Freedom, the State, and Revolution：The Ideological Confrontation Between Marx and Engels and Anarchist Thought
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In the 19th century, as socialist movements proliferated across Europe, anarchism emerged as both a theoretical and political adversary to Marxism. This paper critically examines the ideological divergences between Marx and Engels and two key figures in anarchist thought—Max Stirner and Mikhail Bakunin. Stirner’s egoist anarchism, rooted in philosophical idealism, is analyzed and contrasted with Marx's materialist conception of the individual and freedom. Bakunin’s political anarchism, which advocated the immediate abolition of the state, is likewise critiqued through the lens of historical materialism and proletarian revolution. Drawing upon textual analysis and modern theoretical perspectives, the paper reveals how Marx and Engels defended a historically grounded path to liberation in opposition to anarchism's abstract and often utopian notions of freedom. Ultimately, the Marxist critique not only refutes the ideological premises of anarchism but also articulates a revolutionary praxis rooted in class struggle and collective emancipation.
Authors: Chengwen Song, Xinyu Xu
Institution: Kookmin University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409999014