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Property is Theft!: A Pierre-Joseph Proudhon Anthology
"An indispensable source book for anyone interested in Proudhon's ideas and the origins of the socialist and anarchist movements in nineteenth-century Europe."—Robert Graham, editor of Anarchism: A Documentary History of Libertarian Ideas
"Iain McKay's introduction offers a sure-footed guide through the misconceptions surrounding Proudhon's thought."—Mark Leier, author of Bakunin: The Creative Passion
More influential than Karl Marx during his lifetime, Pierre-Joseph Proudon's work has long been out of print or unavailable in English. Iain McKay's comprehensive collection is a much-needed and timely historical corrective.
Iain McKay is the editor of An Anarchist FAQ.
"Iain McKay's introduction offers a sure-footed guide through the misconceptions surrounding Proudhon's thought."—Mark Leier, author of Bakunin: The Creative Passion
More influential than Karl Marx during his lifetime, Pierre-Joseph Proudon's work has long been out of print or unavailable in English. Iain McKay's comprehensive collection is a much-needed and timely historical corrective.
Iain McKay is the editor of An Anarchist FAQ.
1003 pages, Unknown Binding
First published November 1, 2010
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About the author
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
763 books352 followersPierre-Joseph Proudhon (15 January 1809 – 19 January 1865) was a French socialist, politician, philosopher, economist, and the founder of mutualist philosophy. He was the first person to declare himself an anarchist, using that term and is widely regarded as one of anarchism's most influential theorists. Proudhon is considered by many to be the "father of anarchism". Proudhon became a member of the French Parliament after the Revolution of 1848, whereafter he referred to himself as a federalist. Proudhon described the liberty he pursued as "the synthesis of communism and property". Some consider his mutualism to be part of individualist anarchism while others regard it to be part of social anarchism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 23, 2022
This book does what it claims really well. It's a good anthology of what Proudhon wrote during his lifetime, some of which had only recently been translated, it seems. In addition, a lot of the texts have been edited down to what (I would hope) are bare essentials. And, right here we have the double-edged sword. As much as this book is a distillation of Proudhon, it's still way too long.
As much as I enjoyed this book, Proudhon goes on and on and goes off on so many tangents and embellishes his ideas to such a degree that it became incredibly hard to pay attention toward the end of the book (around page 600 is when I started losing interest, I think). A shame, because what Proudhon had to say was well ahead of his time (like what appears to be the birth of the concept of surplus value), and here What Is Property is much easier to absorb being edited down, and some of Proudhon's concepts (like the idea of a Public Bank and his apparent dislike of universal suffrage) are compelling. I can't imagine the common French person in the mid 1800s would have been able to make heads or tails out of any of this.
As much as I enjoyed this book, Proudhon goes on and on and goes off on so many tangents and embellishes his ideas to such a degree that it became incredibly hard to pay attention toward the end of the book (around page 600 is when I started losing interest, I think). A shame, because what Proudhon had to say was well ahead of his time (like what appears to be the birth of the concept of surplus value), and here What Is Property is much easier to absorb being edited down, and some of Proudhon's concepts (like the idea of a Public Bank and his apparent dislike of universal suffrage) are compelling. I can't imagine the common French person in the mid 1800s would have been able to make heads or tails out of any of this.
July 26, 2023
This volume is so great largely because of Iain McKay’s editing and commentary. Proudhon’s legacy is tainted by rather overt racism and misogyny, which McKay not only readily acknowledges, but also carefully analyzes. Proudhon also isn’t without his vocal critics; even receiving negative attention from Marx with whom he corresponded. Standout texts are “What Is Property?” and “Letter to the Malthusians”, where we find more philosophical discussions on property and wealth; as well as the more analytical “System of Economic Contradictions”.
Proudhon argues in a unique position for his time; he takes theological presuppositions shared by his contemporary opponents, such as Malthus, and uses them to attack property. Where Malthus, for example, opposes socialism because it renders the ‘Catholic’ virtue of charity obsolete, Proudhon asks: “God gave the earth to the human race: why then have I received none?” (pp. 97). By extension, Proudhon compares the study of political economy to Christianity, not only as metaphor, but as parallel, mutually justifying systems of thought. Labour is to sustenance what the church is to salvation (pp. 186).
Overall, I think Proudhon’s thought is still relevant today, and is useful for anarchist organizing. It’s clear to see how anarchism was understood in his time to be contained within the economic sphere, whereas today, anarchist theorists tend to oppose hierarchy/authority across social life. This was something that Proudhon didn’t just overlook, but actively contradicted in his implicit biases towards certain social minorities.
Proudhon argues in a unique position for his time; he takes theological presuppositions shared by his contemporary opponents, such as Malthus, and uses them to attack property. Where Malthus, for example, opposes socialism because it renders the ‘Catholic’ virtue of charity obsolete, Proudhon asks: “God gave the earth to the human race: why then have I received none?” (pp. 97). By extension, Proudhon compares the study of political economy to Christianity, not only as metaphor, but as parallel, mutually justifying systems of thought. Labour is to sustenance what the church is to salvation (pp. 186).
Overall, I think Proudhon’s thought is still relevant today, and is useful for anarchist organizing. It’s clear to see how anarchism was understood in his time to be contained within the economic sphere, whereas today, anarchist theorists tend to oppose hierarchy/authority across social life. This was something that Proudhon didn’t just overlook, but actively contradicted in his implicit biases towards certain social minorities.
March 12, 2025
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon’s Property Is Theft is a groundbreaking and provocative examination of the nature of property and its role in perpetuating social and economic inequality. As one of the earliest anarchist theorists, Proudhon’s work challenges traditional notions of ownership, capitalism, and state power, making it a seminal text in anarchist and socialist thought.
At the heart of Proudhon’s argument is his famous assertion that "property is theft." He differentiates between possession—the legitimate use of land and goods for one’s needs—and property, which he views as an unjust monopolization that allows owners to exploit workers without contributing labor themselves. His critique of private property aligns with his broader attack on capitalism, which he sees as a system of coercion where the wealthy accumulate wealth at the expense of the working class.
Proudhon’s work is deeply philosophical, drawing on thinkers like Rousseau while prefiguring later critiques by Marx and Bakunin. However, unlike state-centered socialism, Proudhon advocates for a decentralized system of mutualism, where economic exchanges are voluntary, labor is fairly compensated, and power is distributed among workers and communities rather than concentrated in the hands of elites or the state.
Despite being written in the 19th century, Property Is Theft remains relevant in modern discussions about wealth inequality, labor exploitation, and corporate power. Proudhon’s ideas challenge contemporary capitalist structures and invite readers to reconsider how economic systems could function more equitably. His vision of a cooperative society, free from oppressive hierarchies, continues to inspire anarchists, libertarians, and radical thinkers today.
It's not an easy read and his arguments can be complex. However, for those interested in the roots of anarchist thought and radical critiques of capitalism, this book is essential. It serves as both a critique of existing economic systems and a vision for a more just society built on cooperation rather than exploitation.
At the heart of Proudhon’s argument is his famous assertion that "property is theft." He differentiates between possession—the legitimate use of land and goods for one’s needs—and property, which he views as an unjust monopolization that allows owners to exploit workers without contributing labor themselves. His critique of private property aligns with his broader attack on capitalism, which he sees as a system of coercion where the wealthy accumulate wealth at the expense of the working class.
Proudhon’s work is deeply philosophical, drawing on thinkers like Rousseau while prefiguring later critiques by Marx and Bakunin. However, unlike state-centered socialism, Proudhon advocates for a decentralized system of mutualism, where economic exchanges are voluntary, labor is fairly compensated, and power is distributed among workers and communities rather than concentrated in the hands of elites or the state.
Despite being written in the 19th century, Property Is Theft remains relevant in modern discussions about wealth inequality, labor exploitation, and corporate power. Proudhon’s ideas challenge contemporary capitalist structures and invite readers to reconsider how economic systems could function more equitably. His vision of a cooperative society, free from oppressive hierarchies, continues to inspire anarchists, libertarians, and radical thinkers today.
It's not an easy read and his arguments can be complex. However, for those interested in the roots of anarchist thought and radical critiques of capitalism, this book is essential. It serves as both a critique of existing economic systems and a vision for a more just society built on cooperation rather than exploitation.
August 3, 2024
[ESP] La parte económica ha quedado quizá algo anticuada, por eso ha sido actualizada por otros autores contemporáneos, pero la parte política me ha parecido absolutamente acertada. Proudhon dio con la clave de la organización política humana a través del principio federativo. Muerte al estado, viva la federación!
[ENG] The economics here are a bit outdated, that's why they have been updated by some contemporary authors, but the politics here are absolutely correct. Proudhon discovered the key to human political organisation in his federative principle.Death to the state! Long live the federation!
[ENG] The economics here are a bit outdated, that's why they have been updated by some contemporary authors, but the politics here are absolutely correct. Proudhon discovered the key to human political organisation in his federative principle.Death to the state! Long live the federation!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2020
Best collection of Proudhon's writings available in English
May 15, 2011
Thick! I don't think I'll ever be able to finish this. But fascinating early history of debates within anti-captailist, socialist movements of what to do, in the intro.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews