Absolutism Vs Liberalism

The “International Anarchist Manifesto on the War,” was signed in London in 1915 by many anarchists of the time, who believed that war and strife was due to the “present social system,” as stated in the first paragraph of the manifesto. World War I was taking place during the making of this manifesto, fueling the makers desire to end Europe’s war that they believed was in part do to the exploitation of the proletariat. The signers believed that all turmoil, whether it be within a country or widespread, was a result of the government controlling their people, holding them hostage to their work. The manifesto scoffs at the idea of civilization being present during present times of civil unrest in many different countries around the world. …show more content…
In about every way feasible, the anarchists have strong contrasting ideas to classical liberalism. First off, the anarchists called for the abolishment of the entire government to truly be free. Liberalism, on the other hand, held the idea of control and order deriving from a government in place that allows people to be free. In other words, this manifesto holds that having no government equals complete freedom, while liberalism holds that government enables freedom and individualism. Secondly, the writers of the manifesto believed that those at the top of society were responsible for the strife of all other below them, forcing them into laborious jobs only for the benefit of the state. Conversely, liberals believed in laissez-fair and capitalism, where citizens could make their way through societal classes at their own discretion. One well-known anarchist, Peter Kropotkin, in particular had similar views on the ideas of the state in the lives of the people with the ideas of the writers of this manifesto. Kropotkin was a strong believer in the fact that moral laws that the majority of people believe in is what everybody should live by, without force from the state. In his excerpt, Anarchism, he addresses similar opinions to the problems of the state as he …show more content…
He used means of mass communication to inform the low-income masses on his nationalistic ideas. He wrote the Nancy Program after serving as the Deputy of Nancy in France that defined his views on nationalism. In the article, Barrès explains how the foreigners were taking jobs away from the citizens of France and that it must be stopped to preserve the freedoms France fought so hard for. Quote. Barrès’ brand of nationalism told all of the citizens of France that they were stronger together under one government who supports French citizens first, over foreigners and particularly Jews. Contrastingly, on the fourth paragraph of the second page, the manifesto states, “This confidence, has been deliberately betrayed, and continues to be so, when governments, with the aid of the whole of their press, persuade their peoples that this war is a war of liberation.” The anarchists would believe that nationalism corrupts the people, as their leaders persuade them to think they are liberated through crushing others. Again, Barrès was pushing for a strong nationalism within the government, while the anarchists wanted nothing to do with

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