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How did Peter Kropotkin develop the idea of anarchist communism?
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anarchism
The “circle-A,” a common anarchist symbol.
Peter Kropotkin developed the theory of anarchist communism by building upon and moving beyond the collectivism of his predecessor, Mikhail Bakunin. While Bakunin advocated for the collective ownership of the means of production, he still maintained that workers should be remunerated based on their individual labor; Kropotkin argued instead for complete communism in both production and distribution.12
His development of this theory was influenced by several factors:
- Scientific and Sociological Inquiry: Kropotkin sought to provide anarchism with a scientific basis. In Mutual Aid: A Factor in Evolution, he used biological and historical evidence to argue that cooperation, rather than competition, is the primary driver of evolution and human progress.123
- Economic Vision: He proposed a system based on the principle of needs rather than wages. In works like The Conquest of Bread (1892), he envisioned a society where individuals could take what they required from common storehouses, guided by the formula: "From each according to his means, to each according to his needs".12
- Practical Experience: His observations of voluntary associations, such as the Swiss watchmakers in the Jura Mountains, reinforced his belief in decentralized, cooperative organizations as the foundation for a stateless society.2