Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 20:19:09 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: AUT:Peter Kropotkin


Harry Cleaver wrote:

>On Fri, 25 Sep 1998, Richard Singer wrote:
>
>> Harry Cleaver wrote:
>> 
>> >Pyotr Kropotkin is probably (along with Bakunin) the most famous of all
>> >the Russian Anarchists. He was born into nobility, sat on the Czar's knee,
><snip> 
>>         What's your take on his support of WWI?  Some people say he was kind
>> of losing it in his later years.  Do you think that was the case?
>> Richard Singer
>> 
>
>Richard: I've never really looked into it very closely. He seems to have
>been almost universally condemned for it.
>> 
>> 
>> P.S.  The paper sounds very interesting... I've noted the many similarities
>> between Bakunin and the early Marx, but I haven't yet delved into Kropotkin
>> in this way.  Anyway, have you, by chance, put any of this paper on the Web,
>> or do you plan to in the future?
>> 
>Richard: I THINK its on my web page but I'm working right now on my
>brother's PC laptop and I'd have to get out of telnet and into netscape to
>verify. I'll do that tomorrow.
>
>I also haven't done the kind of work on Bakunin that Idid on Kropotkin.
>Have you written up your observations? Rubel seems to have spent part of
>his life working the interface between Marxism and Anarchism. I have a
>interesting piece of his called (in French) Marx: theoretician of
>anarchism.
>

        I've only written up my obervations in limited form, mainly in
e-mail messages.  As I'm not in academia, I find it difficult to determine
where such observations might be welcome -- but I'm working on it.

        I've generally found it frustrating dealing with activist groups in
the "far," non-authoritarian left because of this age-old feud between
anarchists and Marxists.  (The only group I'm in that clearly includes both
elements is the IWW, and in that organization there is constant infighting
anyway.)  This is because I have found many strong similarities between Marx
(especially in _The German Ideology_, which is the work I fell in love with)
and several anarchists (especially, ironically, Marx's great rival,
Bakunin), and I am very interested in Karl Korsch, Rosa Luxemburg and the
Council Communists.  I'm in total agreement with Noam Chomsky's assessment
that "Radical Marxism merges with anarchist currents."

        As a semi-self-introduction (since I never wrote one), I might add
that I joined this list through the recommendation of someone at a meeting
of the Atlantic Anarchist Circle (he's also an active list participant, but
I won't name him unless he wants me to) (and no, it's not you, Thano), when
I asked around regarding where I might find an e-mail list dealing with more
libertarian strains of Marxism.  I have not been that familiar with the
Italian Autonomist movement that seems to be the main focus here, although I
find it very interesting and am happy to learn more. 

        Anyway, I'll see if I can find Rubel's work in English (unless
you're sure that I can't), and thanks in advance for getting back to me
regarding your article.



Richard Singer

     














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