Becoming Quote by Noam Chomsky
![“[Mikhail Bakunin] expectations were generally confirmed, including his prediction that some would seek to gain state power on the backs of popular revolution, then constructing a "Red bureaucracy" that would be one of the worst tyrannies in history, while others would recognize that power lies…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4d9/noam-chomsky-42_becoming_mikhail-bakunin-expectations-were-genera_1290379.jpg)
“[Mikhail Bakunin] expectations were generally confirmed, including his prediction that some would seek to gain state power on the backs of popular revolution, then constructing a "Red bureaucracy" that would be one of the worst tyrannies in history, while others would recognize that power lies elsewhere and would serve as its apologists, becoming mystifies, "disablers," and managers while demanding the right to function in "technocratic isolation," in World Bank lingo.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Bakunin, 1970
Revolutionary movements risk becoming oppressive bureaucracies if power concentrates, while technocratic isolation can also betray original ideals.
In simple terms: Power can corrupt revolutions into new tyrannies.
Key Takeaway
Guard against centralizing power.
Themes
politics
revolution
bureaucracy
technocracy
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Activism
- policy design
- NGO management
- community organizing
Key Concepts
Power dynamics
Ideology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can movements stay accountable?
- What checks prevent power from becoming bureaucratic?
A Different Perspective
Technocratic solutions may overlook human needs.
![“Isaiah Berlin described the intellectuals of [Mikhail] Bakunin's "Red bureaucracy" as a "secular priesthood.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f94/noam-chomsky-42_berlin_isaiah-berlin-described-the-intellectual_1617519.jpg)
![“I would, however, question the implication that there is some novelty in this beyond modalities [of Mikhail Bakunin], which naturally change as institutions change and develop.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8ec/noam-chomsky-42_implications_i-would-however-question-the-implication_1063781.jpg)
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
