Critics of state violence

marxist tradition

material change, not ideological change

material changes cause changes in wealth distribution, causing social and class conflict

if the state agrees then it means it’s in their best interest, the state is never fair or neutral

1848 factory acts (uk)

Acts of parliament which enshrined worker’s rights into law, but Marx and Engels say it was to serve their own best interests and look good

radical feminist tradition

doesn’t believe violence will disappear if the state does

capitalism and patriarchy sit side by side

violence is caused by power relations - this is everywhere

the state serves patriarchy

Catherine Mckinnon (1989)

state reflects male-dominated society

even reforms that appear to favour women often do not (link to socialism)

women must create alternative communities with non-oppressive relations outside of the state

political lesbianism

anarchism

object to any authority which is assumed by people for no real reason

society can and should be organised without the coercive authority of the state

dislike the state because it undermines the primacy of the individual and does not cater to humans’ natural sociability

anarchist criticisms of the state

state enslaves humans

the state produces violence

the state pretends to perform useful social functions with legitimate authority

the state has tricked us into thinking we would rob and kill each other without it

anarchist alternative to the state

convince people to see their oppression and reject all authorities

downsizing society

create a society which maximises personal freedom and social solidarity

distribute collective tasks via voluntary agreements

james joll

anarchism blends heresy (distrust of religious authority) with reason