On June 29th, 2025, the Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute (SEDI) hosted historian Tom Goyens for a compelling talk on the life and legacy of Johann Most, the infamous yet often misunderstood figure of early anarchism. Drawing on his forthcoming scholarly biography from the University of Illinois Press—the first of its kind in English—Goyens traced Most's evolution from a German social democrat to a pioneering anarchist agitator in the United States.
Far more than a caricature of anarchist bomb-throwing, Johann Most emerges in this discussion as a transnational figure shaped by exile, prison, and propaganda. Goyens highlights Most’s role in mentoring figures like Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman, editing the long-running Freiheit newspaper, and wrestling with questions of violence, aesthetics, and political strategy. The talk also explores Most’s ideological transformation, his theatrical flair, and his enduring influence on American and European radical movements—even as his image was vilified in the press and sidelined by history.
Tom Goyens is the author of Beer and Revolution and a contributor to the study of immigrant radicalism, anarchist print culture, and transatlantic political currents. His forthcoming anthology of Most’s writings will help reintroduce a neglected voice into contemporary debates on anarchism and political violence.
This event was part of SEDI’s ongoing speaker series, bringing together radical thinkers, organizers, and historians to deepen our understanding of the past and sharpen our interventions in the present.
The Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute:
https://www.dolgoffinstitute.com/
Explore Tom Goyens’ work:
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/category/author/tom-goyens
Pre-Order on Amazon - Johann Most: Life of a Radical:
https://a.co/d/hIKBIB7
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