Statism and Anarchy

Mikhail Bakunin, a prominent 19th-century Russian revolutionary, was a chief propagator of anarchism. His work, particularly Statism and Anarchy (1873), directly challenged Karl Marx's theories. Bakunin advocated for the abolition of the state, viewing it as inherently oppressive and intertwined with private property. He believed that any transitional state, like Marx's proposed "dictatorship of the proletariat," would inevitably expand its control rather than wither away. Bakunin's vision of a stateless society was based on collective ownership of the means of production, with remuneration according to work performed. This contrasted with Marx's communism, which Bakunin argued would lead to a bureaucratic tyranny. Bakunin's ideas significantly influenced anarchist movements, especially in Italy and Spain.123