Mikhail Bakunin

Mikhail Bakunin (1814–1876) was a Russian revolutionary and political theorist who became a leading advocate of collectivist anarchism and opposed centralized state power.

Anarchism: A political philosophy opposing hierarchical authority and advocating voluntary forms of social organization. Bakunin became one of anarchism’s most influential nineteenth-century theorists.
Karl Marx: A German philosopher and political economist who co-founded modern communism and analyzed capitalism. Their conflict centered on whether revolutionary workers should seize centralized political power.
Sergey Nechayev: A Russian revolutionary known for conspiratorial politics and the radical pamphlet Catechism of a Revolutionary. Bakunin collaborated with Nechayev before their relationship ended in distrust.
Revolutions of 1848: A wave of uprisings and political revolutions that spread across Europe in 1848. Bakunin took part in revolutionary activity during this continent-wide upheaval.
Jura Federation: An anti-authoritarian federation of workers’ organizations based in the Swiss Jura region. It became a center of Bakunin’s influence after his break with Marx’s supporters.
Collectivist anarchism: An anarchist tradition advocating collective ownership of productive resources and workers’ control. This is the anarchist position Bakunin developed and championed.
Marxism: A socialist tradition drawing on Marx’s analysis of class struggle and capitalism. Bakunin rejected its perceived reliance on centralized political authority.
Alexander Herzen: A Russian writer and political thinker who criticized autocracy and helped develop populist ideas. Herzen supported Bakunin during exile and shared his opposition to Russian autocracy.
Dresden uprising: An 1849 revolt in Saxony in which radicals resisted the kingdom’s rejection of a constitution. Bakunin fought in the uprising before its defeat and his capture.
Anarchist International: A name used for international associations formed by anarchists after their split from the First International. Bakunin’s supporters helped establish a separate internationalist labor movement.

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