Anarchism, Anarchist Communism, and the State

Amid the political clashes, complexities, and personalities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Peter Kropotkin stands out. Born a prince in Tsarist Russia and sent to Siberia to learn a militaristic, aristocratic trade, he instead renounced his titles and took up the "beautiful idea" of anarchism. He would become known as a passionate advocate of a world without borders, kings, or bosses. From a Russian cell to France, to London and Brighton, he used his extraordinary mind to dissect the birth of State power and present a different vision, in which the human impulse to liberty can be found throughout history, undying even in times of defeat. In the three essays presented here, accompanied by bibliographic notes, Kropotkin distills his many insights into brief but brilliant pieces that resonate for contemporary audiences.