Emma Goldman’s “Anarchism and Other Essays” (Pt. 2): Prisons, Patriotism, and Ferrer’s Modern School

Welcome back to my reading series on Emma Goldman’s Anarchism and Other Essays! In this second installment, I explore three of her essays that dive into the harsh realities of the prison system, the dangers of patriotism, and the revolutionary educational ideas of Francisco Ferrer. I connect Goldman’s early 20th-century insights with today’s world—where incarceration rates are skyrocketing, militarism still looms large, and the education model... really hasn't changed that much apparently.

We start off with Dostoevsky’s “The Priest and the Devil” as retold by Goldman, which sets the tone for her critique of prisons. From there, I discuss how she views patriotism as a tool of the powerful and a “menace to liberty,” and then move on to Ferrer’s Modern School—a daring experiment in child-centered, secular education that ultimately cost him his life.

Whether you’re reading along with Goldman’s Anarchism and Other Essays or just jumping in to learn more about her ideas, I hope you enjoy this series. Thank you so much for watching (or listening)! If you’d like the full series, you can head over to my Patreon. As always, your support and feedback mean the world to me. Enjoy!

Timecodes

00:00 – Intro & Dostoevsky’s “The Priest and the Devil”
00:57 – Emma Goldman’s 4th Essay: Prisons as a Social Crime
07:11 – Patriotism: A Menace to Liberty
14:20 – Francisco Ferrer & The Modern School
28:58 – Preview of Next Week (Feminism & Suffrage) & Wrap-Up

Listen on Spotify or watch here on YouTube, and let me know what you think in the comments or on social media! If you want more deep dives into anarchist theory, history, and practice, check out my Patreon at Patreon.com/ChampagneAnarchism. See you next time!

Видео Emma Goldman’s “Anarchism and Other Essays” (Pt. 2): Prisons, Patriotism, and Ferrer’s Modern School канала Champagne Anarchism