Mikhail Bakunin

Date of Birth: May 30, 1814

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: July 1, 1876

Biography

Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin was a prominent Russian revolutionary anarchist and a key figure in the 19th-century anarchist movement. Born into a noble family, Bakunin initially pursued a career in the military but soon became disillusioned and turned towards philosophy and revolutionary activities. He was deeply influenced by the works of Hegel and other German philosophers and became a vocal critic of both the Russian autocracy and organized religion. Bakunin’s revolutionary activities took him across Europe, where he participated in various uprisings and was often imprisoned for his political activities. He was a staunch advocate for the abolition of the state, viewing it as inherently oppressive. His theories on collective anarchism and his opposition to Marxism were significant contributions to political philosophy. Bakunin’s life was marked by constant movement, imprisonment, and escapes. He believed in the power of the people to overthrow their oppressors and worked tirelessly to promote his vision of a stateless society. Despite his many clashes with authorities and his eventual exile, Bakunin’s ideas have continued to influence anarchist movements worldwide.

5 Interesting Facts about Mikhail Bakunin

1. Mikhail Bakunin was born into a noble family in the village of Pryamukhino, Tver Governorate, Russia.

2. He initially studied philosophy and was heavily influenced by German idealism, particularly the works of Hegel.

3. Bakunin participated in the May Uprising in Dresden in 1849, which led to his arrest and a death sentence, later commuted to life imprisonment.

4. He managed to escape from Siberian exile in 1861 by traveling through Japan and the United States before returning to Europe.

5. Bakunin famously clashed with Karl Marx and was expelled from the First International, leading to a long-standing feud between anarchists and Marxists.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mikhail Bakunin

1. “The passion for destruction is also a creative passion.”

2. “Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice; socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality.”

3. “Political freedom without economic equality is a pretense, a fraud, a lie; and the workers want no lying.”

4. “Even the most wretched individual of our present society could not exist and develop without the cumulative social efforts of countless generations.”

5. “If there is a devil in history, that devil is the power principle.”