# The Two Roads explained — Essays

> Chapter companion for Essays by Errico Malatesta.

## What happens

Kropotkin contrasts the anarchist vision of revolution—immediate expropriation and self-organization by the masses—with the dictatorial approach, which he argues leads to tyranny and the death of the revolution. He insists that only liberty and direct action can achieve a true social revolution.

## Themes in this chapter

### Revolution and Violence

Discusses insurrection as necessary to sweep away government forces, but warns against dictatorial violence.

### Critique of Private Property and Capitalism

Argues for immediate expropriation of land, factories, and wealth by the workers.

### Role of the Masses and Direct Action

Emphasizes the constructive power of the masses and opposes reliance on central committees or dictators.

### Critique of Parliamentary Socialism and Reformism

Rejects reformism as powerless to solve the crisis, and dismisses 'dictatorship of the proletariat' as an exploded farce.

## Character check-ins

### Kropotkin

Author and primary voice; argues for anarchist revolution and against dictatorship.

### Anarchists

Advocated for immediate expropriation and decentralized self-organization after insurrection.

### the masters

Landlords and capitalists who exploit agricultural and industrial workers.

### Robespierre

Cited as an example of a dictator who would suppress dissent for a 'good purpose.'

### the Jacobins

Implied as historical precedent for dictatorial revolutionary methods.

## Key lines

> the revolution is imposing itself, the revolution is coming. But how must this revolution be effected, and what development must it take?

The revolution is inevitable, but its method and outcome are still to be determined.

_Sets up the central question of the chapter._

> We, the Anarchists, wish that in each locality the workers... should take possession of all the instruments of labour, all wealth, land, raw materials, houses, machinery, foodstuffs, etc.

Anarchists want workers in every community to immediately seize all means of production and resources.

_Core anarchist program for post-insurrection society._

> Dictatorship they mean; but who would be the dictators? Of course, so they think, the chiefs of their party.

Those who advocate dictatorship intend for their own party leaders to become the dictators.

_Critique of the hidden power ambitions behind calls for dictatorship._

> In a social revolution... a dictatorship could do nothing. Either the people will provide for themselves... or the revolution will be a failure.

In a social revolution, dictatorship is useless; the people must organize themselves or the revolution fails.

_Argues that only self-organization by the masses can succeed._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_se/chapters/the-two-roads
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_se/chapters