Written by a Russian prince who renounced his title, this work promotes an anarchist market economy — a system of autonomous cooperative collectives. A century after its initial publication, it remains fresh and relevant.
The Russian anarchist Peter Kropotkin was the world's foremost spokesman of anarchism at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries. The Conquest of Bread is his most detailed description of the ideal society, embodying anarchist communism, and of the social revolution that was to achieve it. Marshall Shatz's introduction to this edition traces Kropotkin's evolution as an anarchist, from his origins in the Russian aristocracy to his disillusionment with the Russian Revolution, and the volume also includes a hitherto untranslated chapter from his classic Memoirs of a Revolutionist, which contains colourful character-sketches of some of his fellow anarchists, as well as an article he wrote summarising the history of anarchism, and some of his views on the Revolution.
For over a century, California (CA) has been the world¿s most advanced agricultural zone, that not only out-produces every state in America, but also most countries. CA¿s landscape and Mediterranean climate have been manipulated and exploited to serve a modern business system. Here, Walker offers an overview of the agro-industrial system of production in CA, from farm to table. He lays bare the long evolution of each link in the food chain, showing how a persistent emphasis on productivity and growth allowed CA to outpace developments elsewhere in the U.S. He allows the reader to weigh the claims of both boosters and critics in the debate over the most extraordinary agricultural profusion in the modern world. Illustrations.
'Everywhere you will find that the wealth of the wealthy springs from the poverty of the poor' Fuelled by anger at injustice and optimism about humankind's ability to make a better, truly communal society, the anarchist writings of Peter Kropotkin have influenced radicals the world over, from nineteenth-century workers to today's activists. One of twenty new books in the bestselling Penguin Great Ideas series. This new selection showcases a diverse list of thinkers who have helped shape our world today, from anarchists to stoics, feminists to prophets, satirists to Zen Buddhists.
Five Works In One Collection - Also available for Kindle and Audible! Story 1: The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin The deficiencies of the economic systems of capitalism and feudalism are proposed to be how the whole of society is kept in poverty and scarcity and, therefore, under the control of the wealthy few. Written in the late 1800s, this prophetic book reveals the truths of the many abuses against human rights caused by the centralization of industry. Story 2: Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution by Peter Kropotkin Mutual aid, otherwise known as mutually beneficial cooperation, is explored as having an essential role in both the animal kingdom and human society in the survival of everyone. Supporting the theory and foundation for anarchist communism, Peter presents an altruistic view of society, comparing it to the natural laws of biology and evolution. Story 3: Fields, Factories and Workshops by Peter Kropotkin Focused on the decentralization of industry, Fields, Factories and Workshops connects anarchism with science based on behavioral trends and tendencies of people. He delivers an economical approach to the formation of a stateless society in which all citizens participate in meeting the needs of the community. Story 4: An Appeal to the Young by Peter Kropotkin Kropotkin's most famous pamphlet An Appeal to the Young addresses young professionals entering the workforce, encouraging them to join the cause to incite radical societal change. Story 5: The Life of Kropotkin by CSA Publishing This is an original biography about the prolific thought leader in communist anarchism. Kropotkin tirelessly approached a cause which he believed would benefit humanity and continued to inspire his fellow countrymen to join the movement until his death in 1921.
Includes "Law and Authority," arguing social control through custom and education, and "Prisons and Their Moral Influence on Prisoners," expressing the evils of the prison system, and other documents.
'The standard book on anarchism for the twenty-first century. Written with brio, quiet insight and clarity' Carl Levy A magisterial study of the history and theory of one of the most controversial political movements Anarchism routinely gets a bad press. It's usually seen as meaning chaos and disorder -- or even nothing at all. And yet, from Occupy Wall Street to Pussy Riot, Noam Chomsky to David Graeber, this philosophical and political movement is as relevant as ever. Contrary to popular perception, different strands of anarchism -- from individualism to collectivism -- do follow certain structures and a shared sense of purpose: a belief in freedom and working towards collective good without the interference of the state. In this masterful, sympathetic account, political theorist Ruth Kinna traces the tumultuous history of anarchism, starting with thinkers and activists such as Peter Kropotkin and Emma Goldman and through key events like the Paris Commune and the Haymarket affair. Skilfully introducing us to the nuanced theories of anarchist groups from Russia to Japan to the United States, The Government of No One reveals what makes a supposedly chaotic movement particularly adaptable and effective over centuries -- and what we can learn from it.