Kropotkin, the kindly uncle of all the anarchists, was a wise old soul.
When he was asked whether human beings were “good enough” to create a fairer society he didn’t just come out with some twee rubbish about humans being innately decent he replied that human beings were awful. That we could be utter rotters sometimes and that’s why we needed to structure society to keep our worst instincts at bay. Instead of encouraging greed and cruelty, as capitalism does, we needed a society based around mutual aid and cooperation, so that our worst instincts were not rewarded and our best encouraged.
I like this. It’s not an attempt to say we have heaven within us, but rather that if we don’t keep each other in check all hell will break lose.
As part of my selection of little A6 pamphlets (this one is 28 pages) I’ve reproduced that pamphlet (with a lovely cover design by Tifka), I hope you like it.
If you are interested use this link if in the UK or email me if you are not and we can work out postage.