ABSTRACT

While the study of anarchism has undergone a renaissanc
e in recent
years, historical scholarship has been a relatively minor aspect of this
renewed focus. Presenting an historiographical examination of the main
forms of writing on anarchist ideas, this article argues that the
predominance of ‘canonistic’ appro
aches to anarchism is in part a
consequence of the disciplinary dominance of political theory in the
study of anarchism. Despite anarchism’s complex intellectual history,
intellectual historians continue to overlook this rich political tradition.
The artic
le concludes by reflecting on the possibilities offered by an
intellectual history of anarchism informed by recent methodological
developments in cultural history. Not only does this allow us to see
beyond the canon, but it also offers new insights on anar
chism’s most
influential thinkers.