Political freedom without economic equality is a pretense, a fraud, a lie; and the workers want no lying

Political freedom without economic equality is a pretense, a fraud, a lie; and the workers want no lying

Mikhail Bakunin, a Russian revolutionary and anarchist thinker, was a staunch advocate for both political freedom and economic equality. He believed that the two were intrinsically linked and that one could not truly exist without the other. Bakunin famously stated, “Political freedom without economic equality is a pretense, a fraud, a lie; and the workers want no lying.” This quote encapsulates his belief that true freedom can only be achieved when both political and economic systems are just and equitable.

Bakunin argued that political freedom alone was not enough to ensure the well-being of the working class. Without economic equality, the ruling class would continue to exploit and oppress the workers, leading to a society rife with inequality and injustice. He believed that true freedom could only be achieved when all individuals had equal access to resources and opportunities, allowing them to live fulfilling and dignified lives.

For Bakunin, the struggle for economic equality was just as important as the fight for political freedom. He saw capitalism as a system that inherently bred inequality and exploitation, with the wealthy few benefiting at the expense of the impoverished many. Bakunin believed that the workers, who were the backbone of society, deserved to have control over the means of production and to share in the wealth that they helped to create.

In Bakunin’s view, true freedom could only be achieved through a revolutionary transformation of society. He advocated for the abolition of the state and the establishment of a decentralized, self-managed system based on mutual aid and cooperation. This system, known as anarchism, would prioritize the needs of the working class and ensure that all individuals had equal access to resources and decision-making power.