Marxism, Freedom And The State

Marxism, Freedom and the State is a collection of essays and letters written by the Russian revolutionary anarchist, Mikhail Bakunin. The book explores the tension between Marxism and anarchism, and Bakunin’s critiques of Marx’s theory of the state and his vision of a socialist society. Bakunin argues that Marx’s emphasis on the dictatorship of the proletariat and the centralized state would lead to a new form of oppression, and that true freedom can only be achieved through the abolition of all forms of authority and the creation of a decentralized, self-governing society. The book also includes Bakunin’s thoughts on the role of the individual in revolution, the importance of direct action and the need for a revolutionary alliance of the oppressed. Marxism, Freedom and the State is a seminal work of anarchist theory and a powerful critique of Marxist orthodoxy, and continues to be a vital resource for those interested in radical politics and social change.Its principal point is the conquest of political power by the working class. One can understand that men as indispensable as Marx and Engels should be the partisans of a programme which, consecrating and approving political power, opens the door to all ambitions. Since there will be political power there will necessarily be subjects, got up in Republican fashion, as citizens, it is true, but who will none the less be subjects, and who as such will be forced to obey.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.