<![CDATA[Radicalism in the English Revolution - Everyday Anarchism]]>3b59b539-299e-511f-b939-27216274714aWed, 20 May 2026 10:15:05 +0000Captivate.fmGraham Culbertsonhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/da99d182-d8d8-4ffb-80a8-7026e2f7b177/IG_WCQ0Abb11e7-QJpw2oihg.pngRadicalism in the English Revolution - Everyday AnarchismGraham CulbertsonGraham CulbertsonIn this series, I interview a number of historians of the English revolution about the radicals in the English revolution, and the extent to which their ideas accord with what would later be called anarchism.The core idea of this podcast comes from David Graeber, who wrote that our everyday life is mostly run on anarchism, and at the same time people believe that anarchism doesn’t work. One of these is wrong. I hope to illuminate how our communities already depend on Mutual Aid, in big and small ways. I'll do that by excavating the historical events and cultural trends you already know about, but have never thought about in terms of anarchism. Find me at https://www.everydayanarchism.comhttps://www.everydayanarchism.com/trueepisodicnopodcast102. Radicalism in the English Revolution 1: General Introduction -- Ariel Hessayon102. Radicalism in the English Revolution 1: General Introduction -- Ariel HessayonAriel Hessayon joins me to start a new series, Radicalism in the English Revolution. Before we get to all the delightful radical groups - like Diggers and Levellers - Ariel and I discuss the English revolution, whether it was a revolution, what revolution meant to them, and what it meant to be a radical at the time.

Here's an introduction to the concept of radicalism, or anarchism, in the English Revolution: https://www.everydayanarchism.com/anarchism-in-the-english-revolution/

This series will run concurrently with the Debt series, because I'm disorganized.

For a fuller account of the entire revolution, I recommend Mike Duncan's podcast series on the topic: https://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/revolutions_podcast/2013/09/001-the-kingdoms-of-charles-stuart.html

]]>Ariel Hessayon joins me to start a new series, Radicalism in the English Revolution. Before we get to all the delightful radical groups - like Diggers and Levellers - Ariel and I discuss the English revolution, whether it was a revolution, what revolution meant to them, and what it meant to be a radical at the time.

Here's an introduction to the concept of radicalism, or anarchism, in the English Revolution: https://www.everydayanarchism.com/anarchism-in-the-english-revolution/

This series will run concurrently with the Debt series, because I'm disorganized.

For a fuller account of the entire revolution, I recommend Mike Duncan's podcast series on the topic: https://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/revolutions_podcast/2013/09/001-the-kingdoms-of-charles-stuart.html

]]>9667075a-afc8-4404-94ba-c5bceb8d2712Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -040001:08:43truefull102102104. Radicalism in the English Revolution 2: The Levellers -- Rachel Foxley104. Radicalism in the English Revolution 2: The Levellers -- Rachel FoxleyEmerging from both civilian and military backgrounds, the Levellers were a radical group who advocated for expanded voting rights and freedom of conscience and speech. Rachel Foxley, author of The Levellers: Radical Political Thought in the English Revolution, explains the Levellers' views, their relationship to Oliver Cromwell, their revolutionary methods, and how their ideas resonate with later radicals.

]]>Emerging from both civilian and military backgrounds, the Levellers were a radical group who advocated for expanded voting rights and freedom of conscience and speech. Rachel Foxley, author of The Levellers: Radical Political Thought in the English Revolution, explains the Levellers' views, their relationship to Oliver Cromwell, their revolutionary methods, and how their ideas resonate with later radicals.

]]>5612f6cb-68fa-4fcf-8cc6-8bf76260b14aWed, 25 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -040058:32truefull104104106. Radicalism in the English Revolution 3: The Diggers -- Ariel Hessayon106. Radicalism in the English Revolution 3: The Diggers -- Ariel HessayonAriel Hessayon returns to discuss The Diggers, the radical group whose farming community most closely resembles the ideas of anarchist communism as expressed by 19th century figures such as Kropotkin, Morris, and Tolstoi. Ariel and I discuss their origins, their theology, their 19th century recovery, and above all the brilliant writings of one of their leaders, Gerrard Winstanley.

]]>Ariel Hessayon returns to discuss The Diggers, the radical group whose farming community most closely resembles the ideas of anarchist communism as expressed by 19th century figures such as Kropotkin, Morris, and Tolstoi. Ariel and I discuss their origins, their theology, their 19th century recovery, and above all the brilliant writings of one of their leaders, Gerrard Winstanley.

]]>84c4d82f-994e-4ca1-924c-6068ad823e35Wed, 08 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -040059:46truefull106106108. Radicalism in the English Revolution 4: Oliver Cromwell - - John Morrill108. Radicalism in the English Revolution 4: Oliver Cromwell - - John MorrillJohn Morrill, whose work I first encountered in Mike Duncan's podcast about the English Revolution, joins me to discuss the career of Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was attacked in his time for being both too radical and not radical enough, and the picture has only gotten more complicated from there. John and I discuss his career, his convictions, his relationship to radicals like the Levellers and the Diggers, and how we should remember him today.

To see John discuss these issues in the glorious blurriness of 80s television, I highly recommend this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/l9BluTq8M54?si=DrO1hqWEtD4SkbGZ

]]>John Morrill, whose work I first encountered in Mike Duncan's podcast about the English Revolution, joins me to discuss the career of Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was attacked in his time for being both too radical and not radical enough, and the picture has only gotten more complicated from there. John and I discuss his career, his convictions, his relationship to radicals like the Levellers and the Diggers, and how we should remember him today.

To see John discuss these issues in the glorious blurriness of 80s television, I highly recommend this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/l9BluTq8M54?si=DrO1hqWEtD4SkbGZ

]]>b9c534cd-eb56-49c7-943c-23d3adafedeaWed, 22 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -040058:02truefull108108112. The Puritan Christmas Wars -- Diane Purkiss (English Revolution)112. The Puritan Christmas Wars -- Diane Purkiss (English Revolution)Diane Purkiss joins me to discuss the Christmas Wars, in which Puritans attempted to prevent the celebration of Christmas in the 17th century. Christmas was a carnival in which the world was turned upside down - and the Puritans weren't having it. We also discuss the Lord of Misrule, Twelfth Night, and that 21st century lord of misrule: Lord Buckethead!

]]>Diane Purkiss joins me to discuss the Christmas Wars, in which Puritans attempted to prevent the celebration of Christmas in the 17th century. Christmas was a carnival in which the world was turned upside down - and the Puritans weren't having it. We also discuss the Lord of Misrule, Twelfth Night, and that 21st century lord of misrule: Lord Buckethead!

]]>27d71c9d-45e7-44e8-ac07-2f36451bfc7eWed, 20 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -040047:05truefull112112113. The Ranters -- Nigel Smith (English Revolution)113. The Ranters -- Nigel Smith (English Revolution)Radicalism in the English Revolution gets to the Ranters, the radical group of protestants who may or may not have practiced free love - but definitely sparked a moral panic!

In this extra-long discussion, Nigel Smith and I discuss the roots of Ranterism, its connections to the Diggers, its legacy for romanticism, and its connection to later American radical movements. Plus we talk about punk rock, especially in connection to Nigel's book: A Collection of Ranter Writings: Spiritual Liberty and Sexual Freedom in the English Revolution

]]>Radicalism in the English Revolution gets to the Ranters, the radical group of protestants who may or may not have practiced free love - but definitely sparked a moral panic!

In this extra-long discussion, Nigel Smith and I discuss the roots of Ranterism, its connections to the Diggers, its legacy for romanticism, and its connection to later American radical movements. Plus we talk about punk rock, especially in connection to Nigel's book: A Collection of Ranter Writings: Spiritual Liberty and Sexual Freedom in the English Revolution

]]>6a8921c3-cbd7-4ba2-a6bf-5e0b5851df38Wed, 27 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -040001:23:17truefull113113122. The Fifth Monarchists -- Bernard Capp (English Revolution)122. The Fifth Monarchists -- Bernard Capp (English Revolution)In the next episode of Radicalism in the English Revolution, I'm joined by Bernard Capp to discuss The Fifth Monarchists - a radical protestant sect that was trying to bring about the end of the world, and wanted Cromwell to help them!

]]>In the next episode of Radicalism in the English Revolution, I'm joined by Bernard Capp to discuss The Fifth Monarchists - a radical protestant sect that was trying to bring about the end of the world, and wanted Cromwell to help them!

]]>b89bea9a-6b56-4d8f-aae6-a9a630b6af9bWed, 15 May 2024 05:00:00 -040001:10:24truefull122122124. The Early Quakers -- Kate Peters (English Revolution)124. The Early Quakers -- Kate Peters (English Revolution)Kate Peters, author of Print Culture and the Early Quakers, joins me to discuss the Quakers, the last of the radical groups we're covering the English Revolution series. You can hear about how the Quakers can be seen as the end of political radicalism in the revolution, or alternately as a different form of radical organizing, as evidenced by William Penn's political declarations in the 1701 charter for Pennsylvania:

https://oll.libertyfund.org/pages/1701-pennsylvania-charter-of-liberties

]]>Kate Peters, author of Print Culture and the Early Quakers, joins me to discuss the Quakers, the last of the radical groups we're covering the English Revolution series. You can hear about how the Quakers can be seen as the end of political radicalism in the revolution, or alternately as a different form of radical organizing, as evidenced by William Penn's political declarations in the 1701 charter for Pennsylvania:

https://oll.libertyfund.org/pages/1701-pennsylvania-charter-of-liberties

]]>16a32a8c-8b78-45bd-896c-4332f5cdd905Wed, 29 May 2024 05:00:00 -040001:26:57truefull124124126. Milton's Radicalism -- Nick McDowell and Nigel Smith (English Revolution)126. Milton's Radicalism -- Nick McDowell and Nigel Smith (English Revolution)One of the most famous author's in the English language, John Milton, was a 17th century English radical who not only supported but also worked for the English revolutionary government. I'm joined by Nigel Smith, a returning guest, and Nick McDowell, author of Poet of Revolution: The Making of John Milton, to discuss Milton's radicalism and its relationship to the English Revolution.

]]>One of the most famous author's in the English language, John Milton, was a 17th century English radical who not only supported but also worked for the English revolutionary government. I'm joined by Nigel Smith, a returning guest, and Nick McDowell, author of Poet of Revolution: The Making of John Milton, to discuss Milton's radicalism and its relationship to the English Revolution.

]]>8794ba40-2c1d-44f6-b915-8e568aedf218Wed, 12 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -040001:16:39truefull126126128. Hobbes' Leviathan -- Alison McQueen (English Revolution)128. Hobbes' Leviathan -- Alison McQueen (English Revolution)Who create the modern theory of political sovereignty?

Thomas Hobbes.

What was Hobbes afraid of?

Anarchy.

What made Hobbes so afraid of anarchy?

The English Revolution.

Today's guest is Alison McQueen, who can be found at https://www.alisonmcqueen.info/

]]>Who create the modern theory of political sovereignty?

Thomas Hobbes.

What was Hobbes afraid of?

Anarchy.

What made Hobbes so afraid of anarchy?

The English Revolution.

Today's guest is Alison McQueen, who can be found at https://www.alisonmcqueen.info/

]]>49f99864-98d3-4560-951a-ad82630de0c1Thu, 11 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -040001:01:20truefull128128139. Hill's The World Turned Upside Down -- Ann Hughes (English Revolution)139. Hill's The World Turned Upside Down -- Ann Hughes (English Revolution)A spectre is haunting the Everyday Anarchism series on the English revolution: the spectre of Christopher Hill's 1972 book The World Turned Upside Down. It turns out most of the ideas I've shared in this series came from Hill's book!

Ann Hughes joins me to discuss the book, and we talk through the following questions:

  • Did Hill invent the idea of the English revolution?
  • How did the radicalism of the 1960s affect Hill's approach?
  • Was Winstanley an anarchist?
  • Was the English Revolution the beginning of modernity?

Thanks so much to Ann and all the other guests in this year-long series, now (probably) concluded!

]]>A spectre is haunting the Everyday Anarchism series on the English revolution: the spectre of Christopher Hill's 1972 book The World Turned Upside Down. It turns out most of the ideas I've shared in this series came from Hill's book!

Ann Hughes joins me to discuss the book, and we talk through the following questions:

  • Did Hill invent the idea of the English revolution?
  • How did the radicalism of the 1960s affect Hill's approach?
  • Was Winstanley an anarchist?
  • Was the English Revolution the beginning of modernity?

Thanks so much to Ann and all the other guests in this year-long series, now (probably) concluded!

]]>8380b915-b01b-4cc8-b3f8-21ca8dd5e21aWed, 06 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -040054:25truefull139139