The first book-length treatment of the relationship between anarchism and utopianism reveals the anarchistic influences active in the history of utopian thought. It provides fresh perspectives on academic and activist debates about ecology, alternatives to capitalism, revolutionary theory and practice, and the politics of art, gender and sexuality.

Contents listNotes on contributorsPrefaceAcknowledgementsIntroduction – Laurence DavisPart I Historical and philosophical overview1. Anarchism and the dialectic of utopia – John P. Clark Part II Antecedents of the anarchist literary utopia2. Daoism as utopian or accommodationist: radical Daoism reexamined in light of the Guodian Manuscripts – John A. Rapp3. Diderot's *Supplément au voyage de Bougainville*: steps towards an anarchist utopia – Peter G. Stillman Part III Anti-capitalism and the anarchist utopian literary imagination4. Everyone an artist: art, labour, anarchy, and utopia – Laurence Davis5. Anarchist powers: B. Traven, Pierre Clastres, and the question of utopia – Nicholas Spencer6. Utopia, anarchism and the political implications of emotions – Gisela Heffes 7. Anarchy in the archives: notes from the ruins of Sydney and Melbourne – Brian GreenspanPart IV Free love: anarchist politics and utopian desire8. Speaking desire: anarchism and free love as utopian performance in fin de siècle Britain – Judy Greenway9. Visions of the future: reproduction, revolution and regeneration in American anarchist utopian fiction – Brigitte Koenig10. Intimate fellows: utopia and chaos in the early post-Stonewall gay liberation manifestos – Dominic OrdingPart V Rethinking revolutionary practice 11. Anarchism, utopianism and the politics of emancipation – Saul Newman12. Anarchism and the politics of utopia – Ruth Kinna13. 'The space now possible': anarchist education as utopian hope – Judith Suissa14. Utopia in contemporary anarchism – Uri GordonIndex

This collection of original essays examines the relationship between anarchism and utopianism, exploring the intersections and overlaps between these two fields of study and providing novel perspectives for the analysis of both. The book opens with an historical and philosophical survey of the subject matter and goes on to examine antecedents of the anarchist literary utopia; anti-capitalism and the anarchist utopian literary imagination; free love as an expression of anarchist politics and utopian desire; and revolutionary practice. Contributors explore the creative interchange of anarchism and utopianism in both theory and modern political practice; debunk some widely-held myths about the inherent utopianism of anarchy; uncover the anarchistic influences active in the history of utopian thought; and provide fresh perspectives on contemporary academic and activist debates about ecology, alternatives to capitalism, revolutionary theory and practice, and the politics of art, gender and sexuality. Scholars in both anarchist and utopian studies have for many years acknowledged a relationship between these two areas, but this is the first time that the historical and philosophical dimensions of the relationship have been investigated as a primary focus for research, and its political significance given full and detailed consideration.