What is Anarchism?
Anarchism began as what it remains today: a direct challenge by the underprivileged to their oppression and exploitation. It opposes both the insidious growth of state power and the pernicious ethos of possessive individualism, which, together or separately, ultimately serve only the interests of the few at the expense of the rest.

Michael Bakunin, the man whose writings and example over a century ago did most to transform anarchism from an abstract critique of political power into a theory of practical social action, defined its fundamental tenet thus: In a word, we reject all privileged, licensed, official, and legal legislation and authority, even though it arise from universal suffrage, convinced that it could only turn to the benefit of a dominant and exploiting minority, and against the interests of the vast enslaved majority.

If anarchists have one article of unshakeable faith then it is that, once the habit of deferring to politicians or ideologues is lost, and that of resistance to domination and exploitation acquired, then ordinary people have a capacity to organise every aspect of their lives in their own interests, anywhere and at any time, both freely and fairly.

Excerpts taken from Anarchy - a definition

What is The Kate Sharpley Library?
The KSL was named in honour of Kate Sharpley, a First World War anarchist and anti-war activist - one of the countless 'unknown' members of the movement so often ignored by 'official historians' of anarchism. The Kate Sharpley Library is dedicated to restoring the history of the anarchist movement and regularly publishes lost areas of anarchist history.

The KSL contains approximately 7000 English language volumes and a large number of periodicals dating from the nineteenth century onwards. These are currently catalogued on an in-house database. The library also holds material in a variety of foreign languages.

Who was Kate Sharpley?
Kate Sharpley was a London anarchist and anti-war activist, representative of the hundreds of comrades who made our movement what it was but are ignored by what claim to be 'official histories'. More information can be found in Kate Sharpley's Story.

Kate Sharpley Library • What's New? • Introduction to the KSL
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