Means and Ends: The Revolutionary Practice of Anarchism in Europe and the United States is a new overview of the revolutionary strategy of anarchism between 1868 and 1939. I clearly and accessibly explain the ideas that historical anarchists developed in order to change the world. This includes their views on direct action, revolution, organization, state socialism, reforms, and trade unions. Throughout I demonstrate that the reasons anarchists gave for supporting or opposing particular strategies were grounded in a theoretical framework — a theory of practice — which maintained that, as people engage in activity, they simultaneously change the world and themselves. This theoretical framework was the foundation for the anarchist commitment to the unity of means and ends: the means that revolutionaries propose to achieve social change have to involve forms of activity which transform people into individuals who are capable of, and driven to, both overthrow capitalism and the state and build a free society. The consistent heart of anarchism was the idea that anarchist ends can only be achieved through anarchist means. Cutting through misconceptions and historical inaccuracies, I draw upon a vast assortment of examples to show how this simple premise underpinned anarchist attempts to put theory into action.
Praise for Means and Ends:
“This informed attempt at systematizing the history of anarchism has the notable merit of focusing on practices, rather than distant utopias, and of probing into the overlooked sophistication of the theory that underpins those practices.” — Davide Turcato, editor of Malatesta’s Collected Works
“In Means and Ends: The Revolutionary Practice of Anarchism, Zoe Baker draws from well-known and lesser known anarchists to assemble a wide-ranging account of the strategies they have pursued to abolish capitalism and the state. Thoroughly researched, rich in detail, this book explores various ways in which anarchists have sought freedom within solidarity so that past experiences can inform present and future struggles.” — Kathy Ferguson, author of Emma Goldman: Political Thinking in the Streets
“This is an outstanding overview of the anarchist movement.” — Wayne Price, author of The Value of Radical Theory: An Anarchist Introduction to Marx’s Critique of Political Economy
“Anarchist ideas deserve to be taken seriously by anyone interested in how the world works and how to change it. There is no better place to start than with this book.” — Paul Raekstad, co-author of Prefigurative Politics: Building Tomorrow Today
“the quality of Zoe Baker’s debut work is fundamentally inescapable, and there is very little doubt that Means and Ends will join my shortlist of must-read histories of anarchism and the anarchist movement” — Jay Fraser in Organise Magazine
The book contains a few minor errors that I didn’t notice when fact checking. For a list of corrections see here.
Zoe Baker 