General Idea of the Revolution in the Nineteenth Century

by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

This influential 1851 work was written by the French libertarian socialist and journalist whose doctrines later formed the basis for radical and anarchist theory. This is his vision of an ideal society, in which frontiers are abolished, national states eliminated, and authority decentralized among communes or locality associations, with free contracts replacing laws.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics, Nonfiction, Anarchism

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1848

About the author

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (15 January 1809 – 19 January 1865) was a French socialist, politician, philosopher, economist, and the founder of mutualist philosophy. He was the first person to declare himself an anarchist, using that term and is widely regarded as one of anarchism's most influential theorists. Proudhon is considered by many to be the "father of anarchism". Proudhon became a member of the French Parliament after the Revolution of 1848, whereafter he referred to himself as a federalist. Proudhon described the liberty he pursued as "the synthesis of communism and property". Some consider his mutualism to be part of individualist anarchism while others regard it to be part of social anarchism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-...

Reviews

[Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I´ve been having a faint, nagging urge to read the magna carta of Anarchism since early August... Now, what with the Occupying movements sprouting cross-country, I think the choice is timely.

In page 16:

"Every revolution first declares itself as a complaint of the people, an accusation against a vicious state of affairs, which the poorest always feel first."

and later:

"Two causes are against the peaceful accomplishment of revolutions: established interests and the pride of governments."

It should be an interesting read.

[Dimitrii Ivanov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exposition of Proudhon's vision of revolutionary reform that would destroy authority and install an economic organisation of society. A foundational text, much sparkling rhetoric. The 1923 translation is augmented with an extensive preface that outlines the importance of the 1851 book for history of anarchism and the then-current moment (1989).

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

"all police are to be under the direct control of the municipal council", in other words complete decentralization of law enforcement. This is the only correct anarchist perspective on police. Natural law and the non-aggression principal must be enforced by the People who under natural law possess the "right of force", not the centralized State hierarchy.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Proudhon’s revolution takes Engels’ phrase the transition from the “government of persons” to the “administration of things” in a decidedly libertarian direction as direct economic control by the people replacing the centralized political control of the state and propertied class. He substitutes what he calls association which is based in sentiment and coercion for the law of contract based on the mutual consent of individuals for their interests. Proudhon can only with some difficulty be considered a socialist as he is anti-capitalist but also in favor of the market, division of labor, and competition as well as usufruct personal ownership over state ownership of the means of production. Proudhon’s ideal is a market economy according to the “cost principle” that goods equal the cost of production ie labor which is only possible by the elimination of rent interest and the wage system by way of occupant ownership of land, mutual credit unions, and worker cooperatives with the idea that without state backed monopolization prices would fall to the cost of production. This is to be achieved by way of a public bank lending credit without interest and a temporary land tax. The downside to this is that it cannot be done simply by passing laws but has to be done by the people themselves. Much of the book is about the inevitability of revolution in contemporary France but I read it mainly for the economic theory and political program which is there but mainly in his polemical style. At the least this is a good start for reading Proudhon especially in English.

Proudhon in retrospect appears to have gained a reputation on the right due to some of his reactionary social views, opposition to democracy, and the drift of the left to Marxism. In the 20th century the Cercle Proudhon sought to synthesize his ideas with Georges Sorel into the national syndicalism of Georges Valois which in turn had influence on Italian fascism although opposed to Proudhon’s anti-statism. Some of these ideas remain in yellow unionist and codetermination proposals to give workers representation in management and sectoral bargaining. Distributism appears to be a more Christian take on mutualism contrary to Proudhon’s anti-theism.

[James Guillaume · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look at mutualist economics, revolution, and the first thorough expounding done by Proudhon on the subject of dual power.