Graham R (Ed.) - Anarchism - A Documentary History of Libertarian Ideas Volume One - From Anarchy to Anarchism (300 CE to 1939)

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. Revo{utionary Ideas And Action
10. Michael Bakunin, The Reaction in Germany (1842)
Michael Bakunin (1814-1876) was a Russian revolutionary who, after the death of Proudhon,
went on to play a significant role in the creation of an avowedly anarchist movement. In the
1840's, he was involved in the revolutionary fe rment throughout Europe, in the realms of both
ideas and action. In Germany, he became associated with the revolution in ideas instigated by the
radical students of the German philosopher, Hegel (1770- 183 1), known as the Young or Left Hegelians.
At various times this group included such intellectual luminaries as Ludwig FeuerbaclJ
(1804- 1872), Karl Marx and Max Stirner. The fo llowing excerpts are taken from Bakunin's 1842
essay, "The Reaction in Germany: A Fragment from a Frenchman, " written under the pseudonym
Jules Elysard, reprinted in Sam Dolgoffs Bakunin on Anarchism (Montreal: Black Rose Books.
1980). In it he affirms the revolutionaty role of negation. summed up by his now notorious
phrase. "the passion for destruction is a creative passion. "
FREEDOM, THE REALIZATION OF FREEDOM: who can deny that this is what today
heads the agenda of history .. Revolutionary propaganda is ... in its deepest sense
the negation of the existing conditions of the State; fo r, with respect to its innermost
nature, it has no other program than the destruction of whatever order prevails at
the time ...
To the Compromisers we can apply what was said in a French journal ...''The
Left says, two times two are four; the Right [the "Positivists"] '
two times two are six;
and the middle-of-the-road Compromisers say two times two are five." They never answer
yes or no; they say: "To a certain extent you are right, but on the other hand."
And ifthey have nothing left to say, they say: "Yes, it is a curiolls thing." And as it is
said of the Polish Jews that in the last Polish war they wanted to serve both warring
parties simultaneously, the Poles as well as the Russians, and consequently were
hanged by both sides impartially, so these poor souls vex themselves with the impos-