Errico Malatesta

Errico Malatesta (1853–1932) was a leading figure in the international anarchist movement. Born in Italy, he joined the First International as a young man and became a close associate of Mikhail Bakunin. Forced into exile, Malatesta lived in London, Argentina, and the United States, where he edited key anarchist newspapers such as Umanità Nova and La Questione Sociale. His writings, collected in volumes like Essays, articulate a vision of anarchist communism grounded in voluntary association, workers' self-management, and opposition to all forms of state authority. Malatesta's literary legacy lies in his clear, persuasive essays and pamphlets that synthesized anarchist theory with practical organizing. He returned to Italy in 1919 and remained active until his death, influencing generations of libertarian thinkers with his commitment to revolution without dogma.