earth, and its history, theory and practice contains valuable clues and suggestions as to how we might overcome the ecological crisis that presently confronts the human species.”
Graham Purchase
Anarchism and Ecology
“Have you realised that there is, between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, an irreconcilable antagonism that results inevitably from their respective stations in life?… That as a result, war between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie is unavoidable, and that the only outcome can be the destruction of the latter?”
Mikhail Bakunin, 1869
“The Policy of the International”
“In the social domain all human history represents an uninterrupted chain of struggles waged by the working masses for their rights, liberty, and a better life… The class struggle created by the enslavement of the workers and their aspirations to liberty gave birth, in the oppression, to the idea of anarchism…”
Nestor Makhno, Peter Archinov, Ida Mett et al
The Organisational Platform of the Libertarian Communists
It rests with you [the youth of the well-to-do classes] either to palter continually with your conscience, and in the end to say, one fine day: “Perish humanity, provided I can have plenty of pleasures and enjoy them to the full, so long as the people are foolish enough to let me.”
Or, once more the inevitable alternative, to take part with the [Anarchist-] Socialists and work with them for the complete transformation of society… come and place your services at the disposal of those who most need them. And remember, if you do come, that you come not as masters, but as comrades in the struggle…
The never-ceasing struggle for truth, justice and equality among the [working and poor] people, whose gratitude you will earn – what nobler career can the youth of all nations desire than this?
Peter Kropotkin,
An Appeal to The Young,
1880, various editions
The path towards the emancipation of the workers can only be reached by the union of all the workers of the world.
Long live the workers international! Long live the free and stateless anarchist commune.
Makhnovist Army and Nabat Anarchist group, May 1919,
“Workers, Peasants and Insurgents. For the Oppressed, Against the Oppressor- Always!”,
leaflet issued in the Anarchist-led revolution in Ukraine, 1918-21.
Reproduced in Peter Archinov, History of the Makhnovist Movement, 1918-21.
1987 Freedom Press edition.
We learn in Russia how Communism cannot be introduced.
Peter Kropotkin,
June 1920, “Message to the Workers of the West”,
in P. Avrich (ed), The Anarchists in the Russian Revolution,
(Thames and Hudson), p. 151. Documents of Revolution series.
Anarchism is opposed to any interference with your liberty, be it by force and violence or by any other means … But if someone attacks you, then it is he who is invading you, he who is employing violence against you. You have a right [and a duty] to defend yourself…
To achieve its purpose, the revolution must be imbued with and directed by the anarchist spirit and ideas. The end shapes the means, just as the tool you use must be fit to do the work you want to accomplish … Revolutionary defence excludes all acts of coercion, of persecution and revenge. It is concerned only with repelling attack and depriving the enemy of the opportunity to invade you…
[The strength of the revolution] consists in the support of the people, in the devotion of the agricultural and rural masses … Let them believe in the revolution and they will defend it to the death … The armed workers and peasants are the only effective defence of the revolution. By means of their unions and syndicates they must always be on guard against counter-revolutionary attack … the active interest of the masses; their autonomy and self-determination are the best guarantee of success…
Let them [counter-revolutionaries] talk as they like… To suppress speech and press is … a theoretic blow offence against liberty [and] a direct blow at the very foundations of the revolution … [While forcible attack will be actively resisted] the revolution must be big enough to welcome even the severest criticism, and profit by it if it is justified…
Alexander Berkman,
“Defence of the Revolution”,
in his ABC of Anarchism, various editions
The revolution and the honour of the workers obliges us to declare … that we make war on the same enemies: on capital and authority, which oppresses all workers … The bourgeoisie of all countries and nationalities is united in a bitter struggle against the revolution, against the labouring masses of the whole world and all nationalities …
The path toward the emancipation of the workers can only be reached by the union of all the workers of the world. Long live the workers international! Long live the free and stateless anarchist commune.
Makhnovist Army and Nabat Anarchist group, May 1919,
“Workers, Peasants and Insurgents. For the Oppressed, Against the Oppressor – Always!”,
leaflet issued in the Anarchist-led revolution in Ukraine, 1918-21.
Reproduced in Peter Archinov, History of the Makhnovist Movement, 1918-21.
1987 Freedom Press edition.
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