Did Marx have a role in creating Anarchist Communism?

[kour]

I briefly looked at the Wikipedia page for Anarchist Communism, and it doesn't seem like Marx's communism is an ancestor of Anarchist Communism. Is this correct?

[Tim Finnegan]

It wouldn't be a direct ancestor, but the two emerged in a context of mutual informative discourse (one which was carried on by some tendencies of each, such as within the syndicalist movement), so they can't be imagined as being essentially distinct.

It's also important to remember that "anarchism" is a far more nebulous category than Marxism, historically and contemporarily, so the absence of any general commentary on a relationship with Marxism doesn't imply the lack of such a relationship in any specific case. Different anarchists were influenced to different extents, so while some intersected with Marxism only so far as they both advocated the socialisation of production, others were virtually "anarcho-Marxists", borrowing heavily on Marxist (particularly left communist) theory and criticisms.

[Caj]

Did Marx have a role in creating Anarchist Communism?


No, but his thought has influenced many anarchist communists to the point where they could really be considered Marxists. If you are looking for those who had the largest roles in the creation of anarchist communism, none deserve more credit than Michael Bakunin and Peter Kropotkin. I'd suggest checking out their writings if you're interested in anarchist communism.

If you aren't aware yet, you can find literally everything you'll ever want to read on communism/anarchism/socialism here: http://marxists.org/

[Blake's Baby]

Well... I don't think Kropotkin ever claimed he wasn't influenced by Marx. And Marx and Bakunin were both in the First International of course. Which Marx wrote the preamble for, and I don't think there are many anarchist organisations that don't take the First International as a reference point - 'the liberation of the working class is the task of the working class' - there's even an (Anarchist) International Workers' Association that directly references the First International. And a good many anarchists learned their anarchism from the Manifesto (myself included, during the years I considered myself an anarchist, pretty much 1986-2006).

So yeah, there are definite strong historical connections.

[Manic Impressive]

Bakunin also accepted and endorsed Das Kapital

[Caj]

Well... I don't think Kropotkin ever claimed he wasn't influenced by Marx. And Marx and Bakunin were both in the First International of course. Which Marx wrote the preamble for, and I don't think there are many anarchist organisations that don't take the First International as a reference point - 'the liberation of the working class is the task of the working class' - there's even an (Anarchist) International Workers' Association that directly references the First International. And a good many anarchists learned their anarchism from the Manifesto (myself included, during the years I considered myself an anarchist, pretty much 1986-2006).

So yeah, there are definite strong historical connections.

Well, yes. I suppose when you look at it from that perspective, Marx certainly had an indirect role in the creation of anarchist communism. I interpreted his or her question as more of whether or not he had a direct role in its creation, however.

[Caj]

Bakunin also accepted and endorsed Das Kapital

He was also involved with translating it into Russian.