Anarchism: A Criticism and History of the Anarchist Theory

This is a beautifully designed edition of E. V. Zenker's classic work from 1897 illustrating the history and theory of Anarchy. A great read for anyone studying anarchy, or political movements at the end of the 19th century. Zenker lays out a strong argument in favor of progressive policies to raise up the lot of the underclasses rather than allow them to despair, lose faith in society, and pursue anarchy as a means of bettering their lives. Society, in his view, has too much to offer to humanity to allow it to disintegrate. Moreover, he believes that attempts to use force, trickery, or other degrading means to dissuade the underclasses from pursuing anarchism would only lead them more forcefully to follow that path. ---Excerpt--- "Governments are the scourge of God, introduced in order to keep the world in discipline and order. And do you demand that they should annihilate themselves, create freedom, and make revolutions? That is impossible. All revolutions, from the anointing of the first king to the declaration of the Rights of Man, have been freely accomplished by the spirit of the people. Governments have always hindered, oppressed, and crushed them to the ground. They have never made a revolution. It is not their function to produce movements but to keep them back. And even if they possessed revolutionary science-which is a contradiction of terms-they would be justified in not making use of it. They must first let their knowledge be absorbed by the people in order to receive the support of the citizens, and that would mean to refuse to acknowledge the existence of authority and power."