Tolstoy's Political Thought

Christian Anarcho-Pacifist Iconoclasm Then and Now

Description (from back cover)

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), besides writing famous novels such as War and Peace, also wrote on political issues, especially later in his life, putting forward a political philosophy which might be termed "Christian anarchism". This book provides a comprehensive overview of Tolstoy’s political thought. It outlines in a systematic way Tolstoy’s thought, which was originally articulated unsystematically in diverse, often informal writing, such as pamphlets, letters and speeches, as well as books, and in his novels, where Tolstoy’s thinking is put forward implicitly through the novels’ characters. The book sets out the basic themes of Tolstoy’s political thought: his acceptance of the teachings of Jesus, his criticism of the way in which Jesus’s teachings have been relayed by the church through traditional creeds and dogma, his passionate rejection of political violence both by the state and those working for reform, his plea for a non-violent response to violence and injustice, and his call for society to forego its institutional shackles and enact a community of peace, love and justice. The book also includes background information on the Russia of Tolstoy’s time, including the religious context; and a discussion of how Tolstoy’s political thought has been received, both by his admirers, who included Gandhi, and his critics.

Introduction: The Background to Tolstoy’s Political Thought

- Tolstoy’s personal and intellectual journey
  - Yasnaya Polyana
  - Aristocratic education
  - Army service in Chechnya and Crime
  - European travels and pedagogical experiments
  - Witnessing the miseries of civilisation
  - The quest for a meaningful life
  - The ‘second’ Tolstoy
- Tolstoy’s ‘Christianity’
  - ‘Religion’ up to Tolstoy’s conversion
  - Tolstoy’s deistic metaphysics
  - Tolstoy’s political purpose

Chapter 1 – Tolstoyan Pacifism

- The context of Tolstoy’s pacifism
- Tolstoy’s pacifism
  - Taking a cue from Jesus
  - Ethical arguments against violence
  - Jesus’ alternative approach
  - Nonviolent defiance
- Criticisms of Tolstoyan pacifism
  - ‘Jesus did not mean it literally’
  - ‘What about children under attack and foreign invaders?’
  - ‘It will masochistically destroy human civilisation’
  - ‘Violence is part of human nature’
  - ‘“Violence” needs to be defined’
- Tolstoyan pacifism beyond its context
  - Tolstoy’s place in the pacifist tradition
  - An interpretation of Jesus’ ethics
  - Opening our eyes to violence
  - Anticipating more recent scholarship and practice

Chapter 2 – Tolstoyan Anarchism

- The context of Tolstoy’s anarchism
- Tolstoy’s anarchism
  - War, militarism and imperialism
  - Legislation and coercion
  - The judicial system
  - Economic enslavement
  - A glorified protection racket
  - Hypocritical elite gestures
  - Evasion of responsibility
  - Patriotism
  - Education
  - Anarchist alternatives
- Criticisms of Tolstoyan anarchism
  - ‘The best states administer valuable public goods’
  - ‘States protect us from evil’
  - ‘Anarchism is no realistic alternative today’
- Tolstoyan anarchism beyond its context
  - The impact of Tolstoy’s anarchism
  - Unhiding the violence of the globalised political economy
  - Admitting moral responsibility

Chapter 3 – Tolstoyan Anticlericalism

- The context of Tolstoy’s anticlericalism
- Tolstoy’s anticlericalism
  - Tolstoy’s hardening rejection of the church
  - Obscuring Jesus’ moral teaching
  - Implausible creeds
  - Robotic and hypnotic rituals
  - Self-assured hypocrites
  - A pact with the devil
- Criticisms of Tolstoyan anticlericalism
  - ‘“Reason” is a problematic foundation’
  - ‘Tolstoy’s “Christianity” is unrecognisable’
  - ‘Not all churches are like Tolstoy’s Russian Orthodox Church’
- Tolstoyan anticlericalism beyond its context
  - Anticlericalism since Tolstoy
  - The torch of rational scrutiny
  - Knowing false prophets by their fruits
  - Secular ‘clericalisation’

Chapter 4 – Tolstoyan Asceticism

- The context of Tolstoy’s asceticism
- Tolstoy’s asceticism
  - Sex and marriage
  - Intoxicating luxuries and meat-eating
  - Good and bad art
- Criticisms of Tolstoyan asceticism
  - ‘What patriarchal purism, sexism and misogyny!’
  - ‘What desolate self-denial!’
  - ‘Art is reduced to moralising propaganda’
- Tolstoyan asceticism beyond its content
  - Gender politics
  - Intoxicating distractions
  - Vegetarianism

Chapter 5 – Tolstoyan Activism

- The context of Tolstoy’s activism
- Tolstoy’s activism
  - Resisting violent temptations
  - Withdrawing consent and complicity
  - Co-operative ‘bread labour’
  - Prefigurative transformation
  - Marching with history
  - Tolstoy’s own example
- Criticisms of Tolstoyan activism
  - ‘Nonviolent activism is ineffective’
  - ‘Nonviolent activism has dubious origins and consequences’
  - ‘Tolstoyan examples prove that it cannot work’
- Tolstoyan activism beyond its context
  - Nonviolent activism since Tolstoy
  - Taking a Tolstoyan stand today
  - A greener way of life

Conclusion: Tolstoy as a Political Thinker

- Tolstoy’s reputation
- Labelling Tolstoy
- Taking Tolstoy seriously

Endorsements

"This book provides a much-needed comprehensive analysis of Tolstoy’s writings on a range of interconnected and vitally important topics, such as his unequivocal opposition to violence at multiple levels, his challenge to the role of the state in imposing order and control on society, and constructive nonviolent possibilities for political activism. Tolstoy’s contribution to the discussion of such seminal issues has been marginalised for far too long, and this thorough and provocative examination of Tolstoy’s thought demonstrates not only its historical importance but its continuing intellectual and practical relevance." – Iain Atack, University of Dublin, Ireland.

"Tolstoy's Political Thought is a really terrific and timely book. Clearly and eloquently written, it fills a real gap in Tolstoy studies by systematising the iconoclast's prolific, eclectic and often confronting works. In the process, Alexandre Chritoyannopoulos powerfully demonstrates that Tolstoy's thought on pacifism, anarchism, anticlericalism, asceticism and activism is as relevant today as when it was first published. This book will speak to a wide audience. Highly recommended." - Richard Jackson, University of Otago, New Zealand

"In this thoughtful and engaging study, Alexandre Christoyannopoulos carefully unpicks key strands of Tolstoy’s political thought - pacifism, anarchism, anti-clericalism, asceticism – locating them in their proper context, exploring both their influence and their contemporary relevance, and setting out the counter-arguments that can and have been put forward to challenge them. This important volume is based on deep engagement with Tolstoy’s work, and with Christian anarchist thought more broadly. It will be essential reading for anyone interested in the development and application of Tolstoy’s ideas." – Charlotte Alston, Northumbria University, UK

"As time goes on, many of Tolstoy’s uncompromising ideas about violence have proved to be remarkably prescient. Alexandre Christoyannopoulos has written a lucid study of his political thought which is particularly valuable in its systematic approach and its twenty-first century viewpoint." - Rosamund Bartlett, author of Tolstoy: a Russian Life.

Reviews

By Evert van der Zweerde in Studies in East European Thought (2020).

Further information

The introduction is available as a free download here.

A short 20-minute video mostly talking about the book is available here.

Further information can be found on the publisher's webpage.

A free chapter which summarises many of the main arguments of the book is available here.

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