But it will scarcely be any easier on the people if the cudgel with which they are beaten is called the people's cudgel

But it will scarcely be any easier on the people if the cudgel with which they are beaten is called the people's cudgel

Mikhail Bakunin, a Russian revolutionary and anarchist thinker, was a staunch critic of authoritarianism and centralized power. He believed that true freedom could only be achieved through the abolition of all forms of hierarchy and oppression, including the state. Bakunin argued that even a so-called "people's government" would ultimately serve to oppress and exploit the masses, as power tends to corrupt those who wield it.

The quote "But it will scarcely be any easier on the people if the cudgel with which they are beaten is called the people's cudgel" encapsulates Bakunin's skepticism towards any form of government, even one that claims to represent the interests of the people. He understood that power dynamics are inherently unequal, and that those in positions of authority will always seek to maintain and expand their power at the expense of the people they are supposed to serve.

Bakunin's critique of the "people's cudgel" is particularly relevant in the context of revolutionary movements that claim to be fighting for the liberation of the masses. He warned that even well-intentioned revolutionaries could become tyrants if they did not remain vigilant against the temptations of power. Bakunin believed that true freedom could only be achieved through decentralized, grassroots organizing and direct action, rather than through the establishment of a new ruling class.