International Anarchist Congress held in London

Background. The congress was organized to explore the founding of an international organization dedicated to anti-authoritarian and decentralist socialism. Planning for this London meeting began following a small conference in Brussels in 1880. The gathering served as a platform for anarchist luminaries to discuss the structure of a new international body for anti-authoritarian socialism.

Delegates. The congress had 45 delegates, including anarchist luminaries Peter Kropotkin, Errico Malatesta, and Louise Michel. These figures were central to the movement's theoretical development, with Kropotkin's work later becoming the dominating view of anarchists by the late 19th century. The event brought together key proponents of anti-authoritarian socialism.

Aftermath. A follow-up congress, planned for 1882, was abandoned. The 1881 meeting was part of a wave of globalization occurring from 1880 to 1914, during which various anarchist schools of thought had become well-defined. The congress aimed to formalize these currents into a cohesive international organization.