About this book
Anarchism and Socialism by Georgii Valentinovich Plekhanov delivers a sharp, lucid critique of anarchist ideas from one of the founders of Marxist theory. Combining historical narrative with polemic, Plekhanov traces the development of anarchist doctrine, contrasts the utopian tendencies of early critics with the foundations of scientific socialism, and probes the class interests and philosophical roots that shaped the movement.
Readers will encounter close studies of key figures—Max Stirner’s egoism, Proudhon’s mutualism, and Bakunin’s revolutionary collectivism—alongside chapters on anarchist tactics, moral claims, and the movement’s relationship to the bourgeoisie. Written amid the ferment of late 19th-century revolutionary debate, the book situates anarchism within broader political and social currents, exposing where Plekhanov sees inconsistency, idealism, or practical danger in its proposals. The tone is analytical and persuasive, aimed at clarifying distinctions between competing visions for social change.
Ideal for students of political theory, activists weighing strategy, and anyone curious about the historical tensions between anarchism and socialism, this audiobook in the politics genre offers a concise, historically grounded guide to a pivotal ideological confrontation.
