rip
WTF
Lenin was also heavily influenced by Kropotkin, there’s even a conversation between the two you can read.
One of my favorite parts: “How glad I am to see you, Vladimir Ilyich! You and I have different views. We have different points of view about a whole series of problems, both as far as the execution and organization is concerned, but our goals are the same and what you and your comrades are doing in the name of communism, pleases me very much and makes my already aging heart happy. But now you are making life hard for the cooperatives and I am in favor of tcooperatives!”
Even in general disagreement in method, Kropotkin still recognized and critically supported Lenin. Mass Left Unity is the only path to victory.
How glad I am to see you, Vladimir Ilyich! You and I have different views. We have different points of view about a whole series of problems, both as far as the execution and organization is concerned, but our goals are the same and what you and your comrades are doing in the name of communism, pleases me very much and makes my already aging heart happy. But now you are making life hard for the cooperatives and I am in favor of tcooperatives!
like yeah that sucks about the coops but idk i like to see the critical support
Lenin goes on to reply “But we are also in favor of them!”, Vladimir Ilyich exclaimed loudly, “only we are opposed to cooperatives behind which kulaks, big landowners, merchants and private capital hide. We only want to tear off the mask of these pseudo-cooperatives and give the opportunity to big layers of the population to participate in a real cooperatives!”
They disagreed on the nature of many of these coops, and where to direct their movement. Kropotkin ultimately stood firm on his defense of cooperatives in total, while Lenin was skeptical that they could loosen restrictions during such a sensitive time.
It’s a good read for Anarchists and ML’s alike, both sides had legitimate concerns and mutual respect.
Well, well, well
