Anarchism: A History of Libertarian Ideas and Movements

by George Woodcock

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"To what degree can anarchism be an effective organized movement? Is it realistic to think of anarchist ideas ever forming the basis for social life itself? These questions are widely being asked again today in response to the forces of economic globalization. The framework for such discussions was given perhaps its most memorable shape, however, in George Woodcock's classic study of anarchism - now widely recognized as the most significant twentieth-century overview of the subject."--BOOK show more JACKET. show less

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8 reviews
This elegantly written book weaves together politics, history, and biography to present the definitive story of anarchism. The prolific Canadian author, while clearly a partisan in the anarchist struggle, does not shy away from critical commentary. Analyzing the movement in all its diversity -- from the individualists to the communists, the pacifists to the bomb-throwers, the intellectuals to the fugitives -- he sheds light on one of the world’s most misunderstood ideologies.
No capítulo a árvore genealógica o autor discorre sobre as fagulhas primitivas do anarquismo, com especial ênfase em dois momentos que praticamente fundaram o anarquismo moderno: o movimento dos cavadores ingleses com Winstanley e e os Enrangé da revolução francesa com Roux e Varlet.
O capítulo O Homem Racional é inteiramente dedicado a William Godwin e o dissecar de sua obra Political Justice, que embora não se autodenomine anarquista muito das ideias de Proudhon foram preconizadas por Godwin.
Dedica-se o capítulo O Egoísta a Max Stirner, como influenciou Nietzsche e seu conceito de Superman e assim como Godwin ele formulou à parte do movimento anarquista o conteúdo de O Único e sua Propriedade.
No capítulo O Homem dos show more Paradoxos explana-se a trajetória de Proudhon e seu anarquismo mutualista, sua união e futuro desentendimento com Marx, sua prosa aclamada e a influência nos primeiros anarquistas.
No capítulo A ânsia de Destruir o autor discorre sobre Bakunin, de como sua amizade com Turgueniev influenciou a escrita de Rúdin e a sua amizade com Nechayev influenciou a escrita de Os demônios de Dostoievski. O antagonismo com Marx na Internacional e de como ambos eram autoritários, assim como o fato de Bakunin ter sido o primeiro homem efetivamente de ação do movimento anarquista.
No capítulo O Explorador define-se o anarquismo comunista de Kropotkin, o fato dele ser o mais otimista e bondoso dos revolucinários, como seu pensamento científico aliou a cooperação mútua, mais do que a luta, na sobrevivência das espécies.
O capítulo em que se discute Tolstói é O Profeta, explana como ele se autointulava cristão libertário e seus experimentos com educação e economia na própria propriedade e o quanto seu anarquismo pacifista influenciou Gandhi.
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Actually, it would deserve a much better rating, if only it was possible to tell where he's inventing facts to suit his idea of what the anarchist movement ought to be. Clue: he's not very good on the Spanish movement, those nasty ruffians!
½
香港大學歷史系

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117+ Works 1,678 Members
George Woodcock was born in Winnipeg, Canada on May 8, 1912. He was educated in England, and returned to Canada in 1949. He was a poet, critic, and essayist. During his lifetime, he wrote and edited almost 150 books. His works included Anarchism, The Anarchist Reader, The Crystal Spirit, and Canada and the Canadians. He was the founding editor of show more Canadian Literature, the first journal to look solely at Canada's literary world. He also founded the anarchist literary journal Now in 1940. He died from coronary problems on January 28, 1995 at the age of 82. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

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Canonical title
Anarchism: A History of Libertarian Ideas and Movements
Alternate titles
Anarchism
Original publication date
1962

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, History, Philosophy, Politics and Government
DDC/MDS
335.83Social sciencesEconomicsSocialism and related systemsOther systemsAnarchism
LCC
HX828 .W6Social sciencesSocialism. Communism. AnarchismAnarchism
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Members
447
Popularity
67,583
Reviews
8
Rating
(3.97)
Languages
7 — English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
17
ASINs
9