Rudolf Rocker in Exile: Reimagining Anarchism in an Age of Catastrophe, 1933-1958

Anarchist Studies - Print ISSN 0967-3393 - Online ISSN 2633-8270
Volume 34 Number 1 (2026)

Rudolf Rocker in Exile: Reimagining Anarchism in an Age of Catastrophe, 1933-1958
Tom Goyens pages 61‑89
DOI: 10.3898/AS.34.1.03

Abstract

This article examines the intellectual evolution of Rudolf Rocker, a central figure in international anarchism, during his years of exile in the United States from 1933 to 1958. Drawing on untranslated essays, memoirs, and letters, it argues that Rocker’s exile deepened his rejection of absolutist ideologies – especially nationalism, Marxism, and revolutionary romanticism – and led to a rearticulation of anarchism grounded in historical consciousness, cultural pluralism, and libertarian federalism. Far from retreating from public life, Rocker remained an active commentator on fascism, Bolshevism, and war, advocating for a pragmatic, humanist anarchism attuned to postwar realities. His proposals for a renewed anarchist movement, particularly in Germany, reveal a consistent ethic of anti-authoritarianism and principled adaptability. By situating Rocker’s American writings as a coherent and forward-looking revision of classical anarchism, the article highlights their overlooked relevance to today’s crises of ideology and democracy.

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To cite this article
Tom Goyens (2026) Rudolf Rocker in Exile: Reimagining Anarchism in an Age of Catastrophe, 1933-1958, Anarchist Studies, 34(1), 61-89 . https://doi.org/10.3898/AS.34.1.03

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