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and concentrate attention upon the communistic form。 Socialism and
Anarchist Communism alike have arisen from the perception that private
capital is a source of tyranny by certain individuals over others。 Orthodox
Socialism believes that the individual will become free if the State
becomes the sole capitalist。 Anarchism； on the contrary； fears that in that
case the State might merely inherit the tyrannical propensities of the
private capitalist。 Accordingly； it seeks for a means of reconciling
communal ownership with the utmost possible diminution in the powers of
the State； and indeed ultimately with the complete abolition of the State。 It
has arisen mainly within the Socialist movement as its extreme left wing。
In the same sense in which Marx may be regarded as the founder of
modern Socialism； Bakunin may be regarded as the founder of Anarchist
Communism。 But Bakunin did not produce； like Marx； a finished and
systematic body of doctrine。 The nearest approach to this will be found in
the writings of his follower； Kropotkin。 In order to explain modern
Anarchism we shall begin with the life of Bakunin＇12＇ and the history of
his conflicts with Marx； and shall then give a brief account of Anarchist
theory as set forth partly in his writings； but more in those of
Kropotkin。＇13＇
＇12＇ An account of the life of Bakunin from the Anarchist standpoint
will be found in vol。 ii of the complete edition of his works： ‘‘Michel
Bakounine； OEuvres；'' Tome II。 Avec une notice biographique； des avant…
propos et des notes； par James Guillaume。 Paris； P。…V； Stock； editeur； pp。
v…lxiii。
＇13＇ Criticism of these theories will be reserved for Part II。
Michel Bakunin was born in 1814 of a Russian aristocratic family。
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His father was a diplomatist； who at the time of Bakunin's birth had retired
to his country estate in the Government of Tver。 Bakunin entered the
school of artillery in Petersburg at the age of fifteen； and at the age of
eighteen was sent as an ensign to a regiment stationed in the Government
of Minsk。 The Polish insurrection of 1880 had just been crushed。 ‘‘The
spectacle of terrorized Poland；'' says Guillaume； ‘‘acted powerfully on the
heart of the young officer； and contributed to inspire in him the horror of
despotism。'' This led him to give up the military career after two years'
trial。 In 1834 he resigned his commission and went to Moscow； where he
spent six years studying philosophy。 Like all philosophical students of that
period； he became a Hegelian； and in 1840 he went to Berlin to continue
his studies； in the hope of ultimately becoming a professor。 But after this
time his opinions underwent a rapid change。 He found it impossible to
accept the Hegelian maxim that whatever is； is rational； and in 1842 he
migrated to Dresden； where he became associated with Arnold Ruge； the
publisher of ‘‘Deutsche Jahrbuecher。'' By this time he had become a
revolutionary； and in the following year he incurred the hostility of the
Saxon Government。 This led him to go to Switzerland； where he came in
contact with a group of German Communists； but； as the Swiss police
importuned him and the Russian Government demanded his return； he
removed to Paris； where he remained from 1843 to 1847。 These years in
Paris were important in the formation of his outlook and opinions。 He
became acquainted with Proudhon； who exercised a considerable
influence on him； also with George Sand and many other well… known
people。 It was in Paris that he first made the acquaintance of Marx and
Engels； with whom he was to carry on a lifelong battle。 At a much later
period； in 1871； he gave the following account of his relations with Marx
at this time：
Marx was much more advanced than I was； as he remains to…day not
more advanced but incomparably more learned than I am。 I knew then
nothing of political economy。 I had not yet rid myself of metaphysical
abstractions； and my Socialism was only instinctive。 He； though younger
than I； was already an atheist； an instructed materialist； a well…considered
Socialist。 It was just at this time that he elaborated the first foundations of
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his present system。 We saw each other fairly often； for I respected him
much for his learning and his passionate and serious devotion （always
mixed； however； with personal vanity） to the cause of the proletariat； and I
sought eagerly his conversation； which was always instructive and clever；
when it was not inspired by a paltry hate； which； alas！ happened only too
often。 But there was never any frank intimacy between as。 Our
temperaments would not suffer it。 He called me a sentimental idealist； and
he was right； I called him a vain man； perfidious and crafty； and I also was
right。
Bakunin never succeeded in staying long in one place without
incurring the enmity of the authorities。 In November； 1847； as the result of
a speech praising the Polish rising of 1830； he was expelled from France at
the request of the Russian Embassy； which； in order to rob him of public
sympathy； spread the unfounded report that he had been an agent of the
Russian Government； but was no longer wanted because he had gone too
far。 The French Government； by calculated reticence； encouraged this
story； which clung to him more or less throughout his life。
Being compelled to leave France； he went to Brussels； where he
renewed acquaintance with Marx。 A letter of his； written at this time；
shows that he entertained already that bitter hatred for which afterward he
had so much reason。 ‘‘The Germans； artisans； Bornstedt； Marx and
Engelsand； above all； Marxare here； doing their ordinary mischief。
Vanity； spite； gossip； theoretical overbearingness and practical
pusillanimityreflections on life； action and simplicity； and complete
absence of life； action and simplicityliterary and argumentative artisans
and repulsive coquetry with them： ‘Feuerbach is a bourgeois；' and the
word ‘bourgeois' grown into an epithet and repeated ad nauseum； but all of
them themselves from head to foot； through and through； provincial
bourgeois。 With one word； lying and stupidity； stupidity and lying。 In this
society there is no possibility of drawing a free； full breath。 I hold myself
aloof from them； and have declared quite decidedly that I will not join
their communistic union of artisans； and will have nothing to do with it。''
The Revolution of 1848 led him to return to Paris and thence to
Germany。 He had a quarrel with Marx over a matter in which he himself
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confessed later that Marx was in the right。 He became a member of the
Slav Congress in Prague； where he vainly endeavored to promote a Slav
insurrection。 Toward the end of 1848； he wrote an ‘‘Appeal to Slavs；''
calling on them to combine with other revolutionaries to destroy the three
oppressive monarchies； Russia； Austria and Prussia。 Marx attacked him in
print； saying； in effect； that the movement for Bohemian independence
was futile because the Slavs had no future； at any rate in those regions
where they hap… pened to be subject to Germany and Austria。 Bakunin
accused Mars of German patriotism in this matter； and Marx accused him
of Pan…Slavism； no doubt in both cases justly。 Before this dispute； however；
a much more serious quarrel had taken place。 Marx's paper； the ‘‘Neue
Rheinische Zeitung；'' stated that George Sand had papers proving Bakunin
to be a Russian Governmen