Essays · Chapter
The Two Roads explained
Kropotkin contrasts the anarchist vision of revolution—immediate expropriation and self-organization by the masses—with the dictatorial approach, which he argues leads to tyranny and the death of the revolution.
What happens
Kropotkin contrasts the anarchist vision of revolution—immediate expropriation and self-organization by the masses—with the dictatorial approach, which he argues leads to tyranny and the death of the revolution. He insists that only liberty and direct action can achieve a true social revolution.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Resolution.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and ideological rupture between the author…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Revolution and Violence
Discusses insurrection as necessary to sweep away government forces, but warns against dictatorial violence.
- Critique of Private Property and Capitalism
Argues for immediate expropriation of land, factories, and wealth by the workers.
- Role of the Masses and Direct Action
Emphasizes the constructive power of the masses and opposes reliance on central committees or dictators.
- Critique of Parliamentary Socialism and Reformism
Rejects reformism as powerless to solve the crisis, and dismisses 'dictatorship of the proletariat' as an exploded farce.
Characters to notice
- Kropotkin
Author and primary voice; argues for anarchist revolution and against dictatorship.
- Anarchists
Advocated for immediate expropriation and decentralized self-organization after insurrection.
- the masters
Landlords and capitalists who exploit agricultural and industrial workers.
- Robespierre
Cited as an example of a dictator who would suppress dissent for a 'good purpose.'
- the Jacobins
Implied as historical precedent for dictatorial revolutionary methods.
Key passages
“the revolution is imposing itself, the revolution is coming. But how must this revolution be effected, and what development must it take?”
The revolution is inevitable, but its method and outcome are still to be determined.
Sets up the central question of the chapter.
“We, the Anarchists, wish that in each locality the workers... should take possession of all the instruments of labour, all wealth, land, raw materials, houses, machinery, foodstuffs, etc.”
Anarchists want workers in every community to immediately seize all means of production and resources.
Core anarchist program for post-insurrection society.
“Dictatorship they mean; but who would be the dictators? Of course, so they think, the chiefs of their party.”
Those who advocate dictatorship intend for their own party leaders to become the dictators.
Critique of the hidden power ambitions behind calls for dictatorship.
“In a social revolution... a dictatorship could do nothing. Either the people will provide for themselves... or the revolution will be a failure.”
In a social revolution, dictatorship is useless; the people must organize themselves or the revolution fails.
Argues that only self-organization by the masses can succeed.
