Whitman’s salute to the Paris Commune is a valuable lesson in international solidarity, but some of his political ideals caution against embracing him fully.
The heavily militarized response to the pandemic and endemic police violence has exacerbated old conflicts within Greek society — and many have had enough.
A weekly show focusing on the economic dimensions of everyday life and alternative ways to organize our economy and politics, with Prof. Richard D. Wolff.
The Progressive International’s platform, Art of Internationalism, explores the role of art and culture in imagining and shaping 21st century internationalism.
The legacy of the Paris Commune and its dreams of radical social change resonate through time, inspiring revolutionary thinkers and activists to this day.
The experience of the Paris Commune had a profound impact on the thinking of Élisée Reclus and inspired him to develop his extensive philosophy of freedom.
The Commune of 1871 was never truly vanquished — its political imaginary lived on and is today being liberated and revived in a new cycle of struggles.
In 1891, on the 20th anniversary of the Paris Commune, Engels put together a new edition of “The Civil War in France,” emphasizing its historical significance.
Bakunin did not unreservedly praise everything done by the Commune, and did not hesitate to point out some of its major mistakes. But in contrast to some of his colleagues, he made allowances for its shortcomings.
The Commune of Paris was doomed to perish, but by its eminently popular character it began a new series of revolutions and by its ideas it was the forerunner of the social revolution.
Tearing down the Vendôme Column was a highly symbolic act uniting the people against the ruler; of democracy against tyranny; of the Commune against the Empire.
Erected in honor of Napoleon’s victories and made out of the bronze captured from enemy guns and, the Vendôme Column was for the Commune “a symbol of brutal force and false glory.”
Thiers breaks off the negotiations for a hostage exchange, proposed by Commune, of the Archbishop of Paris and a whole number of other priests, for Blanqui.
The Manifesto presents a powerful vision of the role the Commune can play in bringing about a “new era of experimental, positive, scientific politics.”
British journalist Bax, a sympathizer of the Commune, offers a critical note to the widely lauded Manifesto, calling it “ill-timed and not to the point.”