This is the first of a series of publications which we shall denominate as an Anthology of Libertarian writings and thoughts.
Our aspiration is three fold: firstly, to expose the anarchist ideology, philosophy as well as its history to the community at large, in an endeavour to demystify the indiscriminate echoes associated with the word “anarchism” which is often applied to all terrorist, nihilist and other advocates of violence and destruction; secondly, to highlight that anarchism springs and develops from the activities and practical accomplishments at all levels of our daily lives and not only from the theories of say Kropotkin or Bakunin, who were the first to admit that they themselves were pupils of what had been shown to them by ordinary militants and activists; thirdly, but not least, to provide further food for thought for those that already advocate the establishment of a libertarian society thus contributing to the continuous development, debate and exchange of views, these being an essential component of the anarchist ideology; The history of anarchism is the history of people who are virtually unknown. Traditionally ignored by academic historians (unless offcourse there exists the possibility of profiteering), their lives have been spent in the bitter and protracted struggle for freedom. Some have recorded their lives in autobiographical accounts that remain unpublished; many more live on, only in the memories of their now elderly compañeros, children or grandchildren.
This first issue of Libertarian Anthology comprises as an introduction the scholarly article written in 1905 by Peter Kropotkin for the eleventh edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. We have selected this piece by Kropotkin because it is the best brief Classical statement in the English language of the anarchist thought. It will assist those who are looking for an introduction to communist – anarchism as well as a brief historical development of anarchism.
We have also included two essays that were written by Albert Meltzer. The first essay is “Aims and Principles of Anarchism” which was first published by Coptic Press in 1968 with a second edition by Simian, son of Coptic in April 1970. The second essay is “Objections to Anarchism” published in Cienfuegos Review of Autumn 1977.
