Below is a short collection of mostly free online essays and books (links provided) that I used to write for a book chapter focusing on a "History of Anarchist Economics" in the forthcoming An Economy of Sustainability: Anarchist Economics (AK Press) co-edited by Anthony J. Nocella, II, John Asimakopoulos, and Deric Shannon. Of course there are many more excellent sources not listed as I was limited by space available in the book. However, the topics in the chapter range broadly and thematically covering core ideas of economics and anarchism addressing people, events, times, and places beyond what is listed too. However, I’d like to think that the sources referenced would provide anyone who read them a nice introductory overview to what could be called a history of "anarchist economic" theory and practice and basis for further exploration. However, without providing a spoiler for the book, you will have to get it when it comes out to understand my own interpretation of these readings and how I think this inspiring history sheds light on the possible future organization of society to bring out the best in humanity and for a sustainable world. Thanks to the editors for providing me the opportunity to present these ideas.
The book description is just below, and my chapter bibliography, again with links to many free readings, is below that.
Book description:
Soon after the 1999 alter-globalization protest in Seattle against the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting there was a significant reemergence of scholarly and activist interest in anarchism–which opposes capitalism and envisions a society based on solidarity and mutual aid. These ideas are becoming ever more relevant as we enter a global depression that sees workers all over looking for an alternative to a corrupt and hierarchical method of distributing resources. As the world has watched as authoritarian "socialist" governments like the USSR and China have abandoned their commitment to workers or simply imploded from their bloated bureaucracies, people on the Left, and beyond, are looking for libertarian alternatives. This has provided a space for anarchists to make inroads in sharing this vision and getting people from all walks of life interested in the anarchist ideal–a society free of domination and exploitation.
However, despite this interest, anarchism remains widely misunderstood. Littered with misconceptions about violence and chaos, anarchism in actuality has little to do with either. It is, in the words of Noam Chomsky, the "libertarian wing of the socialist movement," centered on direct democracy and creating a participatory present and future. To have no master while respecting diversity, anarchists maintain that everyone should be treated with respect, allowed autonomy, and accorded a measure of power in all decisions that affect them. This radical notion too often has been chastised, ridiculed, and falsely represented, rather than honestly explored as an alternative to the exploitation, environmental degradation, and oppression guaranteed by capitalist society.
This modest anthology, An Economy of Sustainability: Anarchist Economics, seeks to document the growing interest in anarchism and more specifically anarchist economics as it is expressed through anarchist theory and praxis.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Foreword: Stanley Aronowitz
Preface: Ruth Kinna
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Introduction: John Asimakopoulos, Anthony J. Nocella, II, and Deric Shannon
PART 1. HISTORY
1. Classic Essay
2. Classic Essay
3. Classic Essay
4. Chris Spannos
PART 2. GLOBALIZATION
5. William T. Armaline and William D. Armaline
6. Caroline Kaltefleiter
PART 3. RESISTANCE
7. Richard Kahn
8. Jeff Monaghan and D.T. Cochrane
Part 4. TRANSFORMATION
9. Uri Gordon
10. Deric Shannon
Part 5. ALTERNATIVES
11. Wayne Price
12. John Asimakopoulos
Afterward: Steve Best
**Including historical classic essays by leading anarchist figures
Bibliography for chapter 4: "History of Anarchist Economics" by Chris Spannos
Pyotr Kropotkin, The Conquest of Bread (original 1892, republished by AK Press, 2008, website, last accessed: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/anarchist_archives/kropotkin/conquest/toc.html)
Mikhail Bakunin, “The Capitalist System” (website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/anarchist_archives/bakunin/capstate.html)
Mikhail Bakunin, 1871 Philosophical Considerations
Emma Goldman, “Anarchism: What it Really Stands For” (Mother Earth, 1911, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/goldman/aando/anarchism.html)
Pierre Joseph Proudhon, What is Property? An Inquiry into the Principle of Right and of Government (Benj. R. Tucker, Princeton, Mass 1876, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/ProProp.html).
Gaston Leval, Collectives in Spain (1938, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://libcom.org/library/collectives-spanish-revolution-gaston-leval)
Diego Abad De Santillán, After the Revolution (1936-1937, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://zinelibrary.info/files/After%20the%20Revolution.pdf)
Karl Marx, Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844 (1844, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/labour.htm)
Karl Marx “The Civil War in France” (1871, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1871/civil-war-france/ch05.htm)
Karl Marx, “Critique of the Gotha Program” (1875, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1875/gotha/index.htm)
V. I. Lenin, “The Immediate Tasks of the Soviet Government” (Pravda No. 83, 1918, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1918/mar/28.htm)
Maurice Brinton, “The Bolsheviks and Workers Control 1917-1921,” For Workers’ Power (AK Press, 2004, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://www.spunk.org/texts/places/russia/sp001861/bolintro.html)
Pat Walker ed., Between Labor and Capital (South End Press, 1979)
Michael Albert and Robin Hahnel, Quite Revolution in Welfare Economics (Princeton University Press, 1991, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://books.zcomm.org/books/quiet.htm)
Michael Albert and Robin Hahnel, Looking Forward: Participatory Economics for the 21st Century (South End Press, 1991, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: https://znetwork.org/zparecon/lookfor.htm)
Michael Albert and Robin Hahnel, The Political Economy of Participatory Economics (1991, Princeton University Press, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: https://znetwork.org/zparecon/pepe.htm)
Michael Albert Life After Capitalism (Verso, 2004, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: https://znetwork.org/zparecon/pareconlac.htm)
Robin Hahnel, The ABC’s of Political Economy (Pluto, 2002)
Robin Hahnel, Economic Justice and Democracy (Routledge, 2005)
Chris Spannos ed. Real Utopia: Participatory Society for the 21st Century (AK Press, 2008)
Cornelius Castoriadis, Political and Social Writings. Volume 1: 1946-1955. From the Critique of Bureaucracy to the Positive Content of Socialism. (ed./trans.: David
Cornelius Castoriadis, Political and Social Writings. Volume 2: 1955-1960. From the Workers’ Struggle Against Bureaucracy to Revolution in the Age of Modern Capitalism. (ed./trans.: David
Cornelius Castoriadis, Political and Social Writings. Volume 3: 1961-1979. Recommencing the Revolution: From Socialism to the Autonomous Society. (ed./trans.: David
Cornelius Castoriadis, “Workers’ Councils and the Economics of Self-Managed Society” (Original 1957, republished 1972 in "Socialism or Barbarism," No. 22, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://www.lust-for-life.org/Lust-For-Life/WorkersCouncilsAndEconomics/WorkersCouncilsAndEconomics.htm)
Lucy Parsons, “The Principles of Anarchism” (website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://www.lucyparsonsproject.org/writings/principles_of_anarchism.html)
Rudolf Rocker, “Anarchism & Sovietism” (website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://flag.blackened.net/rocker/soviet.htm)
Rudolf Rocker, Anarcho-Syndicalism (AK Press, 2004, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://www.spunk.org/library/writers/rocker/sp001495/rocker_as1.html)
Tom Wetzel, “Italy 1920” (website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://workersolidarity.org/?p=122)
Anton Pannekoek, Workers’ Councils (AK Press, 2002, website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://libcom.org/library/workers-councils-book-pannekoek)
Murray Bookchin, “The Ghost of Anarcho-Syndicalism” (website, last accessed June 20, 2009: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bookchin/ghost2.html)
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