Anarchism and Socialism

"Anarchism and Socialism" by Georgii Valentinovich Plekhanov is a deep investigation into opposing political beliefs from the 1800s. The book looks closely at the differences between anarchism and socialism, questioning ideas from thinkers like Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and Mikhail Bakunin. It aims to explain the history and thinking behind anarchism, while promoting socialism as a better, more fact-based way to organize society. The book starts by comparing early, unrealistic socialist ideas with Plekhanov’s idea of scientific socialism. He talks about how early socialists used a general idea of "human nature" to imagine perfect societies. Plekhanov criticizes this, saying it doesn't have the strength of focusing on economic facts and the real conflict between social classes. This sets the stage for a detailed look at how these beliefs grew and how they influenced each other, pointing to a difficult connection between personal freedom, community responsibility, and the role of government.