Etienne Balibar.Spinoza, the Anti-Orwell: The Fear of the Masses. RM 2(3):104-139 "An attempt is made to demonstrate how the concepts of seventeenth-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza with regard to the masses can be used to extend the understanding of present-day Marxist theory. Spinoza's fear of the masses is an important factor in all modern states. States do not have a contract between individuals; rather, mutual fear leads to the arrangement of the state. Spinoza is termed here the anti-Orwell, despite the three centuries that separate him from George Orwell, because of his anti-Orwellian argument that ""the absolute reduction of individuality by the mass or of the mass by absorption into the individuality in power"" is impossible. Spinoza believed this would result in the downfall of the state. R. Logsdon"