The Russian Anarchists

In the turmoil of the Russian insurrection of 1905 and civil war of 1917, the anarchists attempted to carry out their program of “direct action”—workers’ control of production, the creation of free rural and urban communes, and partisan warfare against the enemies of a free society. Avrich consulted published material in five languages and anarchist archives worldwide to present a picture of the philosophers, bomb throwers, peasants, and soldiers who fought and died for the freedom of “Mother Russia.” Including the influence and ideas of Bakunin and Kropotkin, the armed uprisings of Makhno, the activities of Volin, Maximoff, and the attempted aid of Berkman and Emma Goldman. Paul Avrich is a retired professor of history at Queens College. In the turmoil of the Russian insurrection of 1905 and civil war of 1917, the anarchists attempted to carry out their program of "direct action"-workers' control of production, the creation of free rural and urban communes, and partisan warfare against the enemies of a free society. They acted as the gadfly of total rebellion, brooking no compromise with the annihilation of government and private property, refusing to accept anything but the Golden Age of full liberty and equality. In the end, however, a new despotism arose upon the ruins of the old, and the anarchist movement in Russia was stamped out. The few who survived the Communist government's torture and executions clung to the belief that ultimately their vision of a stateless utopia would triumph.In addition to examining published material in five languages, Avrich consulted anarchist archives worldwide to present a picture of the philosophers, bomb throwers, peasants, and soldiers who fought and died for the freedom of "Mother Russia." The influence and ideas of Bakunin and Kropotkin, the armed uprisings of Makhno, the activities of Volin, Maximoff, and the attempted aid of Alexander Berkman and Emma Goldman are chronicled in this first English language history of the anarchist movement in Russia. Cover Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: 1905 Part II: 1917 Epilogue Chronology Annotated Bibliography Index