Mutualism

Mutualism developed by proudhon differed from individualist anarchism in its stress on the social element in human behavior. It rejected both political action and revolutionary violence some of proudhons disciples even objected to strikes as a form of coercion in favor of the reform of society by the peaceful spread of workers associations, devoted particularly to mutual credit between producers. A recurrent mutualist plan never fulfilled was that of the peoples bank which would arrange the exchange of goods on the basis of labor notes. The mutualists recognized that workers syndicates might be necessary for the functioning of industry and public utilities but they rejected large-scale collectivization as a danger to liberty and based their economic approach as far as possible on individual possession of the means of production by peasants and small craftsmen united in a framework of exchange and credit arrangements. The mutualists laid great stress on federalist organization from the loc commune upward as a substitute for the national state. Mutualism had a wide following among french artisans during the 1860s. its exponents were fervently internationalist and played a great part in the formation of the international workingmens association in 1864 their influence diminished, however with the rise of collectivism as an alternative libertarian philosophy.