Peter Kropotkin

Peter Kropotkin - do you believe in "charity"? I often see the phrases “Mutual Aid Not Charity” or “Solidarity Not Charity.”

In The Conquest of Bread, I explain my opinion. I believe charity is often paternalistic, humiliating to the poor, a way for the wealthy to feel virtuous without giving up power, a substitute for real justice, and a sign that society is structured unfairly.

I do not oppose generosity, but I do oppose systems where the only way poor people survive is the goodwill of the wealthy.

What I prefer instead of charity is mutual aid, collectives, shared ownership, abolition of poverty at its root, and solidarity - not dependency