Alchemy in Clarens

Fall 2007 Requirements and Readings

Course Description

      In this course students will explore the origins of anarcho-communism by examining the relationship between Peter Kropotkin and Elisée Reclus between 1875 and 1881 when both were in exile in Switzerland. During this period they lived for about two years in Clarens, a Swiss village on Lake Geneva's northeast shore, and both men were actively developing ideas that were beginning to be described as anarcho-communism. Kropotkin eventually became the leading proponent of anacho-communism while Reclus's contribution to anarcho-communism has been less appreciated. It may well be, however, that it is Reclus who should get the lion's share of credit for developing anarcho-communism and that Kropotkin simply popularized and clarified basic prinicples he learned from Reclus. Tracing the influence of each man on the other will be the principal focus of the course. Both men were geographers by profession and anarchists by conviction, and both were highly regarded as geographers and as anarchists. Kropotkin's work has been widely translated and he wrote many of his major works in English, but Reclus's work has been less widely disseminated. Indeed, English translations of most his anarchist publications have become available only in the past decade. Consequently, it is now possible for "English only" readers to begin to get a more balanced view of the contributions each man made to the anarchist movement.

      The course will begin with an overview of anarchism in general, followed by a review of the major developments in anarchism up to 1875, and then the focus will narrow to the critical years 1875-1881. We will use original source material whenever possible and students will prepare much of that material for inclusion in Anarchy Archives. The material produced will include original writings by Reclus and Kropotkin, other authors' commentary on Reclus and Kropotkin, timelines documenting biographical data, ideological maps outlining the ideas that evolved into anarcho-communism, critical essays, biographical essays, and bibliographic summaries.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

      Grades will be assigned on the basis of the following criteria:

      1) Bi-weekly critical essays

      2) Weekly work on archive material

      3) A final paper dealing with some aspect of the relationship between Reclus and Kropotkin.

GRADING WEIGHTS

1) Bi-weekly essays 30%

2) Weekly archive work 30%

3) Final Paper 40%

REQUIRED TEXTS

Anarchy, Geography, Modernity: The Radical Social Thought of Elisée Reclus by Elisée Reclus, John P. Clark, Camille Martin.

Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism, 1872-1886, by Caroline Cahm.

Useful Internet Links

• Kropotkin Archive
• Kropotkin's Collected Works
• Kropotkin Bibliography
• Kropotkin Commentary
• Kropotkin Biography
• Reclus Archive
• Reclus's Collected Works
• Reclus Bibliography
• Reclus Commentary
• Reclus Biography

Readings

Sept 4: Orientation

Sept 6: Anarchy, Geography, Modernity: The Radical Social Thought of Elisée Reclus,

by Elisée Reclus, John P. Clark, Camille Martin, pp. ix-42.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Introduction, Book 1, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2.

Sept 11: Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism, 1872-1886,

by Caroline Cahm, pp. ix-xi, 1-13, 17-35.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 1, Chapter 3, Chapter 4 and Chapter 5.

Sept 13: Anarchy, Geography, Modernity: The Radical Social Thought of Elisée Reclus,

by Elisée Reclus, John P. Clark, Camille Martin, pp. 43-85.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 1, Chapter 6, Chapter 7 and Chapter 8.

Sept 18:Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism, 1872-1886,

by Caroline Cahm, pp. 36-67.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 1, Chapter 9, Chapter 10 and Book 2, Chapter 1.

Sept 20: Anarchy, Geography, Modernity: The Radical Social Thought of Elisée Reclus

by Elisée Reclus, John P. Clark, Camille Martin, pp. 87-115.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 2, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

Sept 25: Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism, 1872-1886,

by Caroline Cahm, pp. 71-115.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 2, Chapter 5, Chapter 6 and Chapter 7.

Sept 27: Anarchy, Geography, Modernity: The Radical Social Thought of Elisée Reclus

by Elisée Reclus, John P. Clark, Camille Martin, pp. 119-152.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 2, Chapter 8, Chapter 9 and Book 3, Chapter 1.

Oct 2: Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism, 1872-1886,

by Caroline Cahm, pp. 116-151.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 3, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

Oct 4: Anarchy, Geography, Modernity: The Radical Social Thought of Elisée Reclus

by Elisée Reclus, John P. Clark, Camille Martin, pp. 153-200.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 3, Chapter 5, Chapter 6 and Chapter 7.

Oct 9: Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism, 1872-1886,

by Caroline Cahm, pp. 152-177.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 3, Chapter 8, Chapter 9 and Book 4, Chapter 1.

Oct 11: Anarchy, Geography, Modernity: The Radical Social Thought of Elisée Reclus

by Elisée Reclus, John P. Clark, Camille Martin, pp. 201-250.

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 4, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

Oct 16: Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism, 1872-1886,

by Caroline Cahm, pp. 178-209.

An Anarchist on Anarchy by Elisée Reclus
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/onanarchy.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6 and Chapter 7.

Oct 18: Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism, 1872-1886,

by Caroline Cahm, pp. 213-230.

Elisée Reclus,"The Ideal and Youth"
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/idealandyouth.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 4, Chapter 8, Chapter 9 and Chapter 10.

Oct 25: Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism, 1872-1886,

by Caroline Cahm, pp. 231-269.

Elisée Reclus, "Why Anarchists Don't Vote."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/dontvote.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 4, Chapter 11, Chapter 12 and Chapter 13.

Oct 30: Kropotkin and the Rise of Revolutionary Anarchism, 1872-1886,

by Caroline Cahm, pp. 270-286.

John Clark, "The Dialectical Social Geography of Elisée Reclus."
url: http://raforum.info/article.php3?id_article=551

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 4, Chapter 14, Chapter 15 and Chapter 16.

Nov 6: Joseph Ishill, "Reflections of a Proletarian."

url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/Ishillvi-vii.html

Paul Reclus, "A Few Recollections on the Brothers Elie and Elisée Reclus."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill1-25.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 5, Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.

Nov 8: Jean Grave, "Elisée Reclus."

url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill34-42.html

Peter Kropotkin, "Elisée Reclus."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill55-63.html

Luigi Galleani, "A Recollection of Elisée Reclus."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill69-71.html

Jacques Gross, Elisée Reclus
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill85-86.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 5, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 and Book 6, Chapter 1.

Nov 13: Richard Heath, Elisée Reclus

url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill92-100.html

Lilly Zibelin-Wilmerding, Elisée Reclus
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill101-103.html

Pierre Ramus, In Commemoration of Elisée Reclus
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill123-125.html

Wm. C. Owen, "Elisée Reclus."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill126-131.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 6, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

Nov 15: Edward Rothen, "Elisée Reclus' Optimism."

url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill143-149.html

Zamfir C. Arbore (Ralli), "Elisée Reclus Reminiscences."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill159-164.html

Luigi Fabbri, "Elisée Reclus--"Correspondence"."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill175-179.html

Jacques Mesnil, "Elisée Reclus."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill180-195.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 6, Chapter 5, Chapter 6 and Chapter 7.

Nov 20: Max Nettlau, "Bakunin and Reclus."

url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill196-208.html

Elisée Reclus, "Art and the People."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill325-330.html

Elisée Reclus, "The Future of our Children."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill331-335.html

Elisée Reclus, "Anarchy."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill345-351.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 6, Chapter 8, Chapter 9 and Chapter 10.

Nov 27: Extracts from Elisée Reclus' Letters

url:http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/reclus/ishill/ishill259-324.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 6, Chapter 11, Chapter 12 and Chapter 13.

Nov 29: Peter Kropotkin, "The Paris Commune."

url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/pcommune.html

Peter Kropotkin, "The Spirit of Revolt."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/spiritofrevolt.html

Peter Kropotkin, "Anarchist-Communism: Its Basis and Principles."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/revpamphlets/anarchistcommunism.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 6, Chapter 14, Chapter 15 and Chapter 16.

Dec 4: Peter Kropotkin, "The State: Its Historic Role."

url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/state/state_toc.html

Memoirs of a Revolutionist, by Peter Kropotkin, Book 6, Chapter 17.

Dec 6: Peter Kropotkin, "Anarchist Morality."

url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/AM/anarchist_morality.html

Peter Kropotkin, "Law and Authority."
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/revpamphlets/lawandauthority.htm

Dec 11: Peter Kropotkin, "Revolutionary Government."

url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/revpamphlets/revgov.html

Peter Kropotkin, Mutual Aid, Introduction.
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/mutaidintro.html

Dec 13: Peter Kropotkin, The Conquest of Bread, Preface.

url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/conquest/preface.html

Peter Kropotkin, Fields, Factories and Workshops, Conclusion.
url: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/fieldsch9.html