
New Books in Critical Theory Alex Prichard, "Anarchism: a Very Short Introduction" (Oxford UP, 2022)
36 snips
Feb 7, 2026 AI Snips
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Anarchism and the Rise of Nation-States
- Anarchists supported early national liberation movements but opposed the state as an instrument of freedom.
- They believed true freedom came from communal self-organization, not state institutions, even revolutionary ones.
Classical Anarchism and the French Revolution
- Classical anarchism emerged from the French Revolution's failure to deliver true liberty and equality.
- Anarchists sought to expand the revolution's secularization of politics, democratizing all aspects of society.
Kropotkin and Mutual Aid
- Kropotkin, a prince-turned-anarchist, argued that mutual aid, not competition, drives evolution and human society.
- He believed the state and its centralized power disrupt natural mutual aid, creating scarcity and conflict.
