This book investigates the intellectual and practical synthesis of anticapitalist thought within the First International from 1864 to 1880. Robert Graham's work analyzes the crucial period where socialists, communists, trade unionists, and anarchists collaborated and debated, refining anarchist ideas into a doctrine of international working-class self-liberation. The book focuses on the often-overlooked experimental phase of this movement, moving beyond the famous conflicts to explore the foundational work of anarchist thought.

This book is presented as an unprecedented analysis of a frequently misunderstood historical period. The description suggests a scholarly approach that delves into the intellectual ferment of the First International, aiming to clarify the development of anarchist thought. It promises to offer a more nuanced understanding by focusing on the synthesis of ideas and the practical experimentation of the time, rather than solely on prominent conflicts.