,9TRODUCTION TO ,MUTUAL ,AID 
,AN ,ILLUM9AT$ ,FACTOR ( ,EVOLUTION 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,DAVID ,GRAEB] 

,AU?OR 3 ,&REJ ,GRUBACIC 

,TEXT 3 

,SOMETIMES--NOT V]Y (T5--A P>TICUL>LY COG5T >GUM5T AGA9/ REIGN+ POLITICAL COMMON S5SE PRES5TS SU* A %OCK TO ! SY/EM ?AT IT BECOMES NECESS>Y TO CREATE AN 5TIRE BODY ( !ORY TO REFUTE IT4 ,SU* 9T]V5TIONS >E !MSELVES EV5TS1 9 ! PHILOSOPHICAL S5SE2 ?AT IS1 !Y REVEAL ASPECTS ( REALITY ?AT HAD BE5 L>GELY 9VISI-BLE BUT1 ONCE REVEAL$1 SEEM SO 5TIRELY OBVI\S ?AT !Y CAN NEV] BE UNSE54 ,MU* ( ! WORK ( ! 9TELLECTUAL ,RI<T IS ID5TIFY+1 & HEAD+ (F1 SU* *ALL5GES4 

,LET US (F] ?REE EXAMPLES4 

,9 ! #a#f#hS1 A ,HURON-,W5DAT /ATESMAN NAM$ ,KONDI>ONK1 :O HAD BE5 TO ,EUROPE & WAS 9TIMATELY FAMILI> ) ,FR5* & ,5GLI% SETTL] SOCIETY1 5GAG$ 9 A S]IES ( DEBATES ) ! ,FR5* GOV]NOR ( ,QUEBEC1 & ONE ( HIS *IEF AIDES1 A C]TA9 ,LAHONTAN4 ,9 !M HE PRES5T$ ! >GUM5T ?AT PUNITIVE LAW & ! :OLE APPA-RATUS ( ! /ATE EXI/ NOT BECAUSE ( SOME FUNDAM5TAL FLAW 9 HUMAN NATURE BUT [+ TO ! EXI/5CE ( ANO!R SET ( 9/ITUTIONS--PRIVATE PROP]TY1 MONEY--?AT BY !IR V]Y NATURE DRIVE PEOPLE TO ACT 9 SU* WAYS AS TO MAKE CO]CIVE MEASURES NECESS>Y4 ,EQUALITY1 HE >GU$1 IS ?US ! CONDITION = ANY MEAN+FUL FRE$OM4 ,!SE DEBATES W]E LAT] TURN$ 9TO A BOOK BY ,LAHONTAN1 :I* 9 ! FIR/ DECADES ( ! EI<TE5? C5TURY WAS WILDLY SUCCESSFUL4 ,IT BECAME A PLAY ?AT RAN = TW5TY YE>S 9 ,P>IS1 & SEEM+LY EV]Y ,5LI<T5M5T ?9K] WROTE AN IMITATION4 ,EV5TUALLY1 !SE >GUM5TS--& ! BROAD] 9-DIG5\S CRITIQUE ( ,FR5* SOCIETY--GREW SO P[]FUL ?AT DEF5D]S ( ! EXI/+ SOCIAL ORD] SU* AS ,TURGOT & ,ADAM ,SMI? EFFECTIVELY HAD TO 9V5T ! NOTION ( SOCIAL EVOLUTION AS A DIRECT RIPO/E4 ,?OSE :O FIR/ CAME UP ) ! >GUM5T ?AT HUMAN SOCIETIES C\LD BE ORGANIZ$ ACCORD+ TO /AGES ( DEVELOPM5T1 EA* ) !IR [N *>-ACT]I/IC TE*NOLOGIES & =MS ( ORGANIZATION1 W]E QUITE EXPLICIT ?AT ?AT'S :AT !Y W]E AB\T4 0,EV]YONE LOVES FRE$OM & EQUALITY10 NOT$ ,TURGOT2 ! QUE/ION IS H[ MU* ( EI!R IS CONSI/5T ) AN ADVANC$ COMM]CIAL SOCIETY BAS$ ON A SOPHI/ICAT$ DIVISION ( LABOR4 ,! RESULT+ !ORIES ( SOCIAL EVOLUTION DOM9AT$ ! N9ETE5? C5TURY1 & >E /ILL V]Y MU* ) US1 IF 9 SLI<TLY MODIFI$ =M1 TODAY4 

,9 ! LATE N9ETE5? C5TURY & E>LY TW5TIE?1 ! AN>*I/ CRITIQUE ( ! LIB]AL /ATE--?AT ! RULE ( LAW WAS ULTIMATELY BAS$ ON >BITR>Y VIOL5CE1 & ULTIMATELY1 SIMPLY A SECUL>IZ$ V]SION ( AN ALL-P[]FUL ,GOD ?AT C\LD CREATE MORALITY BECAUSE IT /OOD \TSIDE IT--WAS TAK5 SO S]I\SLY BY DEF5D]S ( ! /ATE ?AT RI<T-W+ LEGAL !ORI/S LIKE ,K>L ,S*MITT ULTIMATELY CAME UP ) ! 9TELLECTUAL >MATURE = FASCISM4 ,S*MITT 5DS HIS MO/ FAM\S WORK1 ,POLITICAL ,!OLOGY1 ) A RANT AGA9/ ,BAKUN91 :OSE REJECTION ( 0DECISION-ISM0--! >BITR>Y AU?ORITY TO CREATE A LEGAL ORD]1 BUT !RE=E ALSO TO SET IT ASIDE--WAS ULTIMATELY1 HE CLAIM$1 EV]Y BIT AS >BITR>Y AS ! AU?ORITY ,BAKUN9 CLAIM$ TO BE OPPOS+4 ,S*MITT'S V]Y CONCEPTION ( POLITICAL !OLOGY1 F\NDATIONAL = ALMO/ ALL CONTEMPOR>Y RI<T-W+ ?\<T1 WAS AN ATTEMPT TO ANSW] ,BAKUN9'S ,GOD & ! ,/ATE4 

,! *ALL5GE POS$ BY ,KROPOTK9'S ,MUTUAL ,AID3 ,A ,FACTOR 9 ,EVOLUTION >GUABLY RUNS DEEP] /ILL1 S9CE IT'S NOT JU/ AB\T ! NATURE ( GOV]NM5T1 BUT ! NATURE ( NATURE--?AT IS1 REALITY--ITSELF4 

,!ORIES ( SOCIAL EVOLUTION1 :AT ,TURGOT FIR/ *RI/5$ 0PROGRESS10 MI<T HAVE BEGUN AS A WAY ( DEFUZ+ ! *ALL5GE ( ! 9-DIG5\S CRITIQUE1 BUT !Y SOON BEGAN TO TAKE A MORE VIRUL5T =M1 AS H>DCORE LIB]ALS LIKE ,H]B]T ,SP5C] BEGAN TO REPRES5T SOCIAL EVOLUTION NOT JU/ AS A MATT] ( 9CREAS+ COMPLEXITY1 DIFF]5TIATION1 & 9TEGRATION1 BUT AS A K9D ( ,HOBBESIAN /RUGGLE = SURVIVAL4 ,! PHRASE 0SURVIVAL ( ! FITTE/0 WAS ACTUALLY CO9$ 9 #aheb BY ,SP5C]1 TO DESCRIBE HUMAN HI/ORY--& ULTIMATELY1 ONE ASSUMES1 TO JU/IFY ,EUROPEAN G5OCIDE & COLONIALISM4 ,IT WAS ONLY TAK5 UP BY ,D>W9 SOME T5 YE>S LAT]1 :51 9 ,! ,ORIG9 ( ,SPECIES1 HE US$ IT AS A WAY ( DESCRIB+ ! =MS ( NATURAL SELECTION HE HAD ID5TIFI$ 9 HIS FAM\S EXP$ITION TO ! ,GALAPAGOS ,ISL&S4 ,AT ! TIME ,KROPOTK9 

WAS WRIT+1 9 ! #a#h#hS & '#iS1 ,D>W9'S IDEAS HAD BE5 TAK5 UP BY M>KET LIB]ALS1 MO/ NOTORI\SLY HIS 0BULLDOG0 ,?OMAS ,HUXLEY1 & ! ,5GLI% NATURALI/ ,ALFR$ ,RUSSEL ,WALLACE1 TO PROP\ND :AT'S (T5 CALL$ A 0GLADIATORIAL VIEW0 ( NATURAL HI/ORY4 ,SPECIES DUKE IT \T LIKE BOX]S 9 A R+ OR BOND TRAD]S ON A M>KET FLOOR2 ! /RONG PREVAIL4 

,KROPOTK9'S RESPONSE--?AT COOP]ATION IS JU/ AS DECISIVE A FACTOR 9 NATURAL SELECTION ?AN COMPETITION--WAS NOT 5TIRELY ORIG9AL4 

,HE NEV] PRET5D$ ?AT IT WAS4 ,9 FACT HE WAS NOT ONLY DRAW+ ON ! BE/ BIOLOGICAL1 AN?ROPOLOGICAL1 >*AEOLOGICAL1 & HI/ORICAL KN[L$GE AVAILABLE 9 HIS DAY1 9CLUD+ HIS [N EXPLORATIONS ( ,SIB]IA1 BUT ALSO ON AN ALT]NATIVE ,RUSSIAN S*OOL ( EVOLUTION>Y !ORY :I* HELD ?AT ! ,5GLI% HYP]COMPETITIVE S*OOL WAS BAS$1 AS HE PUT IT1 0A TISSUE ( ABSURDITIES03 M5 LIKE 0,KESSL]1 ,SEV]TSOV1 ,M5ZBIR1 ,BR&T--F\R GREAT ,RUSSIAN ZOOLOGI/S1 & A #e? LESS] ONE1 ,POLIAKOV1 & F9ALLY MYSELF1 A SIMPLE TRAVEL]40 

,/ILL1 WE MU/ GIVE ,KROPOTK9 CR$IT4 ,HE WAS MU* MORE ?AN A SIMPL] TRAVEL]4 ,SU* M5 HAD BE5 SUCCESSFULLY IGNOR$ BY ,5GLI% ,D>W9IANS1 9 ! HEYDAY ( EMPIRE--&1 9DE$1 BY ALMO/ EV]Y-ONE ELSE4 ,KROPOTK9'S %OT ACROSS ! B[S WAS NOT4 ,9 P>T1 ?IS WAS NO D\BT BECAUSE HE PRES5T$ HIS SCI5TIFIC F9D+S 9 A L>G] POLITICAL CONTEXT1 9 A =M ?AT MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO D5Y JU/ H[ MU* ! REIGN+ V]SION ( ,D>W9IAN SCI5CE WAS ITSELF NOT JU/ AN UNCONSCI\S REFLECTION ( TAK5-=-GRANT$ LIB]AL CATEGORIES4 7,AS ,M>X SO FAM\SLY PUT IT1 0,! ANATOMY ( ,MAN IS ! KEY TO ! ANATOMY ( ! APE407 ,IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO CATAPULT ! VIEWS ( ! COMM]CIAL CLASSES 9TO UNIV]SALITY4 ,D>W9ISM AT ?AT TIME WAS /ILL A CONSCI\S1 MILITANT POLITICAL 9T]V5TION TO RE%APE COMMON S5SE2 A C5TRI/ 9SURG5CY1 ONE MI<T SAY1 OR P]HAPS BETT]1 A W\LD-BE C5TRI/ 9SURG5CY1 S9CE IT WAS AIM$ AT CREAT+ A NEW C5T]4 ,IT WAS NOT YET COMMON S5SE2 IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A NEW UNIV]SAL COMMON S5SE4 ,IF IT WAS NOT1 ULTIMATELY1 COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL1 IT WAS 9 A C]TA9 MEASURE BECAUSE ( ! V]Y P[] ( ,KROPOTK9'S C\NT]>GUM5T4 

,IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO SEE :AT MADE !SE LIB]AL 9TELLECTUALS SO UNEASY4 ,CONSID] ! FAM\S PASSAGE FROM ,MUTUAL ,AID1 :I* REALLY DES]VES TO BE QUOT$ 9 FULL3 ,IT IS NOT LOVE1 & NOT EV5 SYMPA?Y 7UND]/OOD 9 ITS PROP] S5SE7 :I* 9DUCES A H]D ( RUM9ANTS OR ( HORSES TO =M A R+ 9 ORD] TO RESI/ AN ATTACK ( WOLVES2 NOT LOVE :I* 9DUCES WOLVES TO =M A PACK = HUNT+2 NOT LOVE :I* 9DUCES KITT5S OR LAMBS TO PLAY1 OR A DOZ5 ( SPECIES ( Y\NG BIRDS TO SP5D !IR DAYS TOGE!R 9 ! AUTUMN2 & IT IS NEI!R LOVE NOR P]SONAL SYMPA?Y :I* 9DUCES MANY ?\S& FALL[-DE] SCATT]$ OV] A T]RITORY AS L>GE AS ,FRANCE TO =M 9TO A SCORE ( SEP>ATE H]DS1 ALL M>*+ T[>DS A GIV5 SPOT1 9 ORD] TO CROSS !RE A RIV]4 ,IT IS A FEEL+ 9F9ITELY WID] ?AN LOVE OR P]SONAL SYMPA?Y--AN 9/9CT ?AT HAS BE5 SL[LY DEVELOP$ AMONG ANIMALS & M5 9 ! C\RSE ( AN EXTREMELY LONG EVOLUTION1 & :I* HAS TAU<T ANIMALS & M5 ALIKE ! =CE !Y CAN BORR[ FROM ! PRACTICE ( MUTUAL AID & SUPPORT1 & ! JOYS !Y CAN F9D 9 SOCIAL LIFE4444 ,IT IS NOT LOVE & NOT EV5 SYMPA?Y UPON :I* ,SOCIETY IS BAS$ 9 MANK9D4 ,IT IS ! CONSCI5CE--BE IT ONLY AT ! /AGE ( AN 9/9CT--( HUMAN SOLID>ITY4 ,IT IS ! UNCONSCI\S RECOGNITION ( ! =CE ?AT IS BORR[$ BY EA* MAN FROM ! PRACTICE ( MUTUAL AID2 ( ! CLOSE DEP5D5CE ( EV]Y ONE'S HAPP9ESS UPON ! HAPP9ESS ( ALL2 & ( ! S5SE ( JU/ICE1 OR EQUITY :I* BR+S ! 9DIVIDUAL TO CONSID] ! RI<TS ( EV]Y O!R 9DIVIDUAL AS EQUAL TO HIS [N4 ,UPON ?IS BROAD & NECESS>Y F\NDATION ! /ILL HI<] MORAL FEEL+S >E DEVELOP$4 

,ONE NE$ ONLY CONSID] ! VIRUL5CE ( ! REACTION4 ,AT LEA/ TWO FIELDS ( /UDY 7ADMITT$LY1 OV]LAPP+ ONES7 SOCIOBIOLOGY & EVOLUTION>Y PSY*OLOGY1 HAVE S9CE BE5 CREAT$ SPECIFICALLY TO RECON-CILE ,KROPOTK9'S PO9TS AB\T COOP]ATION BETWE5 ANIMALS ) ! ASSUMPTION ?AT WE >E ALL ULTIMATELY DRIV5 BY1 AS ,DAWK9S WAS ULTIMATELY TO PUT IT1 \R 0SELFI% G5ES40 ,:5 ! ,BRITI% BIOLOGI/ ,J4,B4,S4 ,HALDANE REPORT$LY SAID ?AT HE W\LD BE WILL+ TO LAY D[N HIS LIFE TO SAVE 0TWO BRO!RS1 F\R HALF-BRO!RS OR EI<T FIR/ C\S9S10 HE WAS SIMPLY P>ROT+ ! K9D ( 0SCI5TIFIC0 CALCULUS ?AT WAS 9TRODUC$ EV]Y:]E TO ANSW] ,KROPOTK91 9 ! SAME WAY ?AT PROGRESS WAS 9V5T$ TO *ECK ,KONDI>ONK1 OR ! DOCTR9E ( ! /ATE ( EXCEPTION1 TO *ECK ,BAKUN94 ,! PHRASE 0SELFI% G5E0 WAS NOT *OS5 =TUIT\SLY4 ,KROPOTK9 HAD REVEAL$ BEHAVIOR 9 ! NATURAL WORLD ?AT WAS EXACTLY ! OPPOSITE ( SELFI%NESS3 ! 5TIRE GAME ( ,D>W9I/S N[ IS TO F9D SOME REASON1 ANY REASON1 TO CONT9UE TO 9SI/ ?AT EV5 ! MO/ PLAYFUL1 LOV+1 :IMSICAL1 H]OICALLY SELF-SACRIFIC+1 OR SOCIABLE BEHAVIOR IS REALLY SELFI% AFT] ALL4 

,! EF=TS ( ! 9TELLECTUAL RI<T TO MEET ! 5ORMITY ( ! *ALL5GE PRES5T$ BY ,KROPOTK9'S !ORY >E UND]/&ABLE4 ,AS WE HAVE ALREADY PO9T$ \T1 ?IS IS PRECISELY :AT !Y >E SUPPOS$ TO BE DO+4 ,?IS IS :Y !Y >E REF]R$ TO AS 0REACTION>IES40 ,!Y DON'T REALLY BELIEVE 9 POLITICAL CREATIVITY AS A VALUE 9 ITSELF--9 FACT !Y F9D IT PR(\NDLY DANG]\S4 ,AS A RESULT1 RI<T-W+ 9TELLECTUALS >E MA9-LY !RE TO REACT TO IDEAS PUT =W>D BY ! ,LEFT4 ,BUT :AT AB\T ! 9TELLECTUAL ,LEFT8 

,?IS IS :]E ?+S GET A BIT CONFUS+4 ,:ILE ! RI<T-W+ 9TELLECTUALS S\<T TO NEUTRALIZE ,KROPOTK9'S EVOLUTION>Y HOLISM BY DEVELOP+ 5TIRE 9TELLECTUAL SY/EMS1 ! ,M>XI/ ,LEFT PRET5D$ ?AT HIS 9T]V5TION HAD NEV] OCCURR$4 ,ONE MI<T EV5 HAZ>D TO SAY ?AT ! ,M>XI/ RESPONSE TO ,KROPOTK9'S EMPHASIS ON COOP]ATIVE F$]ALISM WAS TO FUR!R DEVELOP ! ASPECTS ( ,M>X'S [N !ORY ?AT PULL$ MO/ %>PLY 9 ! O!R DIRECTION3 ?AT IS1 ITS MO/ PRODUCTIVI/ & PROGRESSIVI/ ASPECTS4 ,RI* 9SI<TS FROM ,MUTUAL ,AID W]E AT BE/ IGNOR$ &1 AT WOR/1 BRU%$ (F ) A PATRONIZ+ *UCKLE4 ,!RE HAS BE5 SU* A P]SI/5T T5D5CY 9 ,M>XI/ S*OL>%IP1 & BY EXT5SION1 LEFT-LEAN+ S*OL>%IP 9 G5]AL1 ( RIDICUL+ ,KROPOTK9'S 0LIFEBOAT SOCIALISM0 & 0NAIVE UTOPIANISM0 ?AT A R5[N$ BIOLOGI/1 ,/EPH5 ,JAY ,G\LD1 FELT COMPELL$ TO 9SI/1 9 A FAM\S ESSAY1 ?AT 0,KROPOTK9 WAS NO CRACKPOT40 

,!RE >E TWO POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS = ?IS /RATEGIC DISMISSAL4 

,ONE IS PURE SECT>IANISM4 ,AS ALREADY NOT$1 ,KROPOTK9'S 9TELLECTUAL 9T]V5TION WAS P>T ( A L>G] POLITICAL PROJECT4 ,! LATE N9ETE5? C5TURY & E>LY TW5TIE? SAW ! F\NDATIONS ( ! WELF>E /ATE1 :OSE KEY 9/ITUTIONS W]E1 9DE$1 L>GELY CREAT$ BY MUTUAL AID GR\PS1 5TIRELY 9DEP5D5TLY ( ! /ATE1 !N GRADUALLY COOPT$ BY /ATES & POLITICAL P>TIES4 ,MO/ RI<T & LEFT 9TELLECTUALS W]E P]FECTLY ALIGN$ ON ?IS ONE3 ,BISM>CK FULLY ADMITT$ HE CREAT$ ,G]MAN SOCIAL WELF>E 9/ITUTIONS AS A 0BRIBE0 TO ! WORK+ CLASS SO !Y W\LD NOT BECOME SOCIALI/S2 SOCIALI/S 9SI/$ ?AT ANY?+ FROM SOCIAL 9SURANCE TO PUBLIC LIBR>IES BE RUN NOT BY ! NEI<BORHOOD & SYNDICAL GR\PS ?AT HAD ACTUALLY CREAT$ !M BUT BY TOP-D[N VANGU>DI/ P>TIES4 ,9 ?IS CONTEXT BO? SAW WRIT+ (F ,KROPOTK9'S E?ICAL SOCIALI/ PROPOSALS AS TOMFOOL]Y AS A P>AM\NT IMP]ATIVE4 ,IT'S ALSO WOR? REMEMB]+ ?AT--P>TLY = ?IS V]Y REASON--9 ! P]IOD BETWE5 #ai & #a#i#a#g1 AN>*I/ & LIB]T>IAN ,M>XI/ IDEAS W]E MU* MORE POPUL> AMONG ! WORK+ CLASS !MSELVES ?AN ! ,M>XISM ( ,L59 & ,KAUTSKY4 ,IT TOOK ! VICTORY ( ,L59'S BRAN* ( ! ,BOL%EVIK P>TY 9 ,RUSSIA 7AT ! TIME1 CONSID]$ ! RI<T W+ ( ! ,BOL%EVIKS71 & ! SUPPRESSION ( ! ,SOVIETS1 ,PROLETKULT1 & O!R BOTTOM-UP 9ITIA-TIVES 9 ! ,SOVIET ,UNION ITSELF1 TO F9ALLY PUT !SE DEBATES TO RE/4 

,!RE'S ANO!R POSSIBLE EXPLANATION ?\<1 ONE ?AT HAS MORE TO DO ) :AT MI<T BE CALL$ ! 0POSITIONALITY0 ( BO? TRADITIONAL ,M>XISM & CONTEMPOR>Y SOCIAL !ORY4 ,:AT IS ! ROLE ( A RADICAL 9TELLECTUAL8 ,MO/ 9TELLECTUALS /ILL DO CLAIM TO BE RADICALS ( SOME SORT OR ANO!R4 ,9 !ORY !Y ALL AGREE ) ,M>X ?AT IT'S NOT 5\< TO UND]/& ! WORLD2 ! PO9T IS TO *ANGE IT4 ,BUT :AT DOES ?IS ACTUALLY MEAN 9 PRACTICE8 

,9 ONE IMPORTANT P>AGRAPH ( ,MUTUAL ,AID1 ,KROPOTK9 (F]S A SUGGE/ION3 ! ROLE ( A RADICAL S*OL> IS TO 0RE/ORE ! REAL PRO-PORTION BETWE5 CONFLICT & UNION40 ,?IS MI<T S\ND OBSCURE1 BUT HE CL>IFIES4 ,RADICAL S*OL>S >E 0B\ND TO 5T] A M9UTE ANALYSIS ( ! ?\S&S ( FACTS & FA9T 9DICATIONS ACCID5TALLY PRES]V$ 9 ! RELICS ( ! PA/2 TO 9T]PRET !M ) ! AID ( CONTEMPOR>Y E?NOLOGY2 & AFT] HAV+ HE>D SO MU* AB\T :AT US$ TO DIVIDE M51 TO RECON/RUCT /ONE BY /ONE ! 9/ITUTIONS :I* US$ TO UNITE !M40 

,ONE ( ! AU?ORS /ILL REMEMB]S HIS Y\?FUL EXCITEM5T AFT] READ+ !SE L9ES4 ,H[ DIFF]5T FROM ! LIFELESS TRA9+ RECEIV$ 9 ! NATION-C5T]$ ACADEMY6 ,?IS RECOMM5DATION %\LD BE READ TOGE!R ) ?AT ( ,K>L ,M>X1 :OSE 5]GY W5T 9TO UND]/&-+ ! ORGANIZATION & DEVELOPM5T ( CAPITALI/ COMMODITY PRODUCTION4 ,9 ,CAPITAL1 ! ONLY REAL ATT5TION TO COOP]ATION IS AN EXAM9ATION ( COOP]ATIVE ACTIVITIES AS =MS & CONSEQU5CES ( FACTORY PRODUCTION1 :]E WORK]S 0M]ELY =M A P>TICUL> MODE ( EXI/5CE ( CAPITAL40 ,IT W\LD SEEM ?AT TWO PROJECTS COMPLEM5T EA* O!R V]Y WELL4 ,KROPOTK9 AIM$ TO UND]/& PRECISELY :AT IT WAS ?AT AN ALI5AT$ WORK] HAD LO/4 ,BUT TO 9TEGRATE ! TWO W\LD MEAN TO UND]/& H[ EV5 CAPITALISM IS ULTIMATELY F\ND$ ON COMMUNISM 70MUTUAL AID071 EV5 IF IT'S A COMMUNISM IT DOES NOT ACKN[L$GE2 H[ COMMUNISM IS NOT AN AB/RACT1 DI/ANT IDEAL1 IMPOSSIBLE TO MA9TA91 BUT A LIV$ PRACTICAL REALITY WE ALL 5GAGE 9 DAILY1 TO DIFF]5T DEGREES1 & ?AT EV5 FACTORIES C\LD NOT OP]ATE )\T IT--EV5 IF MU* ( IT OP]ATES ON ! SLY1 BETWE5 ! CRACKS1 OR %IFTS1 OR 9=MALLY1 OR 9 :AT'S NOT SAID1 OR 5TIRELY SUBV]SIVELY4 ,IT'S BECOME FA%IONABLE LATELY TO SAY ?AT CAPITALISM HAS 5T]$ A NEW PHASE 9 :I* IT HAS BECOME P>ASITICAL ( =MS ( CREATIVE COOP]ATION1 L>GELY ON ! 9T]NET4 

,?IS IS NONS5SE4 ,IT HAS ALWAYS BE5 SO4 

,?IS IS A WOR?Y 9TELLECTUAL PROJECT4 ,= SOME REASON1 ALMO/ NO ONE IS 9T]E/$ 9 C>RY+ IT \T4 ,9/EAD ( EXAM9+ H[ ! RELATIONS ( HI]>*Y & EXPLOITATION >E REPRODUC$1 REFUS$1 & 5TANGL$ ) RELATIONS ( MUTUAL AID1 H[ RELATIONS ( C>E BECOME CONT9U\S ) RELATIONS ( VIOL5CE1 BUT NONE!LESS HOLD TOGE!R SY/EMS ( VIOL5CE SO ?AT !Y DON'T 5TIRELY FALL AP>T1 BO? TRADITIONAL ,M>XISM & CONTEMPOR>Y SOCIAL !ORY HAVE /UBBORNLY DISMISS$ PRETTY MU* ANY?+ SUGGE/IVE ( G5]OSITY1 COOP]ATION1 OR ALTRU-ISM AS SOME K9D ( B\RGEOIS ILLUSION4 ,CONFLICT & EGOI/IC CALCULA-TION PROV$ TO BE MORE 9T]E/+ ?AN 0UNION40 7,SIMIL>LY1 IT IS FAIRLY COMMON = ACADEMIC LEFTI/S TO WRITE AB\T ,C>L ,S*MIDT OR ,TURGOT1 :ILE IS ALMO/ IMPOSSIBLE TO F9D ?OSE :O WRITE AB\T ,BAKUN9 & ,KONDI>ONK47 ,AS ,M>X HIMSELF COMPLA9$1 UND] ! CAPITALI/ MODE ( PRODUCTION1 TO EXI/ IS TO ACCUMULATE = ! LA/ FEW DECADES WE HAVE HE>D LITTLE ELSE ?AN REL5TLESS EXHORTATIONS ON CYNICAL /RATEGIES US$ TO 9CREASE \R RESPECTIVE 7SOCIAL1 CULTURAL1 OR MAT]IAL7 CAPITAL4 ,!SE >E FRAM$ AS CRITIQUES4 ,BUT IF ALL Y\'RE WILL+ TO TALK AB\T IS ?AT :I* Y\ CLAIM TO /& AGA9/1 IF ALL Y\ CAN IMAG9E IS :AT Y\ CLAIM TO /& AGA9/1 !N 9 :AT S5SE DO Y\ ACTUALLY /& AGA9/ IT8 ,SOMETIMES IT SEEMS AS IF ! ACADEMIC ,LEFT HAS 5D$ UP AS A RESULT GRADUALLY 9T]NALIZ+ & REPRODUC+ ALL ! MO/ DI/RESS+ ASPECTS ( ! NEOLIB]AL ECONOMISM IT CLAIMS TO OPPOSE1 TO ! PO9T :]E1 READ+ MANY SU* ANALYZES 7WE'RE GO+ TO BE NICE & NOT M5TION ANY NAMES71 ONE F9DS ONESELF ASK+1 H[ DIFF]5T ALL ( ?IS REALLY IS FROM ! SOCIOBIOLOGICAL HYPO!SIS ?AT \R BEHAVIOR IS GOV]N$ BY 0SELFI% G5ES60 

,ADMITT$LY1 ?IS K9D ( 9T]NALIZATION ( ! 5EMY REA*$ ITS HEYDAY 9 ! #a#i#hS & '#iS1 :5 ! GLOBAL ,LEFT WAS 9 FULL RETREAT4 ,?+S HAVE MOV$ ON4 ,IS ,KROPOTK9 RELEVANT AGA98 ,WELL1 OBVI\SLY1 ,KROPOTK9 WAS ALWAYS RELEVANT1 BUT ?IS BOOK IS BE+ RELEAS$ 9 ! BELIEF ?AT !RE IS A NEW1 RADICALIZ$ G5]ATION1 MANY ( :OM HAVE NEV] BE5 EXPOS$ TO !SE IDEAS DIRECTLY1 BUT :O %[ ALL SIGNS ( BE+ ABLE TO MAKE A MORE CLE>-M9D$ ASSESSM5T ( ! GLOBAL SITUATION ?AN !IR P>5TS & GR&P>5TS1 IF ONLY BECAUSE !Y KN[ ?AT IF !Y DON'T1 ! WORLD 9 /ORE = !M WILL SOON BECOME AN ABSOLUTE HELLSCAPE4 

,IT'S ALREADY BEG9N+ TO HAPP54 ,! POLITICAL RELEVANCE ( IDEAS FIR/ ESP\S$ 9 ,MUTUAL ,AID IS BE+ R$ISCOV]$ BY ! NEW G5]ATIONS ( SOCIAL MOVEM5TS ACROSS ! PLANET4 ,! ONGO+ SOCIAL REVOLUTION 9 ,DEMOCRATIC ,F$]ATION ( ,NOR!A/ ,SYRIA 7,ROJAVA7 HAS BE5 PR(\NDLY 9FLU5C$ BY ,KROPOTK9'S WRIT+S AB\T SOCIAL ECOLOGY & COOP]ATIVE F$]ALISM1 9 P>T VIA ! WORKS ( ,MURRAY ,BOOK*91 9 P>T BY GO+ BACK TO ! S\RCE1 9 L>GE P>T TOO BY DRAW+ ON !IR [N ,KURDI% TRADITIONS & REVOLUTION>Y EXP]I5CE4 

,KURDI% REVOLUTION>IES HAVE TAK5 ON ! TASK ( CON/RUCT+ A NEW SOCIAL SCI5CE ANTAGONI/IC TO KN[L$GE /RUCTURES ( CAPITALI/ MOD]-NITY4 ,?OSE 9VOLV$ 9 COLLECTIVE PROJECTS ( SOCIOLOGY ( FRE$OM & J9EOLOJI HAVE 9DE$ BEGUN TO 0RECON/RUCT /ONE BY /ONE ! 9/ITUTIONS :I* US$ TO UNITE0 PEOPLE & /RUGGLES4 ,9 ! ,GLOBAL ,NOR?1 EV]Y:]E FROM V>I\S OCCUPY MOVEM5TS TO SOLID>ITY PROJECTS CONFRONT+ ! ,COVID-#a#i P&EMIC1 MUTUAL AID HAS EM]G$ AS A KEY PHRASE US$ BY ACTIVI/S & MA9/REAM J\RNALI/S ALIKE4 ,AT PRES5T1 MUTUAL AID IS 9VOK$ 9 MIGRANT SOLID>ITY MOBILIZATIONS 9 ,GREECE & 9 ! ORGANIZATION ( ,ZAPATI/A SOCIETY 9 ,*IAPAS4 ,EV5 S*OL>S >E RUMOR$ TO OCCASIONALLY USE IT4 

,:5 ,MUTUAL ,AID WAS FIR/ RELEAS$ 9 #a#i#b1 !RE W]E FEW SCI5TI/S C\RAGE\S 5\< TO *ALL5GE ! IDEA ?AT CAPITALISM & NATIONALISM W]E ROOT$ 9 HUMAN NATURE1 OR ?AT ! AU?ORITY ( /ATES WAS ULTIMATELY 9VIOLABLE4 ,MO/ :O DID W]E1 9DE$1 WRITT5 (F AS CRACKPOTS OR1 IF !Y W]E TOO OBVI\SLY IMPORTANT TO BE DISMISS$ 9 ?IS WAY1 LIKE ,ALB]T ,E9/E91 AS 0ECC5TRICS0 :OSE POLITICAL VIEWS HAD AB\T AS MU* SIGNIFICANCE AS !IR UNUSUAL HAIR/YLES4 ,! RE/ ( ! WORLD ?\< IS MOV+ ALONG4 ,WILL ! SCI5TI/S--EV51 POSSIBLY1 ! SOCIAL SCI5TI/S--EV5TUALLY FOLL[8 

,WE WRITE ?IS 9TRODUCTION DUR+ A WAVE ( GLOBAL POPUL> RE-VOLT AGA9/ RACISM & /ATE VIOL5CE1 AS PUBLIC AU?ORITIES SPEW V5OM AGA9/ 0AN>*I/S0 9 MU* ! WAY !Y DID 9 ,KROPOTK9'S TIME4 ,IT SEEMS A PECULI>LY FITT+ MOM5T TO RAISE A GLASS TO ?AT OLD 0DESPIS] ( LAW & PRIVATE PROP]TY0 :O *ANG$ ! FACE ( SCI5CE 9 WAYS ?AT CONT9UE TO AFFECT US TODAY4 ,PYOTR ,KROPOTK9'S S*OL>%IP WAS C>EFUL & COLORFUL1 9SI<TFUL & REVOLUTION>Y4 ,IT HAS ALSO AG$ UNUSUALLY WELL4 ,KROPOTK9'S REJECTION ( BO? CAPITALISM & BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM1 HIS PR$ICTIONS ( :]E ! LATT] MI<T LEAD1 HAVE BE5 V9-DICAT$ TIME & TIME AGA94 ,LOOK+ BACK AT MO/ ( ! >GUM5TS ?AT RAG$ 9 HIS DAY1 !RE'S REALLY NO QUE/ION AB\T :O WAS ACTUALLY RI<T4 

,OBVI\SLY1 !RE >E /ILL ?OSE :O VIRUL5TLY DISAGREE ON ?IS C\NT4 ,SOME >E CL++ TO ! DREAM ( BO>D+ %IPS LONG S9CE PASS$4 ,O!RS >E WELL PAID TO ?9K ! ?+S !Y DO4 ,AS = ! AU?ORS ( ?IS MODE/ 9TRODUCTION1 MANY DECADES AFT] FIR/ 5C\N-T]+ ?IS DELI<TFUL BOOK1 WE F9D \RSELVES--ONCE AGA9--SURPRIS$ BY JU/ H[ DEEPLY WE AGREE ) ITS C5TRAL >GUM5T4 ,! ONLY VIABLE ALT]NATIVE TO CAPITALI/ B>B>ISM IS /ATELESS SOCIALISM1 A PRODUCT1 AS ! GREAT GEOGRAPH] NEV] CEAS$ TO REM9D US1 0( T5D5CIES ?AT >E APP>5T N[ 9 ! SOCIETY0 & ?AT W]E 0ALWAYS1 9 SOME S5SE1 IMM95T 9 ! PRES5T40 

,TO CREATE A NEW WORLD1 WE CAN ONLY />T BY R$ISCOV]+ :AT IS & HIS ALWAYS BE5 RI<T BE=E \R EYES4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bba 3 ,9TRODUCTION TO ,MUTUAL ,AID -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #d1 #bbb 3 ,9TRODUCTION TO ,MUTUAL ,AID -- ,UPDAT$4 

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