Tolstoy's Political Thought - Christian Anarcho-Pacifist Iconoclasm Then and Now (Hardcover)

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), besides writing famous novels such as War and Peace, also wrote on political thought, especially later in his life, putting forward a political philosophy which might be termed "Christian anarchism." This book provides a comprehensive overview of Tolstoy s political thought. It outlines in a systematic way Tolstoy s thought, which was originally articulated unsystematically in diverse, often informal writing, such as pamphlets, letters and speeches, as well as books, and in his novels, where Tolstoy s thinking is put forward implicitly through the novels characters. The book sets out the basic themes of Tolstoy s political thought: his acceptance of the teachings of Jesus, his criticism of the way in which Jesus s teachings have been preached by the church through traditional creeds and dogma, his passionate rejection of political violence both by the state and those working for reform, his plea for a non-violent response to violence and injustice, and his call for society to forego its institutional shackles and enact a community of peace, love and justice. The book also includes background information on the Russia of Tolstoy s time, including the religious context; and a discussion of how Tolstoy s political thought has been received, both by his admirers, who included Gandhi, and his critics."