La Révolution Cosmopolite
La Révolution Cosmopolite or La Révolution Cosmopolite: journal révolutionnaire socialiste indépendant, was an anarchist newspaper published between 1886 and 1887 by various anarchist militants, including Charles Malato, Jacques Prolo, Louise Michel, and Léon Ortiz. The newspaper ceased publication after being prosecuted for "incitement to murder and pillage".
It was one of the 1880s anarchist publications in France, playing a role in the birth and establishment of the anarchist movement there. The newspaper is also considered to have introduced revolutionary internationalism to France, aiming to unite anarchists and revolutionaries on an international level. Additionally, due to Louise Michel's numerous contributions, it was one of the first publications to give a platform to women activists in France.
History
Context
Like l'Endehors later, or a number of publications from nascent Symbolism and Decadentism, this newspaper originated from the Cercle de la Butte. This influence was noted by Gabriel Randon, who argued that this Circle was subdivided into four parts: naturalists, decadents, symbolists, and anarchists. Each of these groups represented the main French intellectual and artistic movements of the following decade. According to Randon, each of these four subgroups of the Circle produced their own press organs; in the case of the anarchists, it was La Révolution cosmopolite.''La Révolution Cosmopolite'' (1886-1887)
Within the Cercle de la Butte, Charles Malato and Jacques Prolo, both anarchist militants, established an anarchist group and, in September 1886, founded the newspaper. Its upcoming publication was announced in Peter Kropotkin and Jean Grave's Le Révolté, and the first issue hit the stands. Léon Ortiz, a prominent illegalist anarchist militant of the period, and the renowned anarchist militant Louise Michel also contributed to the paper. Ortiz, in particular, was the poorest of the contributors. Among other contributors was Georges Deherme, who notably advocated for the union of all socialist groups within a federation that would respect their unique characteristics.The newspaper's main objective was to promote a form of revolutionary internationalism. As part of the nascent French anarchist movement, this publication was one of the earliest anarchist papers in France. It was also the first revolutionary publication to break away from a purely French focus and embrace an international struggle, and one of the first to allow women activists to participate and publish within its pages.
The newspaper released 5 issues of its second series in 1887. However, its run was cut short when it faced trial for "incitement to murder and pillage" in April-May 1887, leading to its discontinuation.
Louise Michel
Louise Michel's contributions to the journal, which she joined from the very first issue, were significantly important in the evolution of her thinking and her artistic, philosophical, and political perspectives. It was in this publication that she began to show a strong interest in writing as a revolutionary weapon. Her initial article, a defense of her involvement with the newspaper, highlighted the dynamics of the anarchist movement at the time, which was increasingly turning to the press.Michel also published her poems in the journal, where she intertwined various ideas, particularly artistic and political concepts. She blended aesthetic exploration with the pursuit of revolution and the freedom promised by anarchists. More broadly, her quest for a "revolutionary poetics" undertaken in the journal marked a pivotal point in her intellectual development.
Legacy
The circles involved in this newspaper were closely linked to those that participated in l'Endehors a few years later.Works
Second series (1887) - courtesy of ''Archives anarchistes''
1st issue (full) (March)
- , explaining their motives by publishing the issue' by Léon Ortiz, manifesto of their thought and internationalism
- ' by Charles Malato, criticizing the Paris Commune
- by Jacques Prolo, debating the use of 'citizen' or 'companion' for anarchists' by Raoul Odin, antimilitarist text calling soldiers to revolt
- ' by Alain Gouzien, early European individualist anarchism and support for propaganda by the deed' by Yves Plessis, analysis of the necessity of revolutionary struggle
- ' by Spartaco, Platon Drakoulis and Raoul Odin, giving news about the anarchist movement in Italy, Greece, England and France.
2nd issue (full) (March-April)
', speaking about the trial of Raoul Odin and Pons for his Souvenez-vous ! article in the previous issue- '
3rd issue (full) (April)
, speaking about the trial of Odin and Pons, by Cassius, debating the Duval affair and illegalism, by Raoul Odin, defending illegalism, by Couteaux, defending antiparliamentarism and revolution- , by Palmiro Perini, call to revolutionary action, by Louise Michel, the following of her novel, covering chapters 2 and chapter 3, by Lucien Pemjean, second part of his report, by Caio Siro Baraldi 'Ciro', speaking about anarchism in his town of Mantua , by Jacques Prolo, criticizing proto-fascists Paul Déroulède and Boulangists
4th issue (full) (April)
', by Cassius, first part of a text dwelling on problems revolving around the union of different revolutionary movements- '
5th issue (full) (April-May)
' by Cassius, second part of the text started in the previous issue, Raoul Odin and Pons sentenced to 3 months in jail, first issue of this list sentenced to be destroyed- '