Action as Propaganda
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1885

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Author : Johann Most

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action as propaganda, action, actions, people, revolutionaries, important,
achieve, propaganda, order, anarchist.

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Photo by Elvert Barnes,CC BY License From: Freiheit, July 25, 1885
		
Action as Propaganda

by Johann Most

 We have said a hundred times or more that when modern revolutionaries
carry out actions, what is important is not solely these actions themselves
but also the propagandistic effect they are able to achieve. Hence, we
preach not only action in and for itself, but also action as propaganda. 

 It is a phenomenally simple matter, yet over and over again we meet
people, even people close to the center of our party, who either do not, or
do not wish, to understand. We have recently had a clear enough
illustration of this over the Lieske affair... 

 So our question is this: what is the purpose of the anarchists' threats --
an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth -- if they are not followed up by
action? 

 Or are perhaps the "law and order" rabble, all of them blackguards
extraordinary, to be done away in a dark corner so that no one knows the
why and the wherefore of what happened? 

 It would be a form of action, certainly, but not action as propaganda. 

 The great thing about anarchist vengeance is that is proclaims loud and
clear for everyone to hear, that: this man or that man must die for this
and this reason; and that at the first opportunity which presents itself
for the realization of such a threat, the rascal in question is really and
truly dispatched to the other world. 

 And this is indeed what happened with Alexander Romanov, with Messenzoff,
with Sudeikin, with Bloch and Hlubeck, with Rumpff and others. Once such an
action has been carried out, the important thing is that the world learns
of it from the revolutionaries, so that everyone knows what the position
is. 

 The overwhelming impression this makes is shown by how the reactionaries
have repeatedly tried to hush up revolutionary actions that have taken
place, or present them in a different light. This has often been possible
in Russia, especially, because of the conditions governing the press there.


 In order to achieve the desired success in the fullest measure,
immediately after the action has been carried out, especially in the town
where it took place, posters should be put up setting out the reasons for
the action in such a way as to draw from them the best possible benefit. 

 And in those cases where this was not done, the reason was simply that it
proved inadvisable to involve the number of participants that would have
been required; or that there was a lack of money. It was all the more
natural in these cases for the anarchist press to glorify and explicate the
deeds at every opportunity. For it to have adopted an attitude of
indifference toward such actions, or even to have denied them, would have
been perfectly idiotic treachery. 

 'Freiheit' has always pursued this policy. It is nothing more than
insipid, sallow envy which makes those demagogues who are continually
mocking us with cries of "Carry on, then, carry on" condemn this aspect of
our behavior, among others, whenever they can, as a crime. 

 This miserable tribe is well aware that no action carried out by
anarchists can have its proper propagandist effect if those organs whose
responsibility it is neither give suitable prominence to such actions, nor
make it palatable to the people. 

 It is this, above all, which puts the reactionaries in a rage. 


     From : Anarchy Archives

Events :
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     Action as Propaganda -- Publication : July 25, 1885

     Action as Propaganda -- Added : February 08, 2017

     Action as Propaganda -- Updated : December 30, 2021

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