This is an introduction to Proudhon’s economic ideas and their influence on revolutionary anarchism. It is a chapter from the new book The Accumulation of Freedom: Writings on Anarchist Economics (AK Press, 2012) and its blurb (in part) states: “The only crisis of capitalism is capitalism itself… The Accumulation of Freedom brings together economists, historians, theorists, and activists for a first-of-its-kind study of anarchist economics.” All quotes are from Property is Theft! A Pierre-Joseph Proudhon Anthology (AK Press, 2011) and the chapter covers all of Proudhon’s major works in chronological order.
(more…)Month: October 2025
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Review: Social Ecology and Communalism
A review of a collection of essays by Murray Bookchin published after his death. It contains three written when he considered himself an anarchist, one written after he broke with anarchism. All are of interest but show the issues with his “communalism” and links obvious links with the anarchism he tried to distance himself from, so destroying his own legacy. It (probably) appeared in Anarcho-Syndicalist Review No. 51 (Winter 2008-09)
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Review: The Altruism Equation
A review of a book on evolutionary theory and altruism which discusses Kropotkin. Unfortunately, as shown, the account of Kropotkin’s ideas is flawed and so both “mutual aid” and his contribution to science are obscured. It appeared in Anarcho-Syndicalist Review No. 91 (Winter 2025)
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Mutual Aid: Kropotkin versus Jones
A review of book by a noted academic who tries to discuss Kropotkin’s ideas on mutual aid but fails due to its inaccuracies as well as the author’s acceptance of the cultural assumptions of the society he inhabits. It appeared in Freedom, 2nd March 2008.
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Frans de Waal (1948-2024)
An obituary of leading primatologist Frans de Waal. He had written numerous books on co-operation and altruism which should be of interest to anarchists, recognising his debt to Kropotkin. It appeared in Anarcho-Syndicalist Review No. 90 (Fall 2024)
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