Means and Ends

The Revolutionary Practice of Anarchism in Europe and the United States

De: Zoe Baker

Narrado por: Keith Szarabajka

An expansive and accessible account of anarchism as a theory of practice.

Means and Ends is a new overview of the revolutionary strategy of anarchism in Europe and the United States between 1868 and 1939. Zoe Baker clearly and accessibly explains the ideas that historical anarchists developed in order to change the world. This includes their views on direct action, revolution, organization, state socialism, reforms, and trade unions. Throughout, she demonstrates that the reasons anarchists gave for supporting or opposing particular strategies were grounded in a theoretical framework—a theory of practice—which maintained that, as people engage in activity, they simultaneously change the world and themselves. This theoretical framework was the foundation for the anarchist commitment to the unity of means and ends: the means that revolutionaries propose to achieve social change have to involve forms of activity which transform people into individuals who are capable of, and driven to, both overthrow capitalism and the state and build a free society. The consistent heart of anarchism was the idea that anarchist ends can only be achieved through anarchist means. Cutting through misconceptions and historical inaccuracies, Baker draws upon a vast assortment of examples to show how this simple premise underpinned anarchist attempts to put theory into action.

©2023 Zoe Baker (P)2023 Tantor

definitely a good listen

this book gives an extremely well thought out and approachable summery of historical European anarchist thought.

Fabulous book

Zoe Baker does an amazing job setting out the believes and historical context of the classical Anarchist movement in Europe and the U.S. I highly recommend the book!

History and Theory as One for the Future!

The Left is lost in the neofuedal/neoliberal Era. Zoe Baker is calling on history to show us what was done so that we may plan, practice, and theorize our way to a better world. She is an inspiration and her work shows lazer-focus on what strategies anarchists have used to try to make a stateless, classless, society. This is required reading.

You should definitely read this

This book is a wonderful resource for anyone wanting to learn about Anarchism or it's history

An Excellent Historical Overview of Anarchism in Europe and the US

Zoe Baker gives us a very engaging and easily digestible historical overview of anarchism. A must read for those new to the anarchist school of thought as well as for those acquainted with the main principles of anarchism.