Essays · Chapter
Anarchists Have Forgotten Their Principles explained
Kropotkin criticizes anarchists and socialists who have abandoned their principles to support World War I, arguing that the war serves capitalist and state interests rather than liberation.
What happens
Kropotkin criticizes anarchists and socialists who have abandoned their principles to support World War I, arguing that the war serves capitalist and state interests rather than liberation. He reaffirms the necessity of international solidarity, class struggle, and anti-patriotism, and warns against compromising with governments. He expresses hope that revolution may emerge from a defeated Germany.
Themes in this chapter
Internationalism and Anti-Patriotism
Kropotkin emphasizes the duty of anarchists to oppose patriotism and maintain international worker solidarity across borders.
Critique of Government and Authority
He condemns all governments—German, Russian, English, French—as oppressors and warns against supporting any in war.
Revolution and Violence
Kropotkin justifies revolutionary violence as legitimate self-defense and sees revolution as the only hope for lasting peace.
Critique of Parliamentary Socialism and Reformism
He criticizes socialists who compromise with governments and abandon revolutionary principles for national unity.
Characters to notice
- Kropotkin
Author and speaker; condemns anarchists and socialists for betraying internationalist principles during World War I.
- Anarchists
Criticized for forgetting their principles and supporting the war alongside governments and bourgeoisie.
- Socialists
Including Social Democrats; accused of abandoning class struggle and international fraternity to support national war efforts.
- the masters
Implied as the ruling class and exploiters who benefit from patriotism and war.
- Bolshevists
Not directly mentioned but referenced implicitly through revolutionary context; not a primary focus.
Key passages
“I confess that I would never have believed it possible that Socialists—even Social Democrats—would applaud and voluntarily take part, on the side of the Germans or on the Allies, in a war like the one that is at present devastating Europe.”
Kropotkin expresses shock that socialists and social democrats would support a war as destructive as World War I.
Highlights the betrayal of internationalist principles by mainstream socialists.
“We have always preached that the workers of all countries are brothers, and that the enemy—the 'foreigner'—is the exploiter, whether born near us or in a far-off country.”
Anarchists have consistently taught that workers worldwide are united against their real enemy: the exploiter, regardless of nationality.
Core anarchist principle of international class solidarity.
“The only hope is revolution; and as I think that it is from vanquished Germany that in all probability, owing to the present state of things, the revolution would break out, it is for this reason—and for this reason only—that I wish the defeat of Germany.”
Kropotkin hopes for Germany's defeat because he believes it will spark a revolution there, which is the only path to lasting peace.
Tactical reasoning for taking sides in the war, based on revolutionary potential.