Marxism and Anarchism:

international | anti-capitalism | other press Wednesday June 14, 2006 00:47 by hs - sp (per cap)

The Philosophical Roots of the Marx-Bakunin Conflict

A marxist perspective on the split between the Marxists and the Bakunists leading to the historical divisions of communists and anarchists within the wider socialist movement.
From the pages of in defence of marxism a split from the cwi.

Marxism and Anarchism: The Philosophical Roots of the Marx-Bakunin Conflict – Part One

The tempestuous relation between Marx and Bakunin is a well-known legacy of the history of western socialism. As co-members of the International Working Men's Association, they seem to have devoted as much energy battling one another as their common enemy, the capitalist system, culminating in Marx's successful campaign to expel Bakunin from the organization. While at times engaging in cordial relations, they nevertheless harbored uncomplimentary mutual assessments. According to Marx, Bakunin was "a man devoid of all theoretical knowledge" and was "in his element as an intriguer", [1] while Bakunin believed that "... the instinct of liberty is lacking in him [Marx]; he remains from head to foot, an authoritarian". [2]

continued at:

http://www.marxist.com/marxism-anarchism-marx-bakunin-c...6.htm

Marxism and Anarchism: The Philosophical Roots of the Marx-Bakunin Conflict – Part Two

The Dispute Over the Dictatorship of the Proletariat
With their divergent philosophical frameworks at least partially clarified, it becomes clearer why their political differences could not be resolved. Their respective political programs were tied to conflicting philosophical principles so that they were at times being pulled in diametrically opposed directions.

continued at:

http://www.marxist.com/marxism-anarchism-marx-bakunin-c...6.htm