Seven Stories Press

Works of Radical Imagination

Order Without Power

An Introduction to Anarchism: History and Current Challenges

by Normand Baillargeon

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Translated by Mary Foster

With the rise of the global protestor—from Arab Spring to the Occupy movement—the term "anarchist" has been littered throughout mainstream media as never before. But just as frequently, its definition is skewed or left wanting: anarchists are painted as nihilists, supporters of chaos, or even terrorists.

In Order without Power, an informative primer, Normand Baillargeon thoroughly defines anarchism and recounts its long history. In outlining the forerunners of this movement, he illuminates the differences between collectivists, federalists, communists, syndicalists, and further strains such as anarcho-feminism, pacifist anarchism, and religious anarchism. With sharp examples and concise, lively language, Baillargeon describes the contributions from early anarchists like William Godwin, Max Stirner, Pierre Joseph Proudhon, Mikhail Bakunin, and Pierre Kropotkin, through Noam Chomsky, as well as the uprisings, struggles, revolts, and revolutions that tested or expanded the theories. From the International Workingmen’s Association to Haymarket, from the Russian Revolution to May 1968, Baillargeon unpacks anarchism’s position on various issues and reveals this political theory’s vibrant heart: anti authoritarianism, or the rational and conscious refusal of any form of illegitimate authority and power.

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Buying options

blog — May 09

77% Off All Our E-Books!

You heard that right—77% off all e-books from Seven Stories.

For the next week, until May 15 at 5:00PM EST, we’ll be selling all e-books on our website at 77% off their list price. It's a great chance to load up your e-book reader with the best fiction, political titles, and everything in between from Seven Stories Press.

Once you buy an e-book, you can download it as either an .epub file (for every device except Kindle) or as a .mobi file (for Kindle). Both files will remain available on your Library page for subsequent downloads. Details to be found here.

Check out some of our collections, including Fiction from around the World, Radical Women, Activist Diaries, and our For Young People if you're looking for inspiration!

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Militant anarchist and educator Normand Baillargeon teaches the fundamentals of education and museum studies at the University of Quebec at Montreal. He is the author of four books, including A Short Course in Intellectual Self-Defense, which was published in English by Seven Stories Press in 2008, as well as Order Without Power: An Introduction to Anarchism: History and Current Challenges.