Peter Kropotkin 1842-1921

Peter (also Romanized Pierre, Pyotr, or Piotr Kropotkine) Alexeyevich Kropotkin was a preeminent anarchist and leading proponent of Anarchist Communism - a theory he helped to found.

Born a Russian prince and royally trained as a geographer [1], [2] - scientific knowledge he would later use to earn a living, as he never accepted a cent for his revolutionary work [2] - Peter Kropotkin abandoned his royal lineage and would go on to become one of the greatest allies of the working class. The author of at least eight books, countless pamphlets and articles, and founder of two newspapers (Le Révolté and Freedom - the latter of which is still in production!) Kropotkin's contribution to Anarchist theory has been great.

Inspired by Bakunin (whom he would never meet) [2], Kropotkin's famous advance to Anarchism came about from living among the watchmakers of Switzerland who formed the basis of the Jura Federation in the International Working Men's [sic] Association. [2] On his arrival at Anarchism, Kropotkin wrote:

The theoretical aspects of anarchism, as they were then beginning to be expressed in the Jura Federation, especially by Bakunin; the criticisms of State socialism - the fear of an economic despotism far more dangerous than the merely political despotism - which I heard formulated there; and the revolutionary character of the agitation, appealed strongly to my mind. But the equalitarian relations which I found in the Jura Mountains, the independence of thought and expression which I saw developing in the workers and their unlimited devotion to the cause appealed far more strongly to my feelings; and when I came away from the mountains after a week's stay with the watchmakers, my views upon socialism were settled. I was an anarchist. [2]

Perhaps his greatest contribution in the realm of socio-political thought was his expounding of and advocation for Anarchist Communism [1]; a term coined to represent the two key concepts of the theory. On the socio-political side, Anarchism: the interaction of free individuals on a consentual basis, without governance of any kind; and on the economic side, Communism: the shared ownership by society of the means of production. [1] Underlying his society is Joseph Dejacque's idea (in opposition to Proudhon) that the worker is not entitled to the product of their labor, but the fulfillment of their needs.

Due to his advocacy of the abolition of government, Kropotkin suffered throughout his life as a political prisoner, being imprisoned for years at least twice in his lifetime [2], and having to live in exile - mainly in Switzerland, France, and England [2] - a large part of his life.

Though he is commonly seen as one of the biggest names and greatest theorists of Anarchism, along with the likes of Bakunin, Proudhon, Goldman, and others, he caused much controversy with his support of the Allies in World War I [2] (in opposition with most Anarchists). In Kropotkin's view, World War I was a war against the imperialistic aims of Germany, though many of his contemporaries viewed the war as purely "nationalist-capitalist" and something the working people on both sides should oppose. [2]

Kropotkin visited the United States twice - in 1897 and 1901 [2] - lecturing and touring in English.

Peter Kropotkin would live to see the Russian revolutions of 1905 and 1917 and would return to Russia from exile in 1917 [2] to help the revolutionary cause. After the Bolshevik seizure of power in October of that year, however, Kropotkin grew disheartened at the authoritarian nature the revolution had taken. Kropotkin's last letters were to Lenin - pleas on behalf of the workers in and near the village of Dmitrov for increased food rations, among other things. He passed away February 08, 1921. [1], [2], [4] Twenty thousand join in the funeral procession, including Emma Goldman. [2]