Social Anarchism

by Baldelli,Giovanni

• ISBN13: 9780202363394
• ISBN10: 0202363392
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2009-09-15
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This volume, originally published in 1972, remains a majorcontribution to anarchist literature. It is one man’s visionof an anarchist society based on ethical values-withoutlaws, without political authority, and without concentrationsof power. An active anarchist since youth and acontributor to anarchist journals for many years, GiovanniBaldelli lived anarchism from within the anarchistmovement and the ethical community that the movementaspires to be. In this book he clearly sets forth theanarchist’s alternatives to government- viable principlesof organization for an ethical society.The revival of anarchist movements is here viewed asstemming from extreme centralization of governmentalauthority and stringent political collectivism-communistor democratic-that is incompatible with personalfreedom, economic justice, ethical society, and possiblywith continued human existence. Baldelli also shows howanarchist movements, aimed at the abolition of governmentand the initiation of a reign of freedom and voluntarycooperation, have seriously threatened institutionsof government, violence, oppression, and exploitationthroughout the world.Social Anarchism is one anarchist’s outlook. Whileoffering solutions to difficulties in traditional anarchistthought, Baldelli differs from many other anarchists oncertain issues-especially with regard to economic theory.For him, the exploitation of ethical capital is far morerelevant to anarchism than the exploitation of labor. Healso advances a new theory of value, reexamines the conceptof authority and contrasts it with that of power, andprovides answers to the question of how to oppose powereffectively without perpetuating it. Throughout the book,Baldelli underscores his contention that many paths canlead to an anarchist society and that the respect of thosewho choose one way versus those who choose another isalready anarchism put into practice.

Author Biography

Giovanni Baldelli, (1914-1986) one of the most famous anarchist theorists of our time, taught languages at St. Olave's Grammar School in Orpington, England. In his early youth he became actively involved in underground work against the Fascist regime. He presided over the International Anarchist Congress in London and once acted as the Secretary of the International Anarchist Commission. He is also the author of Seven Fugues.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgment	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
The Ethical Capital
Good Will	p. 13
Exploitation	p. 27
The Ideal	p. 48
The Ethical Society
Freedom and Authority	p. 69
The Rule of Authority	p. 86
Work and Wealth	p. 107
Value and Exploitation	p. 123
Wrongs and Reparations	p. 144
Methods and Means
The Four Ways	p. 161
The Antipower Struggle	p. 176
Index	p. 189
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