Bury the Hatchet?

“Divide and Conquer or Divide and SubDivide? – How Not to Refight the First International,” by Mark Leier, 2017

This pamphlet by an anarchist attempts to bridge the old divide between Marxists and anarchists. Not a bad goal, given the sectarianism on the actual Left. Leier attempts to do this by showing the close history of Marx and Bakunin, and mentions the problems both ideologies have encountered – bureaucratic state ‘socialism’ and small group violent adventurism.  He mentions the many ideas they shared, but identifies one of the problems as their roles in the movement.  Marx was an ‘educator’ and Bakunin a ‘rebel’ – part of 4 identities he thinks most leftists have, along with ‘activist’ and ‘helper’.

They Met Several Times

Leier thinks what happened in the 1^st International, which ultimately expelled Bakunin in 1872, was “a sad story with no victors.”  He does not detail what happened ideologically, except to question the typical narrative.  He does not see Marx advocating for a repressive state or a vanguard party or that Bakunin believed that “revolutions were made only by will.”  Leier thinks instead the divisions were one of temperament – the “narcissism of minor differences.”  He thinks it similar to academia – where “the fights are so fierce because the stakes are so small.”

I doubt any careful analysis of the differences will make them seem trivial.  Ultimately the split did lead to a division over legal social struggles versus ultra-left and many times violent actions.  Leier would do better to point out similarities – such as forms of ‘council communism,’ which both Marxists and anarchists have embraced.  Or both opposing fascism.  He does not. In the same sense, Leier mentions the “horrors of Leninism and Stalinism” without explanation.

Nevertheless this pamphlet points out that perhaps both sides can learn something from their past respective successes and failures.  This could lead proletarian socialists and proletarian anarchists to work together in some kind of ‘Left Front’ or ‘Workers Front.’ 

Other Books on anarchism, use blog search box, upper left, with these phrases:  "Anarchism and Its Aspirations," "Non-Violence Protects the State," "Something in the Air," "Hayduke Lives!," "Dressed Up for a Riot," "The Unseen," "The Dispossessed," "The Beach Beneath the Street," "Peace, Love and Petrol Bombs,"

And I bought it at May Day’s excellent pamphlet section!

Red Frog

April 17, 2019