180 years ago today, on December 9, 1842, Peter Kropotkin - biologist,
geographer, revolutionary and mastermind of anarchist communism - was born inMoscow. Born into a noble Russian family, an eventful life lay ahead of him:Disillusioned with his education in the Tsar's palace, the young Kropotkindevoted himself to biological and geographical studies against the will of hisfamily and spent many years on research trips in the inhospitable environment ofSiberia. ---- From his experiences and observations there, his conviction grewthat not, as Charles Darwin claimed, the constant struggle for existence was thedefining factor of the coexistence of humans and animals, but instead mutualhelp, i.e. voluntary cooperation of individuals for mutual benefit. Kropotkinsoon came into contact with the ideas of socialism and anarchism, which he soonembraced and which would shape the rest of his life. Over the next few years hetraveled the various countries of Europe as an activist, lecturing andcollaborating on a number of newspapers and magazines to advance therevolutionary cause. Again and again he was imprisoned by the rulers for hisactivism. Kropotkin was also active as a book author during this time andpublished several groundbreaking writings with which he decisively shaped theidea of anarchist communism.His most important works include "The Conquest of Bread" and "Mutual Help in theAnimal and Human Kingdoms". During his lifetime, Kropotkin became one of the mostwell-known voices in the global anarchist movement. Towards the end of his life,in 1917, Kropotkin witnessed the revolution he had hoped for reach his nativeRussia. But he quickly realized that the revolution led by the Bolsheviks aroundLenin was developing in the wrong direction. The party suppressed any criticismof and opposition to its new rule. The anarchist movement quickly fell into thecrosshairs of the Bolsheviks and was subjected to repression, imprisonment andmurder. In his writings, Kropotkin openly agitated against the new rulers anddenounced their policies. But it was too late: his funeral in 1921, attended bytens of thousands, including many well-known anarchists from all parts of theworld, was to be the last major public gathering of the anarchist movement in thedeveloping USSR. Many of the anarchists present, who were only allowed to leavetheir prison cells once more to attend Kropotkin's funeral, then disappeared intothe Bolshevik dungeons.Today we commemorate Peter Kropotkin, who with his work also decisively shapedour vision of a liberated society based on anarchist communism.Long live anarchist communism!https://www.dieplattform.org/2022/12/10/erinnerung-an-peter-kropotkin/_________________________________________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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