Beasts of Burden: Capitalism, Animals, Communism

by BM Makhno

Beasts of Burden was first published in October 1999. The aim of the anonymous pamphlet was to initiate a debate between animal liberationists and revolutionaries – anarchists and communists (the author uses the term ‘communist’ repeatedly and means communism in its original sense: a stateless and classless society where people live together and ‘the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all’).

The development and maintenance of capitalism as a system that exploits humans is dependent upon the abuse of animals. Furthermore, the movement that abolishes capitalism by changing the relations between humans - communism - also involves a fundamental transformation of the relations between humans and animals.

72 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Roxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A bear near a berry patch would not know when to punch the clock… the bear makes no distinction between work and play … The bear experiences joy from the moment the berries turn deep red … none of the bear’s motions are work” (40)

[mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

well it definitely reassured my vegetarianism. clearly the lack of animal liberation is at the heart of the deep rooted flaws of our inherently capitalist society. no surprise tbh.

[Red Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

"So we should have to say Neither Mcdonalds nor McCartney but international communism!"

[tomi green · Rating 5 out of 5]

95% match.