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Title: The Anarchist International Author: Max Baginski Date: November, 1907 Language: en Topics: anarchist international, first international, internationalism, marxism Source: Retrieved on December 22, 2011 from http://libertarian-labyrinth.org/archive/The_Anarchist_International Notes: From Mother Earth
The old International awakens diverse feelings. It was no doubt a
powerful attempt to call into life the idea of the revolutionary
proletariat in solidaric and international relationship. Unfortunately,
however, it served as a centre of intrigue and gossip.
Karl Marx was essentially centralistic. Possibly he imagined that
himself, Engels and their immediate friends embodied the only true
conception as to the lines that Socialism and the movement of the
proletariat should follow. The faith in his own infallibility inevitably
resulted in Marx becoming autocratic and authoritarian.
Michael Bakunin was temperamentally unfitted for dogmatic and orthodox
ideas. He hated the zigzag path of diplomacy with its intrigues and
speculations. Revolution to Bakunin did not mean a scientific doctrine,
nor was it a cold, automatic result of evolution, to assert itself
without the efforts and assistance of men. Rather did he see in
Revolution the direct result of the conscious emotions and aspirations
of those who suffer most under the yoke of our social crimes and errors.
The Marxian slogan was to seize the governmental machinery through the
ballot. Bakunin, on the other hand, waged war on all government,
including that of workingmen, perceiving in any governmental and
political regime the very source of oppression and tyranny.
The present syndicalist movement, consisting of direct action, the
General Strike, etc., originated with Bakunin, and was fought tooth and
nail by the Marxian clique. Thus, centralized authority — as conceived
by Marx — and anti-authoritarian federalism — as embodied by Bakunin —
were doomed to clash and war with each other.
The weapons employed by Marx and his disciples in this contest were full
of poison and venom. But it is not the object of this article to discuss
them, nor the mass of insinuation and malicious slander circulated
against Bakunin.
The object I have in view is to acquaint the readers of Mother Earth
with the nature and purpose of the Anarchist International, formed at
the Amsterdam Congress. The new International will continue to wave the
flag which Bakunin was prevented from doing by its old namesake.
The main raison d’etre of the International Bureau at London is to
gather Anarchist groups and federations now scattered all over the world
and to bring them into harmonious and solidaric relations with each
other.
The desire to combine our forces grew out of the lack of concerted
action among the comrades of various countries, as well as the comrades
of different nationalities. We know so little of each other; we carry on
a singlehanded, desperate battle with the powers that be, — a battle
which would prove much more effective and less trying were we united.
We may remain perfectly indifferent to the sensational gust of the
capitalist press that Anarchist organizations are synonymous with
blood-curdling conspiracies. But we cannot afford to have the minds of
the workers poisoned by these misrepresentations.
The Anarchists, more than any other set of thinkers, have ever
emphasized the dangers of sectarianism, yet many of us have failed to
apply our ideas to the everyday life, and to enter the broad, wide field
of the economic struggle. As Anarchists, we cannot remain mere preachers
and prophets; we must be practical builders of the foundation that is to
support the future. It is a lamentable fact that so few comrades are
actively engaged in the trade union movement, yet is there anyone so
eminently equipped to participate in the daily economic struggle between
capital and labor than the well-informed Anarchist? He knows that the
proletariat furnishes the source of revolt against the present social
conditions. It therefore behooves him to direct that source into such
channels which will pave the way for a new social arrangement.
I do not contend that the International Bureau will represent the force
that is to reconstruct the labor movement; what I do insist upon is that
the Bureau can become instrumental in bringing about a more thorough
understanding between Anarchists and the organized labor forces.
To achieve this the Bureau needs the individual and collective
co-operation of all comrades.
A circular letter just received from the secretary of the Bureau puts
several questions to the readers of Mother Earth. I recommend that those
questions be thoroughly discussed, and whatever conclusions the comrades
will arrive at should be sent to the secretary without fail.
In conclusion, just a few more words. Some people, either out of
ignorance or for personal reasons, charge that the Congress, in forming
the International, was arbitrary and inconsistent with Anarchism. These
good people seem to have forgotten that the proposition of an
International was submitted to the comrades six months prior to the
Congress; that it was discussed and decided upon by many groups and
individual comrades, and that several of the delegates were sent with
the express purpose to urge the formation of the International. But
aside of all this, I wish to state that the International is not to be
imposed upon any group or individual.
The Bureau has no statute books, nor is there the slightest danger that
it will devise any catechism which every Anarchist will be compelled to
accept. As a medium for creating closer International comradeship,
greater unity of action and more lasting results, the Bureau is to be
heartily welcomed.
Let every comrade assist, and the Anarchist Inter national will become a
tremendous factor.