# Bakunin and Anarchism explained — Roads to Freedom

> Chapter companion for Roads to Freedom by Bertrand Russell.

## What happens

This chapter explores the philosophy of anarchism, distinguishing it from popular misconceptions of violence and bomb-throwing. It traces anarchist thought from ancient Chinese philosopher Chuang Tzu through Bakunin and Kropotkin, emphasizing the core anarchist opposition to all forcible government and the supreme value of liberty. The chapter contrasts Bakunin's chaotic, metaphysical writings with Kropotkin's more practical focus on production and the possibility of a society without wage labor or obligation to work.

## Themes in this chapter

### Freedom and Liberty

Anarchism is defined as seeking liberty by abolishing all forcible control over the individual; liberty is the supreme good in the anarchist creed.

### Power and Oppression

The chapter critiques the State as the embodiment of force and oppression, even democratic states, which may oppress independent-minded citizens.

### Human Nature and Instincts

Chuang Tzu's parable emphasizes natural instincts and the idea that government interferes with humanity's 'Heaven-sent' instincts.

### Work and Creativity

Kropotkin's vision involves making work pleasant and abolishing wage labor, with a focus on scientific production to allow leisure for art and science.

## Character check-ins

### Michel Bakunin

Discussed as a key anarchist thinker; his writings are described as chaotic, metaphysical, and focused on current politics, with a hatred of German imperialism.

### Peter Kropotkin

Presented as a follower of Bakunin who addressed technical questions of production, arguing for a society without wage labor and with pleasant work for all.

### Karl Marx

Mentioned in contrast to Bakunin; Bakunin praised Marx for enunciating the doctrine of economic determinism.

### Po Lo

Quoted from Chuang Tzu's parable as an example of the mistake of governing against natural instincts.

## Key lines

> that the rule of a majority may be almost as hostile to freedom as the rule of a minority: the divine right of majorities is a dogma as little possessed of absolute truth as any other.

Majority rule can be just as oppressive to freedom as minority rule; the belief in the absolute right of majorities is no more true than any other dogma.

_Russell critiques democratic government from an anarchist perspective._

> Anarchism, as its derivation indicates, is the theory which is opposed to every kind of forcible government. It is opposed to the State as the embodiment of the force employed in the government of the community.

Anarchism, by its name, is the doctrine against all forms of coercive government, especially the State which represents that force.

_Definition of anarchism in the chapter._

> Liberty, morality, and the human dignity of man consist precisely in this, that he does good, not because it is commanded, but because he conceives it, wills it and loves it.

True human freedom and morality come from doing good voluntarily, not because it is ordered.

_Bakunin's view on liberty and morality, quoted from God and the State._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/roads_to_freedom_se/chapters/ii-bakunin-and-anarchism
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/roads_to_freedom_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/roads_to_freedom_se/chapters