Russian anarchism on the sociological theory of progress

The article examines the views of Russian anarchist sociology representatives - M.A. Bakunin, P.A. Kropotkin, and P.N. Tkachev - on the problem of progress. In the light of the unfolding discourse on national ideology and sovereignty of Russian social sciences in the history of Russian sociological thought, the study of the discussion of progress in the sociology of the pre-Soviet period remains relevant. It is emphasized that anarchist theories of progress are based on an evolutionist approach to the understanding of the historical process, and social progress is interpreted linearly. As the main criterion and ideal of progressive development, the individual freedom of everyone is singled out, the consequence of which is the freedom of the whole society. The mechanism of progress includes the interaction of objective (natural and social) factors and creative activity of people. The way to achieve the ideal of progress is proclaimed to be social revolution, understood by the authors in a largely voluntaristic way.