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Bakunin, Mikhail Aleksandrovich (1814–76)

DOI
10.4324/9780415249126-E002-1
DOI: 10.4324/9780415249126-E002-1
Version: v1,  Published online: 1998
Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/biographical/bakunin-mikhail-aleksandrovich-1814-76/v-1

Article Summary

Bakunin was the leading proponent in the second half of the nineteenth century of a variety of anarchism rooted in a Romantic cult of primitive spontaneity, and one of the principal ideologists of Russian populism. But along with his public defence of the principle of ’absolute liberty’ he attempted to set up networks of secret societies which were to direct the revolution and subsequently assume dictatorial powers. The contradiction between these two aspects of his activities has puzzled historians, many of whom have sought the answer in his personality, in which the urge to dominate was as strong as the urge to rebel.

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Citing this article:
Kelly, Aileen. Bakunin, Mikhail Aleksandrovich (1814–76), 1998, doi:10.4324/9780415249126-E002-1. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Taylor and Francis, https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/biographical/bakunin-mikhail-aleksandrovich-1814-76/v-1.
Copyright © 1998-2024 Routledge.

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