Demanding The Impossible: A History of Anarchism

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Description

Navigating the broad spectrum of anarchy, from Taoism to Situationism, from Ranters to Punk, individualists to communists, this is a lively study of an oft' misunderstood subject. It explores key anarchist concepts such as freedom, equality, authority and power and investigates the successes and failures of anarchist movements throughout the world. While remaining sympathetic to anarchism, it presents a balanced, critical account. Included are classic thinkers such as Godwin, Bakunion and Reclus as well as libertarian Camus, Nietzsche, Foucault and Chomsky.

Reviews

"Demanding the Impossible is the book I always recommend when asked--as I often am--for something on the history and ideas of anarchism."
--Noam Chomsky

"Attractively written and fully referenced...bound to be the standard history."
--Colin Ward, Times Educational Supplement

"Large, labyrinthine, tentative: for me these are all adjectives of praise when applied to works of history, and Demanding the Impossible meets all of them."
--George Woodcock, Independent

Author Bio

Peter Marshall is a philosopher, a historian, a poet, and the author of 15 books, including Nature's Web: Rethinking Our Place on Earth.