#conquestofbread

Kropotkin, Peter. The Conquest of Bread

  Kropotkin has already shifted the aim of politics to it’s most reasonable and scientific target: the well-being of all. But this is a very tall order, how do we achieve this most high of political virtues?

 In the third chapter of the bread book, we see tackle two of the main tendencies in human thought that may answer this question. The introductory paragraphs state that Anarchism and Communism are two forces that lead to the same conclusion: human liberty. Surely if we want all people’s needs to be met, they should be free, and not merely tools for some ulterior motives.

 So what are Communism and Anarchism?

 The first section focuses on Communism, and not just the strict and authoritarian aspects of it (like Revolution and the necessary steps to socialize land) but also on the libertarian side (for example, being able to develop ones skills freely, since the means are their’s!).

 We could label these two perspectives of Communism as ‘the ugly side’ and ‘the pretty side’. Organizing against capital and capitalists is a huge and ugly process. Human being have a certain difficulty to see their own oppression from years and generations of indoctrination and culture. 

 The ruling classes have many resources at their disposal.

 But a truly communist society would also focus their attention to human needs. Whether it be physical needs like food or shelter, or psychological needs like a living community and freedom for personal development, politics should shift all of its available energy to helping human beings flourish for the short lives they have. At the end of the day, we all want to be free to do what brings us comfort, challenges us, makes us better version of ourselves, brings us joy, etc.