Peter Kropotkin
Russian anarchist philosopher and geographer (1842–1921); a leading proponent of anarchist communism.
At a glance
Main ideas
Mutual aid, Well-being for all, Abolish state and property together …
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Words of a Rebel, The Conquest of Bread, Fields, Factories, and Workshops …
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Leo Tolstoy and The Conquest of Bread
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Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Kropotkin was a Russian anarchist political philosopher and geographer.
- Born into an aristocratic family, he served as an officer in Siberia and took part in geological expeditions.
- He was imprisoned in 1874, escaped two years later, and spent 41 years in exile in Switzerland, France and England.
- He argued for a decentralised communist society of voluntary, self-governing communities.
- He returned to Russia in 1917 and was disappointed by the Bolshevik state.
Why it matters
- The Conquest of Bread and Mutual Aid made him a central figure of anarchist communism and an early voice for cooperation as a factor in evolution.
Key facts
- Born
- 9 Dec 1842 (O.S. 27 November), Moscow1
- Died
- 8 Feb 1921, of pneumonia; his family refused a state funeral1
- Education
- The Page Corps, St. Petersburg; served as the emperor's Page de Chambre1
- Siberia
- Officer with the Amur Cossacks from 1862; expeditions in Manchuria and the East Siberian Mountains1
- Imprisonment
- Imprisoned in Russia in 1874, escaped two years later; imprisoned in France for almost four years1
- Exile
- 41 years, in Switzerland, France and England; returned to Russia in June 19171
Main ideas
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Mutual aid1
Cooperation, not only competition, made for the success of species, including humans.
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Well-being for all2
Everyone contributes to the social product, so everyone has a right to well-being.
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Abolish state and property together1
The state maintains one class's power, so it cannot free workers.
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Against wages1
A collectivist wage system would breed the same centralisation and inequality as a capitalist one.
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Local self-sufficiency1
A country should grow its own food and make its own goods.
Books to start with
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Connections
Links
Sources
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