In 2021, the Zádruha Historical Society published the pamphlet Anarchy by one of
the leading anarchist theorists of the late 19th century, Élisée Recluse(1830-1905). This year we commemorate 100 years since the death of Petr Kropotkinand 150 years since the founding and demise of the Paris Commune, so it is goodthat the work, albeit very brief, of the thinker who was Kropotkin's friend (theyalso collaborated in the field of geography) also appears and is known as adirect participant in the Paris Commune. Élisée Reclus (unlike Kropotkin) wasunjustifiably neglected in the journalism of the modern Czech anarchist movement.Zádruze therefore deserves a big thank you for publishing this booklet, which wasoriginally translated by Václav Kroužilka and published in New York in 1896 byDelnické listy .The only thing I would blame Zádruz is the form. The brochure could easily havebeen slimmer or A6 format instead of choosing the font size for both the syllablebook and the absence of hyphenation. It is a pity that Zádruha prioritizesquantity over quality in its publishing activities. Here I would recommend goingback to the past, when Michael Kácha, although an ordinary shoemaker, made aneffort for a "good book". The added value is the addition of Reclus's two shorterarticles "Why Are We Anarchists?" And "On the Establishment of the State" and ashort biography of the author.And now let's look at the basic points of the Reclus brochure:Anarchy is not a newly invented theory, we find its various forms in differentplaces and at different times, regardless of the names it takes or remainsnameless. Anarchists could also be called "liberators" or "harmonists," becausethey say the future society should be in harmony. Proponents of anarchy seek tosuppress any system of domination and power of capital. The dream of worldfreedom has become an intensely sought-after necessity - equal rights withoutdistinction for everyone, celebration of peace and cordial, friendly agreement,mutual respect and esteem... The goal is community, generality within people withdifferent attitudes. It is necessary to get rid of the prejudice that it isimpossible to live without a ruler, not to replace one another, whose morals willnecessarily change according to his own interests. Old morality is built on fearand creates a hierarchy. But anarchists do not consider anyone a master and donot want to be a master. Above all, it is necessary to seek the truth, pure anduncorrupted, to find personal responsibilities, to learn self-knowledge ovat andto adjust one's life with regard to the law and interests of others. So we becometruly moral if a sense of responsibility is born within us. Only in freedom liesmorality. Freedom of thought makes all people, without realizing it, anarchists.The observable decline in respect for superiors is a breeding ground for thefight against state power. Thanks to revolutions, the world is moving. Theestablishment of free settlements can be compared to experiments in a chemicallaboratory, but these experiments have their flaws and are far from ordinarylife. Anarchism has proved most effective among ordinary people in difficultsituations where mutual help is a necessity."Neither faith nor national hatred can divide us, because the study of nature isour only religion and the whole world our common homeland."Elisée Reclus: Anarchy . Historical Association Zádruha, 2021. 40 pp. A5, price35 CZK. It can be ordered at spolekzadruha[a]riseup.net.https://www.afed.cz/text/7505/diky-revolucim-svet-se-hybe_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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