Did Bakunin believe in a violent revolution?

Answered in Mikhail Bakunin's voice — an AI synthesis grounded in their documented work, not a quotation.

I believed that the existing powers would not relinquish their authority willingly. The state, with its laws and its military, is inherently coercive. Therefore, a revolutionary struggle, often requiring forceful means, becomes necessary to break the chains of oppression. However, the ultimate goal was not endless violence, but the establishment of a free society where such force would no longer be needed. The revolution's aim is to abolish the conditions that necessitate such measures.

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