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About this quote

What does it mean?
Bakunin argues that any state structure inherently leads to domination and ultimately reduces individuals to a state of slavery.
In plain terms
Wherever there is a government, there is also control and loss of freedom.
What can you take from it?
State power inherently creates hierarchical control.

Where it applies

  • political theory debates
  • critiques of government
  • revolutionary contexts

Putting it to work

  • analyze state structures
  • evaluate governance models
  • study anarchist philosophy

Questions to consider

  • Can a state exist without domination?
  • Is all government inherently oppressive?

Another view

Some argue states can exist without total domination if properly constrained.

More from Mikhail Bakunin

  1. Idealism is the despot of thought, just as politics is the despot of will.

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  2. If you took the most ardent revolutionary, vested him in absolute power, within a year he would be worse than the Czar himself.

    Permalink to quote #39
  3. I am neither a scientist, nor a philosopher nor even a professional writer. I have written very little in my life time, and have only ever done so in self-defe…

    Permalink to quote #36

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