Anarchism in Hungary: Theory, History, Legacies [antikvár]

INTRODUCTIONAnarchism is not a fixed, self-enclosed social system, but rather a definite trend in the historic development of mankind, which, in contrast with the intellectual guardianship of all clerical and governmental institutions, strives for the free unhindered unfolding of all the individual and social forces in life. Even freedom is only a relative, not an absolute concept, since it tends constantly to become broader and to affect wider circles in more manifold ways. For the Anarchist, freedom is not an abstract philosophical concept, but the vital concrete possibility for every human being to bring to full development all the powers, capacities, and talents with which nature has endowed him, and turn them to social account. The less this natural development of man is influenced by ecclesiastical or political guardianship, the more efficient and harmonious will human personality become, the more will it become the measure of the intellectual culture of the society in which it has grown.'According to Rudolf Rocker, anarchism is a possibility. It is a route to a richer, more interesting and freer future, an opportunity for spiritual and political development: an unclosed ideal, an open choice, an untried and attractive possibility. The anarchist steps into the future and creates a new future without rule.The role of the social scientist who examines anarchism is much more prosaic. First, he or she can seek to outline the theoretical system and the various types of anarchismthe approaches of the political philosopher and the political scientist.Second, he or she can study when, in what form, how and why anarchism emerges in particular historical situations, which social strata present anarchist demands, and how the anarchist movement is orga-