Anarchist Manifesto of 1918

To assist in clearing up the many misconceptions regarding Anarchism held by both Socialists and non-Socialists, the Glasgow Anarchist Group and the Cowdenbeath Communist Group are issuing the following Manifesto. Any group or person wishing to circulate it may have copies or terms on applying direct to the Glasgow Group at 10, Windsor Street, Glasgow. In the space of a short statement of Principles and Tactics many points have necessarily been omitted. A few of these will be touched upon here, but a pamphlet or a series of articles would be necessary to do them justice. The figures refer to the sections of the Manifesto elaborated

1.The monopoly of the means of life by the master class forces the workers to sell their labour-power in order to live. The operation of the merciless law of supply and demand brings wages, on the average, down to a bare subsistence level. The ever increasing balance of wealth which the workers create, but cannot buy back, goes to the exploiting class. The fear of poverty and unemployment forces the workers to tolerate inhuman industrial and social conditions, and causes many to prostitute body and intellect for an existence. In the struggle for control of favourable trade routes we have the outbreak of war and the industrial and military conscription that follows. The blinded workers mutually slay one another in their masters' interests, instead of uniting to overthrow all tyranny for ever.
(2) The ever-intensifying exploitation and misery which Capitalism engenders will make the workers more discontented and susceptible to Revolutionary propaganda. The appeal of Anarchism should, therefore. become irresistible, whether they look at it from a selfish or humanitarian standpoint.
(3) It is sometimes argued that Parliamentary action is justifiable from a propagandist point of view if from no other. We reply that the fighters for Revolution can more effectively spend their time in propaganda at the work gates and public meetings. This will more quickly bring about the steady conversion of the rank and file which is the necessary preliminary to the Revolution.
(4) We repudiate the authoritarian and initiative-crushing forms of organisation. These hinder rather than assist evolution. We advocate, moreover, the utmost degree of solidarity, recognising that unity is strength, while sectionalism means impotence.
(5) As in Russia, the methods for overthrowing Capitalism will depend on and become evident from the needs of the Revolutionary crisis. Much depends on whether its outbreak is relatively premature, hence Revolutionary detail cannot be planned beforehand, but will be determined by necessity. Without attempting to prophesy, we believe that after the Revolution there will be an unprecedented betterment in the wellbeing of all. The scrapping of useless industries and the abolition of parasitism will supply a solid economic foundation for real social freedom, thus emancipating men and women from all class or sex oppression. The world will be criss-crossed by numberless voluntary associations of varying sizes and complexities, according to the objects which give them birth. The advantages and necessity of co-operation will naturally bring about the free agreement necessary to large scale enterprises without any friction-creating coercive institutions. The consequent development of the initiative of all will result in an unheard of impetus to progress in the arts, sciences, and other walks of life. Although not suddenly becoming angels, the new conditions will provide a soil in which the social instincts of mankind will rapidly develop. The anti-social propensities, not being stimulated by unbearable economic pressure, will consequently tend to die out.

ANARCHIST PRINCIPLES AND TACTICS.

(1) The history of human society since the passing of Primitive Communism has been a history of class struggles. Today the opposing forces is this struggle are the capitalist class, the robbers, and the working class, the robbed. The State is the means by which the workers are kept in subjection by the capitalist class.

(2) The workers, being exploited, form the only class is whose interest it is to free humanity from the class struggle by destroying capitalism and its defender, the State. When the workers inaugurate a society founded on economic justice, having no class to keep in subjection, the State will disappear for ever.

(3) The State cannot be destroyed by sending men to Parliament and Councils, as voting cannot abolish the economic power of the capitalists. This can only be done by the direct control by the workers of industry and transport, together with the necessary undermining of the armed forces of the State. If not instituted in their own interests, all concessions ever granted by capitalists through Parliament result from the fear of outside pressure, demonstrational or industrial. (4) The class-conscious workers must build up a free industrial organisation, federated locally, nationally. and nationally. We maintain that no appreciable betterment of working class conditions can be obtained without a solidarity of aim and action equally sufficient for revolution. In the meantime, however, we must fight, in co-operation with whoever will help, for free speech, a free press, and to prevent victimisation.
(5) Whenever the necessary minimum of strength has gathered by this revolutionary organisation it will overthrow capitalism by methods which the needs of the revolutionary crisis will determine. The workers will take over all the means of production and distribution, and produce for use instead of for profit, thus ensuring plenty for all.

Freedom Wednesday 01 May 1918