Recovering a "Forgotten Forefather" Figure to Reinvent Anarchism

This guest lecture by John-Erik Hansson, lecturer in British history at Université Paris Cité and Fellow in Residence at CY Advanced Studies, explores how post-World War II anarchist intellectuals revitalized their movement by recovering the works of William Godwin (1756-1836). Discover how figures like George Woodcock, Colin Ward, André Prudhommeaux and others across Europe constructed an alternative genealogy for anarchism by highlighting Godwin's peaceful gradualism as a counterpoint to revolutionary anarchism. Learn about this fascinating case study that challenges the narrative of anarchism's decline during the Cold War, instead revealing a period of transition and transformation. The lecture examines how these intellectuals strategically used historiography to legitimize their gradualist approach to radical change, contributing to the development and circulation of political ideologies in the mid-20th century.