Rudolf Rocker's classic survey of anarcho-syndicalism was written during the Spanish Civil War to explain to the wider reading public the ideology which inspired the social revolution in Spain. It remains unsurpassed as a general introduction to anarchist thought and an authoritative account of the early history of international anarchism by one of the movement's leading figures. The present edition is unique in giving a complete facsimile reproduction of the 1938 edition as well as the corrected transcript of the epilogue to the Indian edition of 1947. It has the addition of a new biographical introduction by Nicolas Walter, in which he quotes from previously unpublished manuscript sources.

In 1937, at the behest of Emma Goldman, Rocker penned this political and philosophical masterpiece as an introduction to the ideals fueling the Spanish social revolution and resistance to capitalism the world over. Within, Rocker offers an introduction to anarchist ideas, a history of the international workers' movement, and an outline of the syndicalist strategies and tactics embraced at the time (direct action, sabotage and the general strike). Includes a lengthy introduction by Nicholas Walter and a Preface by Noam Chomsky.

" Rocker's] approach is far from 'utopian'; this is not an abstract discourse but a call to action."--Noam Chomsky

Rudolf Rocker (1873-1958) was a leading figure in the international anarchist movement for over 60 years.

Nationalism and Culture is a detailed and scholarly study of the development of nationalism and the changes in human cultures from the dawn of history to the present day and an analysis of the relations of these to one another. It tells the story of the growth of the State and the other institutions of authority and their influence on life and manners, on architecture and art, on literature and thought.

It traces the evolution of religious and political systems and their relation to the authoritarian State on the one hand and to the people on the other; it analyzes the Nation as alleged community of race, of culture, of language, of interest. It presents in its 592 pages a series of cross-sections of European society at successive historical periods and relates them to one another; it offers copious illustrations of the literature of every period and country. It is at every point illuminated by the interpretative comment of the author, scholarly, brilliant, poetic, human; it is the ripened fruit of thirty years of intensive and devoted study by a man in every way fitted for the task.

.".. an important contribution to political philosophy, both on account of its penetrating and widely informative analysis of many famous writers, and on account of the brilliant criticism of state-worship." -- Bertrand Russell

"Rocker's wide historical background, his richness of reference, his deep organic humanism give to his thesis far more than the academic qualifications it likewise possesses. A book worthy to be placed on the same shelf that holds Candide, The Rights of Man and Mutual Aid." -- Lewis Mumford

.".. extraordinarily original and illuminating." -- Albert Einstein

.".. tolerant, modest, and aware of thee values in culture." -- Herbert Read