Benjamin Tucker, Liberty, and Individualist Anarchism

Benjamin Tucker, Liberty, and Individualist Anarchism

Winter 1998 | WENDY McELROY
The article discusses the life and legacy of Benjamin Ricketson Tucker, a prominent American individualist anarchist. Tucker's periodical, *Liberty*, published from 1881 to 1908, is considered the finest individualist-anarchist periodical in English. *Liberty* featured contributions from notable figures like Lysander Spooner, Auberon Herbert, and George Bernard Shaw, and covered a wide range of topics including civil liberties, economic theory, and children's rights. Tucker's background in Quaker and radical Unitarian traditions influenced his views, which were shaped by European thinkers such as Herbert Spencer, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, and Max Stirner. *Liberty* played a crucial role in reconstituting and growing the radical individualist movement in the late 19th century, despite the challenges posed by growing statism and militarism. The periodical also debated major themes such as the sovereignty of the individual and the labor theory of value, and engaged in internal debates over Stirnerite egoism versus natural rights. Tucker's commitment to internationalism and cosmopolitan literature further enriched *Liberty*'s content. However, the periodical faced significant setbacks, including a fire in 1908 that destroyed much of its stock, leading to its eventual closure. Despite its limitations, *Liberty* and Tucker's work significantly influenced the development of individualist anarchism and its integration with other reform movements.The article discusses the life and legacy of Benjamin Ricketson Tucker, a prominent American individualist anarchist. Tucker's periodical, *Liberty*, published from 1881 to 1908, is considered the finest individualist-anarchist periodical in English. *Liberty* featured contributions from notable figures like Lysander Spooner, Auberon Herbert, and George Bernard Shaw, and covered a wide range of topics including civil liberties, economic theory, and children's rights. Tucker's background in Quaker and radical Unitarian traditions influenced his views, which were shaped by European thinkers such as Herbert Spencer, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, and Max Stirner. *Liberty* played a crucial role in reconstituting and growing the radical individualist movement in the late 19th century, despite the challenges posed by growing statism and militarism. The periodical also debated major themes such as the sovereignty of the individual and the labor theory of value, and engaged in internal debates over Stirnerite egoism versus natural rights. Tucker's commitment to internationalism and cosmopolitan literature further enriched *Liberty*'s content. However, the periodical faced significant setbacks, including a fire in 1908 that destroyed much of its stock, leading to its eventual closure. Despite its limitations, *Liberty* and Tucker's work significantly influenced the development of individualist anarchism and its integration with other reform movements.
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