International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest

Extract

A nineteenth-century French socialist and anarchist member of the Jura Federation, Paul Brousse popularized the notion and practice of “ propaganda by the deed ,” a means of encouraging mass insurrection through public displays of disruption, destruction, and even violence. Described by Kropotkin as “full of mental activity, uproarious, sharp, lively” and “ready to develop any idea with a geometrical logic,” Brousse was an important figure in the Jura Federation of the First International after his arrival in Switzerland in 1873 ( Kropotkin 1899/1978 : 270). Born in Montpellier in 1844, Brousse studied medicine at the university there after being bought out of military service by his father. In 1869 he became involved with the republican newspaper La Liberté , and in 1872 he joined the Montpellier section of the International, from which he was quickly expelled. In reaction to his expulsion, Brousse allied himself with the anti-authoritarian Jura Federation in September 1872, and arrived in Barcelona early the following year. In Spain, Brousse became more explicitly anarchist, adopting the militancy of Bakunin and the notion of autonomous, worker-organized associations from Proudhon. He also participated in the aborted seizure of the town hall and later a crushed general strike in July 1873. Increased crackdowns on anarchist activity led to Brousse fleeing Spain for Switzerland ... log in or subscribe to read full text