Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism

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HarperCollins, 1992 - Political Science - 767 pages
Lively and authoritative, this study of a widely misunderstood subject skillfully navigates the rough waters of anarchistic concepts?from Taoism to Situationism, ranters to punk rockers, individualists to communists, and anarcho-syndicalists to anarcha-feminists. Exploring key anarchist ideas of society and the state, freedom and equality, authority and power, the record investigates the successes and failures of anarchist movements throughout the world. Presenting a balanced and critical survey, the detailed document covers not only classic anarchist thinkers?such as Godwin, Proudhon, Bakunin, Kropotkin, Reclus, and Emma Goldman?but also other libertarian figures, such as Nietzsche, Camus, Gandhi, Foucault, and Chomsky. Essential reading for anyone wishing to understand what anarchists stand for and what they have achieved, this fascinating account also includes an epilogue that examines the most recent developments, including postanarchism and anarcho-primitivism as well as the anarchist contributions to the peace, green, and global justice movements of the 21st century.

Contents

Anarchism in Theory
1
Forerunners of Anarchism
50
The British Enlightenment
129
Great Libertarians
141
German Libertarians
153
British Libertarians
163
American Libertarians
181
Classic Anarchist Thinkers
189
Italy
446
Spain
453
Russia and the Ukraine
469
Northern Europe
479
United States
496
Latin America
504
Asia
519
Modern Anarchism
537

The Conscious Egoist
220
The Philosopher
228
The Fanatic of Freedom
263
The Revolutionary Evolutionist
309
The Geographer of Liberty
339
The Electrician of Revolution
345
The Count of Peace
362
American Individualists and Communists
384
The Most Dangerous Woman
396
German Communists
410
The Gentle Revolutionary
422
Anarchism in Action
429
France
431
The New Left and the Counterculture
539
The New Right and Anarchocapitalism
559
Modern Libertarians
566
Modern Anarchists
587
Murray Bookchin and the Ecology of Freedom
602
The Legacy of Anarchism
622
Ends and Means
625
The Relevance of Anarchism
639
Reference Notes
667
Select Bibliography
715
Index
745
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