Bakunin vs. Marx

Attribute	Bakunin	Marx
Political Philosophy	Anarchism	Communism
Role of the State	Abolish the state completely	Wither away the state eventually
Means of Revolution	Violent revolution	Proletarian revolution
Ownership of Means of Production	Collective ownership	State ownership
Role of the Proletariat	Leading role in revolution	Central role in revolution

Background

Mikhail Bakunin and Karl Marx were two influential figures in the realm of political philosophy during the 19th century. Both were proponents of socialism, but they had differing views on how to achieve a classless society. Bakunin was an anarchist, believing in the abolition of all forms of government and authority, while Marx was a communist, advocating for a dictatorship of the proletariat to eventually lead to a stateless society.

Views on the State

Bakunin vehemently opposed the existence of the state, viewing it as a tool of oppression that must be abolished in order for true freedom to be achieved. He believed that any form of government would inevitably lead to the exploitation of the working class. Marx, on the other hand, saw the state as a necessary transitional phase in the establishment of communism. He argued that the state would wither away once the proletariat had seized control of the means of production.

Means of Revolution

When it came to the means of achieving their respective visions of a classless society, Bakunin and Marx also had differing views. Bakunin believed in the use of violent revolution to overthrow the existing social order and create a new society based on voluntary cooperation. He saw the destruction of the state and all forms of authority as essential to this process. Marx, on the other hand, believed in the use of the proletariat seizing control of the state apparatus through democratic means, such as elections and political parties.

Role of the Proletariat

Both Bakunin and Marx believed in the central role of the proletariat in the revolutionary process. Bakunin saw the working class as the driving force behind the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a new social order based on equality and solidarity. Marx similarly viewed the proletariat as the revolutionary class that would eventually lead to the establishment of communism. However, Marx believed that the proletariat needed to first seize control of the state in order to achieve this goal.

Views on Authority

One of the key differences between Bakunin and Marx was their views on authority. Bakunin was a staunch opponent of all forms of authority, believing that any form of hierarchy would inevitably lead to the oppression of the working class. He advocated for a society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid, where individuals would be free to govern themselves without the need for rulers. Marx, on the other hand, believed in the need for a temporary dictatorship of the proletariat to centralize power and guide the transition to communism.

Legacy

Despite their differences, both Bakunin and Marx left a lasting impact on the world of political philosophy. Bakunin's ideas on anarchism and the abolition of the state continue to influence anarchist movements to this day. Marx's theories on communism and the role of the proletariat have also had a profound impact on socialist movements around the world. While their approaches may have differed, both Bakunin and Marx shared a common goal of creating a more just and equitable society for all.