Update file Gradualisme.md

Auteur : Enrico Malatesta, octobre 1925

_Source: The Method of Freedom: An Errico Malatesta Reader. In The Anarchist Revolution: Polemical Articles 1924–1931, edited and introduced by Vernon Richards (London: Freedom Press, 1995), p.82–87. Originally published as "Gradualismo," Pensiero e Volantà (Rome) 2, no.12 (1 October 1925)._

_Note personnelle – Par X, traductrice_

_Traduction de l'anglais au français. Vous pouvez lire l'article original en fin de page. Références en bas de document._

Au cours des polémiques qui surgissent entre anarchistes sur la meilleure tactique pour réaliser ou approcher la création d'une société anarchiste - et ce sont des polémiques utiles et même nécessaires quand elles reflètent la tolérance et la confiance mutuelles et évitent les récriminations personnelles - il arrive souvent que les uns reprochent aux autres d'être des gradualistes, et que ces derniers rejettent le terme comme s'il s'agissait d'une insulte.

Pourtant, au sens propre du terme et dans la logique de nos principes, nous sommes tous des gradualistes. Et nous devons tous l'être, quelle que soit la manière dont nous le sommes.

Il appartient à tous les camarades de réfléchir, d'étudier, de se préparer, et de le faire avec toute la rapidité et la rigueur voulues, car l'époque est "dynamique" et nous devons être prêts à faire face à tout ce qui peut arriver.

# Gradualism

Author : Enrico Malatesta, October 1925

Personal Note – X, translator

Maybe it is true, therefore, that the word _gradualist_, as applied to anarchists, could end up in fact describing those who use the excuse of doing things gradually, as and when they become possible, and in the last analysis do nothing at all — either that or move, if they move at all, in a contrary direction to anarchy. If this is the case the term has to be rejected. Yet the real sense of gradualism remains the same: everything in nature and in life changes by degrees, and this is no less true of anarchy. It can only come about little by little.

As I was saying earlier, anarchism is of necessity gradualist.

Anarchy can be seen as absolute perfection, and it is right that this concept should remain in our minds, like a beacon to guide our steps. But quite obviously, such an ideal cannot be attained in one sudden leap from the hell of the present to the longed-for heaven of the future.

The problem, therefore, is not whether there is a need to proceed gradually but to seek the quickest and sincerest way that leads to the realisation of our ideals.

Throughout the world today the way is blocked by privileges conquered, as a result of a long history of violence and mistakes, by certain classes which in addition to an intellectual and technical superiority which they enjoy as a result of these privileges, also dispose of armed forces recruited among the subject classes and use them when they think necessary without scruples or restraint.

That is why revolution is necessary. Revolution destroys the state of violence in which we live now, and creates the means for peaceful development towards ever greater freedom, greater justice and greater solidarity.

What should the anarchists' tactics be before, during and after the revolution?

No doubt censorship would forbid us to say what needs to be done before the revolution, in order to prepare for it and to carry it out. In any case, it is a subject badly handled in the presence of the enemy. It is, however, valid to point out that we need to remain true to ourselves, to spread the word and to educate as much as possible, and avoid all compromise with the enemy and to hold ourselves ready, at least in spirit, to seize all opportunities that might arise.

And during the revolution?

Let me begin by saying, we can't make the revolution on our own; nor would it be desirable to do so. Unless the whole of the country is behind it, together with all the interests, both actual and latent, of the people, the revolution will fail. And in the far from probable case that we achieved victory on our own, we should find ourselves in an absurdly untenable position: either because, by the very fact of imposing our will, commanding and constraining, we would cease to be anarchists and destroy the revolution by our authoritarianism; or because, on the contrary, we would retreat from the field, leaving others, with aims opposed to our own, to profit from our effort.

Intransigent as we remain to any form of capitalist imposition or exploitation, we must be tolerant of all those social concepts that prevail in the various human groupings, so long as they do not harm the freedom and equal rights of others. We should content ourselves with gradual progress while the moral level of the people grows, and with it, the material and intellectual means available to mankind; and while, clearly, doing all we can, through study, work and propaganda, to hasten development towards ever higher ideals.

I have here come up with more problems than solutions. But I believe I have succinctly presented the criteria which must guide us in the search and application of the solutions, which will certainly be many and vary according to circumstances. But, so far as we are concerned, they must always be consistent with the fundamental principles of anarchism: no-one orders anyone else around, no-one exploits anyone else.

It is the task of all comrades to think, study and prepare — and to do so with all speed and thoroughly because the times are "dynamic" and we must be ready for what might happen.

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