Tolstoy's Political Thought

Leo Tolstoy (18281910), besides writing famous novels such as War and Peace, also wrote on political issues, especially later in his life, putting forward a political philosophy which might be termed 'Christian anarchism'. This book provides a comprehensive overview of Tolstoys political thought. It outlines in a systematic way Tolstoys 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 Tolstoys thinking is put forward implicitly through the novels characters. The book sets out the basic themes of Tolstoys political thought: his acceptance of the teachings of Jesus, his criticism of the way in which Jesus teachings have been relayed by the church through traditional creeds and dogma, his passionate rejection of political violence by both the state and those working for reform, his plea for a nonviolent 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 Tolstoys time, including the religious context, and a discussion of how Tolstoys political thought has been received by his admirers, who included Gandhi, and his critics.