Anarchist Communism

In “Anarchist Communism: Everywhere You Will Find that the Wealth of the Wealthy Springs from the Poverty of the Poor,” Peter Kropotkin writes, “We cry shame on the feudal baron who forbade the peasant to turn a clod of earth unless he surrendered to his lord a fourth of his crop. We called those the barbarous times. But if the forms have changed, the relations have remained the same, and the worker is forced, under the name of free contract, to accept feudal obligations. For, turn where he will, he can find no better conditions. Everything has become private property, and he must accept, or die of hunger” (pgs. 12-13). Kropotkin continues, “It is high time for the worker to assert his right to the common inheritance, and to enter into possession of it” (pg. 34). In his titular essay, Kropotkin argues the folly of individualism, explaining how various institutions already demonstrate the ability to work for the common good, including inclusive rail lines, museums, libraries, and even the field of science – though he describes science in the sense of late nineteenth-century scientific discovery prior to that practiced by modern industrial capitalists and their global corporations. This Penguin “Great Ideas” edition of Kropotkin’s work is a nice, inexpensive way to get a hardcopy of his work for scholarly analysis or use in the classroom. It is worthy of study by those re-examining the current socioeconomic systems in the West that exist to accumulate wealth and power in the hands of a few individuals, but should be read alongside other political works to place it in context and realize that no one text will furnish all the answers.

Kropotkin makes many excellent and compelling arguments for his form of communism called Anarchist communism. Most of his arguments regarding the feudal system and exploitation of the poor by the rich are true and the solutions he provides for these are also great in theory. But I believe those are not practical. Though he also argues that theorists will find his ideas impractical and impossible but his call for absolute reform in both the industrial sector and agricultural sectors simultaneously is highly difficult to achieve. His argument regarding food being a primary necessity for the success of any revolution is compelling and you will feel the honesty in his arguments. He truly believes that a his communism is the best for any society. All the ideas presented are very moving and revolutionary. Everyone should give it a read to understand the immediate reforms which might be required in our present socio-economic world.

I wish to find more contemporary sources of theory to be inspired by.

Very disappointed to find out that this book is just the first five chapters of Kropotkin's The Conquest of Bread. Go buy the whole book which is almost the same price and don't waste your money on this.Also, the dimensions, font, and structure of this edition make it look like a book you would almost find at a cafeteria.(Review refers to "anarchist communism" published by penguin great ideas)