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TheSpiritofRevoltbyPeterKropotkin(18421921)

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TheSpiritofRevolt,1880
PeterKropotkin(18421921)
Thereareperiodsinthelifeofhumansocietywhenrevolutionbecomesan
imperativenecessity,whenitproclaimsitselfasinevitable.Newideas
germinateeverywhere,seekingtoforcetheirwayintothelight,tofindan
applicationinlifeeverywheretheyareopposedbytheinertiaofthose
whoseinterestitistomaintaintheoldordertheysuffocateinthestifling
atmosphereofprejudiceandtraditions.Theacceptedideasofthe
constitutionoftheState,ofthelawsofsocialequilibrium,ofthepolitical
andeconomicinterrelationsofcitizens,canholdoutnolongeragainstthe
implacablecriticismwhichisdailyunderminingthemwheneveroccasion
arises,indrawingroomasincabaret,inthewritingsofphilosophersasin
dailyconversation.Political,economic,andsocialinstitutionsare
crumblingthesocialstructure,havingbecomeuninhabitable,ishindering,
evenpreventingthedevelopmentoftheseedswhicharebeingpropagated
withinitsdamagedwallsandbeingbroughtfortharoundthem.
Theneedforanewlifebecomesapparent.Thecodeofestablishedmorality,
thatwhichgovernsthegreaternumberofpeopleintheirdailylife,no
longerseemssufficient.Whatformerlyseemedjustisnowfelttobea
cryinginjustice.Themoralityofyesterdayistodayrecognizedasrevolting
immorality.Theconflictbetweennewideasandoldtraditionsflamesupin
everyclassofsociety,ineverypossibleenvironment,intheverybosomof
thefamily.Thesonstrugglesagainsthisfather,hefindsrevoltingwhathis
fatherhasallhislifefoundnaturalthedaughterrebelsagainstthe
principleswhichhermotherhashandeddowntoherastheresultoflong
experience.Daily,thepopularconsciencerisesupagainstthescandals
whichbreedamidsttheprivilegedandtheleisured,againstthecrimes
committedinthenameofthelawofthestronger,orinordertomaintain
theseprivileges.Thosewholongforthetriumphofjustice,thosewho
wouldputnewideasintopractice,aresoonforcedtorecognizethatthe
realizationoftheirgenerous,humanitarianandregeneratingideascannot
takeplaceinasocietythusconstitutedtheyperceivethenecessityofa
revolutionarywhirlwindwhichwillsweepawayallthisrottenness,revive
sluggishheartswithitsbreath,andbringtomankindthatspiritofdevotion,
selfdenial,andheroism,withoutwhichsocietysinksthroughdegradation
andvilenessintocompletedisintegration.
Inperiodsoffrenziedhastetowardwealth,offeverishspeculationandof
crisis,ofthesuddendownfallofgreatindustriesandtheephemeral
expansionofotherbranchesofproduction,ofscandalousfortunesamassed
inafewyearsanddissipatedasquickly,itbecomesevidentthatthe
economicinstitutionswhichcontrolproductionandexchangearefarfrom
givingtosocietytheprosperitywhichtheyaresupposedtoguaranteethey
producepreciselytheoppositeresult.Insteadofordertheybringforth
chaosinsteadofprosperity,povertyandinsecurityinsteadofreconciled
interests,waraperpetualwaroftheexploiteragainsttheworker,of
exploitersandofworkersamongthemselves.Humansocietyisseentobe

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splittingmoreandmoreintotwohostilecamps,andatthesametimetobe
subdividingintothousandsofsmallgroupswagingmercilesswaragainst
eachother.Wearyofthesewars,wearyofthemiserieswhichtheycause,
societyrushestoseekaneworganizationitclamorsloudlyforacomplete
remodelingofthesystemofpropertyownership,ofproduction,ofexchange
andalleconomicrelationswhichspringfromit.
Themachineryofgovernment,entrustedwiththemaintenanceofthe
existingorder,continuestofunction,butateveryturnofitsdeteriorated
gearsitslipsandstops.Itsworkingbecomesmoreandmoredifficult,and
thedissatisfactioncausedbyitsdefectsgrowscontinuously.Everyday
givesrisetoanewdemand."Reformthis,""reformthat,"isheardfromall
sides."War,finance,taxes,courts.police,everythingmustberemodeled,
reorganized,establishedonanewbasis,"saythereformers.Andvetall
knowthatitisimpossibletomakethingsover,toremodelanythingatall
becauseeverythingisinterrelatedeverythingwouldhavetoberemadeat
onceandhowcansocietyberemodeledwhenitisdividedintotwoopenly
hostilecamps?Tosatisfythediscontentedwouldbeonlytocreatenew
malcontents.
Incapableofundertakingreforms,sincethiswouldmeanpavingthewayfor
revolution,andatthesametimetooimpotenttobefranklyreactionary,the
governingbodiesapplythemselvestohalfmeasureswhichcansatisfy
nobody,andonlycausenewdissatisfaction.Themediocritieswho,insuch
transitionperiods,undertaketosteertheshipofState,thinkofbutone
thing:toenrichthen.selvesagainstthecomingdbcle.Attackedfromall
sidestheydefendthemselvesawkwardly,theyevade,theycommitblunder
uponblunder,andtheysoonsucceedincuttingthelastropeofsalvation
theydrowntheprestigeofthegovernmentinridicule,causedbytheirown
incapacity.
Suchperiodsdemandrevolution.Itbecomesasocialnecessitythesituation
itselfisrevolutionary.
Whenwestudyintheworksofourgreatesthistoriansthegenesisand
developmentofvastrevolutionaryconvulsions,wegenerallyfindunderthe
heading,"TheCauseoftheRevolution,"agrippingpictureofthesituation
ontheeveofevents.Themiseryofthepeople,thegeneralinsecurity,the
vexatiousmeasuresofthegovernment,theodiousscandalslayingbarethe
immensevicesofsociety,thenewideasstrugglingtocometothesurface
andrepulsedbytheincapacityofthesupportersoftheformerrgime,
nothingisomitted.Examiningthispicture,onearrivesattheconvictionthat
therevolutionwasindeedinevitable,andthattherewasnootherwayout
thanbytheroadofinsurrection.
Take,forexample,thesituationbefore1789asthehistorianspictureit.You
canalmosthearthepeasantcomplainingofthesalttax,ofthetithe,ofthe
feudalpayments,andvowinginhisheartanimplacablehatredtowardsthe
feudalbaron,themonk,themonopolist,thebailiff.Youcanalmostseethe
citizenbewailingthelossofhismunicipalliberties,andshowering
maledictionsupontheking.Thepeoplecensurethequeentheyarerevolted
bythereportsofministerialaction,andtheycryoutcontinuallythatthe
taxesareintolerableandrevenuepaymentsexorbitant,thatcropsarebad
andwintershard,thatprovisionsaretoodearandthemonopoliststoo
grasping,thatthevillagelawyerdevoursthepeasant'scropsandthevillage
constabletriestoplaytheroleofapettyking,thateventhemailserviceis
badlyorganizedandtheemployeestoolazy.Inshort,nothingworkswell,
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everybodycomplains."Itcanlastnolonger,itwillcometoabadend,"they
cryeverywhere.
But,betweenthispacificarguingandinsurrectionorrevolt,thereisawide
abyss,thatabysswhich,forthegreatestpartofhumanity,liesbetween
reasoningandaction,thoughtandwill,theurgetoact.Howhasthisabyss
beenbridged?Howisitthatmenwhoonlyyesterdaywerecomplaining
quietlyoftheirlotastheysmokedtheirpipes,andthenextmomentwere
humblysalutingthelocalguardandgendarmewhomtheyhadjustbeen
abusing,howisitthatthesesamemenafewdayslaterwerecapableof
seizingtheirscythesandtheirironshodpikesandattackinginhiscastlethe
lordwhoonlyyesterdaywassoformidable?Bywhatmiraclewerethese
men,whosewivesjustlycalledthemcowards,transformedinadayinto
heroes,marchingthroughbulletsandcannonballstotheconquestoftheir
rights?Howwasitthatwords,sooftenspokenandlostintheairlikethe
emptychimingofbells,werechangedintoactions?
Theansweriseasy.
Action,thecontinuousaction,ceaselesslyrenewed,ofminoritiesbrings
aboutthistransformation.Courage,devotion,thespiritofsacrifice,areas
contagiousascowardice,submission,andpanic.
Whatformswillthisactiontake?Allforms,indeed,themostvariedforms,
dictatedbycircumstances,temperament,andthemeansatdisposal.
Sometimestragic,sometimeshumorous,butalwaysdaringsometimes
collective,sometimespurelyindividual,thispolicyofactionwillneglect
noneofthemeansathand,noeventofpubliclife,inordertokeepthespirit
alive,topropagateandfindexpressionfordissatisfaction,toexcitehatred
againstexploiters,toridiculethegovernmentandexposeitsweakness,and
aboveallandalways,byactualexample,toawakencourageandfanthe
spiritofrevolt.
Whenarevolutionarysituationarisesinacountry,beforethespiritofrevolt
issufficientlyawakenedinthemassestoexpressitselfinviolent
demonstrationsinthestreetsorbyrebellionsanduprisings,itisthrough
actionthatminoritiessucceedinawakeningthatfeelingofindependence
andthatspiritofaudacitywithoutwhichnorevolutioncancometoahead.
Menofcourage,notsatisfiedwithwords,buteversearchingforthemeans
totransformthemintoaction,menofintegrityforwhomtheactisone
withtheidea,forwhomprison,exile,anddeatharepreferabletoalife
contrarytotheirprinciples,intrepidsoulswhoknowthatitisnecessaryto
dareinordertosucceed,thesearethelonelysentinelswhoenterthebattle
longbeforethemassesaresufficientlyrousedtoraiseopenlythebannerof
insurrectionandtomarch,armsinhand,totheconquestoftheirrights.
Inthemidstofdiscontent,talk,theoreticaldiscussions,anindividualor
collectiveactofrevoltsupervenes,symbolizingthedominantaspirations.It
ispossiblethatatthebeginningthemasseswillremainindifferent.Itis
possiblethatwhileadmiringthecourageoftheindividualorthegroup
whichtakestheinitiative,themasseswillatfirstfollowthosewhoare
prudentandcautious,whowillimmediatelydescribethisactas"insanity"
andsaythat"thosemadmen,thosefanaticswillendangereverything."
Theyhavecalculatedsowell,thoseprudentandcautiousmen,thattheir
party,slowlypursuingitsworkwould,inahundredyears,twohundred
years,threehundredyearsperhaps,succeedinconqueringthewhole
world,andnowtheunexpectedintrudes!Theunexpected,ofcourse,is
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whateverhasnotbeenexpectedbythem,thoseprudentandcautiousones!
Whoeverhasaslightknowledgeofhistoryandafairlyclearheadknows
perfectlywellfromthebeginningthattheoreticalpropagandaforrevolution
willnecessarilyexpressitselfinactionlongbeforethetheoreticianshave
decidedthatthemomenttoacthascome.Nevertheless,thecautious
theoreticiansareangryatthesemadmen,theyexcommunicatethem,they
anathematizethem.Butthemadmenwinsympathy,themassofthepeople
secretlyapplaudtheircourage,andtheyfindimitators.Inproportionasthe
pioneersgotofillthejailsandthepenalcolonies,otherscontinuetheir
workactsofillegalprotest,ofrevolt,ofvengeance,multiply.
Indifferencefromthispointonisimpossible.Thosewhoatthebeginning
neversomuchasaskedwhatthe"madmen"wanted,arecompelledtothink
aboutthem,todiscusstheirideas,totakesidesfororagainst.Byactions
whichcompelgeneralattention,thenewideaseepsintopeople'smindsand
winsconverts.Onesuchactmay,inafewdays,makemorepropaganda
thanthousandsofpamphlets.
Aboveall,itawakensthespiritofrevolt:itbreedsdaring.Theoldorder,
supportedbythepolice,themagistrates,thegendarmesandthesoldiers,
appearedunshakable,liketheoldfortressoftheBastille,whichalso
appearedimpregnabletotheeyesoftheunarmedpeoplegatheredbeneath
itshighwallsequippedwithloadedcannon.Butsoonitbecameapparent
thattheestablishedorderhasnottheforceonehadsupposed.One
courageousacthassufficedtoupsetinafewdaystheentiregovernmental
machinery,tomakethecolossustrembleanotherrevolthasstirredawhole
provinceintoturmoil,andthearmy,tillnowalwayssoimposing,has
retreatedbeforeahandfulofpeasantsarmedwithsticksandstones.The
peopleobservethatthemonsterisnotsoterribleastheythoughttheybegin
dimlytoperceivethatafewenergeticeffortswillbesufficienttothrowit
down.Hopeisbornintheirhearts,andletusrememberthatifexasperation
oftendrivesmentorevolt,itisalwayshope,thehopeofvictory,which
makesrevolutions.
Thegovernmentresistsitissavageinitsrepressions.But,thoughformerly
persecutionkilledtheenergyoftheoppressed,now,inperiodsof
excitement,itproducestheoppositeresult.Itprovokesnewactsofrevolt,
individualandcollective,itdrivestherebelstoheroismandinrapid
successiontheseactsspread,becomegeneral,develop.Therevolutionary
partyisstrengthenedbyelementswhichuptothistimewerehostileor
indifferenttoit.Thegeneraldisintegrationpenetratesintothegovernment,
therulingclasses,theprivilegedsomeofthemadvocateresistancetothe
limitothersareinfavorofconcessionsothers,again,gosofarasto
declarethemselvesreadytorenouncetheirprivilegesforthemoment,in
ordertoappeasethespiritofrevolt,hopingtodominateagainlateron.The
unityofthegovernmentandtheprivilegedclassisbroken.
Therulingclassesmayalsotrytofindsafetyinsavagereaction.Butitis
nowtoolatethebattleonlybecomesmorebitter,moreterrible,andthe
revolutionwhichisloomingwillonlybemorebloody.Ontheotherhand,
thesmallestconcessionofthegoverningclasses,sinceitcomestoolate,
sinceithasbeensnatchedinstruggle,onlyawakestherevolutionaryspirit
stillmore.Thecommonpeople,whoformerlywouldhavebeensatisfied
withthesmallestconcession,observenowthattheenemyiswaveringthey
foreseevictory,theyfeeltheircouragegrowing,andthesamemenwho
wereformerlycrushedbymiseryandwerecontenttosighinsecret,nowlift
theirheadsandmarchproudlytotheconquestofabetterfuture.
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Finallytherevolutionbreaksout,themoreterribleasthepreceding
struggleswerebitter.
Thedirectionwhichtherevolutionwilltakedepends,nodoubt,uponthe
sumtotalofthevariouscircumstancesthatdeterminethecomingofthe
cataclysm.Butitcanbepredictedinadvance,accordingtothevigorof
revolutionaryactiondisplayedinthepreparatoryperiodbythedifferent
progressiveparties.
Onepartymayhavedevelopedmoreclearlythetheorieswhichitdefines
andtheprogramwhichitdesirestorealizeitmayhavemadepropaganda
actively,byspeechandinprint.Butitmaynothavesufficientlyexpressed
itsaspirationsintheopen,onthestreet,byactionswhichembodythe
thoughtitrepresentsithasdonelittle,orithasdonenothingagainstthose
whoareitsprincipalenemiesithasnotattackedtheinstitutionswhichit
wantstodemolishitsstrengthhasbeenintheory,notinactionithas
contributedlittletoawakenthespiritofrevolt,orithasneglectedtodirect
thatspiritagainstconditionswhichitparticularlydesirestoattackatthe
timeoftherevolution.Asaresult,thispartyislessknownitsaspirations
havenotbeendailyandcontinuouslyaffirmedbyactions,theglamorof
whichcouldreacheventheremotesthuttheyhavenotsufficiently
penetratedintotheconsciousnessofthepeopletheyhavenotidentified
themselveswiththecrowdandthestreettheyhaveneverfoundsimple
expressioninapopularslogan.
Themostactivewritersofsuchapartyareknownbytheirreadersas
thinkersofgreatmerit,buttheyhaveneitherthereputationnorthe
capacitiesofmenofactionandonthedaywhenthemobspourthroughthe
streetstheywillprefertofollowtheadviceofthosewhohavelessprecise
theoreticalideasandnotsuchgreataspirations,butwhomtheyknowbetter
becausetheyhaveseenthemact.
Thepartywhichhasmademostrevolutionarypropagandaandwhichhas
shownmostspiritanddaringwillbelistenedtoonthedaywhenitis
necessarytoact,tomarchinfrontinordertorealizetherevolution.Butthat
partywhichhasnothadthedaringtoaffirmitselfbyrevolutionaryactsin
thepreparatoryperiodsnorhadadrivingforcestrongenoughtoinspiremen
andgroupstothesentimentofabnegation,totheirresistibledesiretoput
theirideasintopractice,(ifthisdesirehadexisteditwouldhaveexpressed
itselfinactionlongbeforethemassofthepeoplehadjoinedtherevolt)
andwhichdidnotknowhowtomakeitsflagpopularanditsaspirations
tangibleandcomprehensive,thatpartywillhaveonlyasmallchanceof
realizingeventheleastpartofitsprogram.Itwillbepushedasidebythe
partiesofaction.
Thesethingswelearnfromthehistoryoftheperiodswhichprecedegreat
revolutions.Therevolutionarybourgeoisieunderstoodthisperfectly,it
neglectednomeansofagitationtoawakenthespiritofrevoltwhenittried
todemolishthemonarchicalorder.TheFrenchpeasantoftheeighteenth
centuryunderstooditinstinctivelywhenitwasaquestionofabolishing
feudalrightsandtheInternationalactedinaccordancewiththesame
principleswhenittriedtoawakenthespiritofrevoltamongtheworkersof
thecitiesandtodirectitagainstthenaturalenemyofthewageearnerthe
monopolizerofthemeansofproductionandofrawmaterials.

Notesontranslationandtranscription
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ThisarticlefirstappearedinLeRvoltin1880.Englishtranslations
appearedinCommonweal,1892andKropotkin'sRevolutionaryPamphlets,
1927.ThepostscriptversionwasOCR'dbylamontg@u.washington.edu
fromTheEssentialKropotkin,1975whichwasbasedonthe
aforementioned1927translation.DanaWardaddedhtmlformat

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