Anarchy Vs Mass Movement

Anarchy, terrorism, mass movement, three words that often become associated, but often remain misunderstood. Voltairine de Cleyre states “Anarchism, to me, means not only the denial of authority, not only a new economy, but a revision of principles of morality. It means the development of the individual as well as the assertion of the individual. It means self-responsibility, and not leader worship.” On the other hand, terrorism defined as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims means something completely different. Mass movement is an organized effort by a large number of people. Eric Hoffer’s The True Believer and James Joll’s The Anarchists introduce political violence,
Anarchy has a rich tradition that started long before social classes and hierarchical societies began. Anarchists of the 18th century and later followed by the 19th century use propaganda and violence to emphasize and initiate their movements. Joll discusses the different factions of anarchy and the people who started each faction. No matter the violence levels of the people all forms of anarchy come from a cause. No matter the school of thought behind each form of anarchy, all start with an organizational principle. “The new order of the future is no easy, immediately attainable utopia…Liberty, Equality, Severity” (68) Proudhon says. Joll paints the mid-19th century as a very violent time in Anarchy history. Joll sheds a light on the spreading of violence throughout the factions, and helps to answer the question why some anarchists believe in violence while others remain pacifistic. Some anarchists even start pacifistic, then move to more violent means. When as causes seem unattainable this occurs. When people do not make their goals violence becomes
After reading James Joll’s The Anarchists and researching Bakunin a little more in-depth I would equate him with a true believer. This may seem farfetched knowing that Bakunin, a strong social leader, and one of the founding front-runners for anarchism led the crowd. Bakunin as all true believers started out a follower, he studied and learned. Bakunin was not notably poor. However, Bakunin got expelled from school at a young age, and eventually joined the Russian Imperial Guard. When he left the Guard he became increasingly interested in the Revolution. “Moreover, in Bakunin’s view, it is only hereditary fortunes which prevent all men being equal: he denied that there was any inequality of natural gifts, and believed that it was only environment produced the inequities of present society.” (Joll