Politics - ideas - anarchism

briefly what is anarchism

anarchism is an ideology that opposes all forms of hierarchy and coercion , and in particular opposition to the state

whats a hierarchy

• a system of organisation where certain individuals/groups are ranked above others based on authority or power

whats coercion

the practice of compelling individuals to act

the state could coerce individuals into paying tax by threatening them with imprisonment

cultural norms could be coercive - stirner , goldman

what are some institutions anarchists may see as coercive

• the state

• the police

• religion

• marriage

• patriarchy

• education system

• wage labour

what form of societal structure do anarchists support

anarchists support de-centralized non hierarchical forms of self governance based upon principles of voluntary co-operation

whats an example of this type of anarchist society (from key thinker)

• bakunins federalist concept

• stirners union of egoists

why do anarchists believe the state is illegitimate

• the state is a colonizing force , eg European colonialism

• Kropotkin saw indigenous tribes as an example of communities thriving without a state and were truly free before they were colonized by the state and forced into assimilation

whats an example of the state being colonising

• south America previously made up of tribes operating without a state , making decisions communally without central authority

• spanish came and imposed state system, legal system , monetary system

why do anarchists see the state as unnecessary

• kropotkin argued that communities naturally create support systems without state intervention ( influenced by his study on rnli)

• services such as healthcare, education , public services all appropriated by state ( Catalonia show can be done without , community run )

what is direct action

direct action refers to taking measures to address and resolve issues and achieve political goals bypassing traditional political channels like voting or lobbying

direct action examples

• strikes

• boycotts (maccies starbuck over Gaza)

• civil disobedience (blocking roads)

why do anarchists believe their society would be orderly than the current one

• voluntary co-operation, enforces feeling of solidarity pushes individuals towards achieving shared goal

• absence of coercion, individuals are not forced in anything against their will - reducing conflict

• self management more effective (workers know more about their work)

• equitable allocation of resources reduces the tensions caused by inequality (collectivist only)

• rational self interest to engage in voluntary cooperation (individualist)

what are the 2 schools of thought in anarchism on true human nature

• humans are naturally altruistic (collective)

• humans act naturally in their egotistical self interest (stirner, ancap murray rothbard)

what do anarchists think about liberty, how does this differ from other views

• all humans naturally seek liberty

• other view liberty in negative and positive libertys

• anarchists reject this, freedom is non domination

what does it mean that freedom is non domination

non domination refers to an absence of a hierarchical power that has an arbitrary ability to interfere in ones life

absence of any potential for coercion (even if gov not interfering w u rn they could)

what area the 2 broad forms of anarchism

• collectivist anarchism

• individualist anarchism

broadly what do collectivists believe

• humans are naturally communal and co-operative

• private property shld be abolished, communal ownership of means of production

• resources distributed by need not market mechanisms

what do individualist believe

• humans act in their rational self interest

• emphasis on individual freedom

• believe in the right of individuals to make decisions without interference

who was the first anarchists and when

in 1840, proudhon declared himself an anarchist in his book ‘what is property’ (saying its theft)

what was the international

the international was an organisation comprised of key socialist , communist and anarchist thinkers

what event split the international

• first proletarian (workers) revolution , Paris commune , participants massacred

• conflict in the international on why it failed (dictatorship proletariat )

what was the main way bakunin disagreed with marx

• rejected the dictatorship of the proletariat

• he who is given power will inevitably become an oppressor

what was bakunins view of human nature

humans are naturally social and productive, state distorts this

what was bakunins view of the state

• both the state and capitalism needed destroying

• rejected any from of state including a workers state ‘he who is given power will ultimately become an oppressor)

bakunins view of nations

• rejected nation state , fosters war and inequality and divides workers

• similar to stirner

bakunins view on how society should be organized

• society composed of voluntary communes of workers , with common ownership and equal resource distribution

• these communes would link together under free agreements to form FEDERATIONS

• this would allow them to work on larger projects and to trade, based upon mutual benefit and upon the products true value

bakunins view of economy

• opposed capitalism and private property

• system of exchange between FEDERATIONS and communes based upon the true value of the goods/services

what key difference between anarchism and socialism did bakunins outline

anarchists oppose a state of any kind, even a workers one - Marx's dictatorship of the proletariat

what does propaganda by the deed mean

taking direct action to achieve change , strikes , revolutions ECT

what is bakunins federalism

a system where voluntary communes of workers link up with other communes under free agreements of mutual benefit to form larger federations

who invented mutualism

proudhon

what is mutualism

a system for anarchist society where workers in voluntary self governing communes owning the means of production trade goods with other communes through a voucher system respective of the number of hours labour it took

what was different about proudhons view of the state

• believed the state needed to be dismantled

• but unlike other anarchist believe this could be done peacefully

what was proudhons view of society (mutualist view)

a society where people are connected through mutually beneficial economic and social relationships

decentralized society of voluntary communes of workers who have self governance

how would the economy work under proudhons mutualism

• workers would own the means of production in voluntary self governed communes

• the goods and services they produced would be exchanged via a voucher system respective of the amount of labour it took to create

• workers would earn vouchers by contributing

• vouchers would be distributed through a peoples bank

why was proudhons voucher systemheavily criticized

the creation of a peoples bank was perceived as some new form of central authority and could create a hierarchy

what was proudhons views on property (inc except)

• famously stated property is theft , however distinguished between property used to exploit others and workers possessions

• exploitative property - house landlord rents , profiting off something an other needs to live

• a possession would be the tools a carpenter uses to work , the house they live in

mutualisms legacy?

• never gained much following

• however influenced Anarcho communism and Anarcho syndicalism

what was kropotkins strand of anarchism

anarcho communism

what was kropotkins view of human nature

• humans are naturally co-operative and social , he developed this view observing Siberian tribes

• this challenged social Darwinism which justified inequality and competition

what was kropotkins concept of mutual aid

mutual aid refers to the natural tendency of humans to co-operate for survival and well-being - rather than competing

what did kropotkin disagree with bakunin on

• kropotkin rejected bakunins federalism believing it could lead to hierarchical structures emerging and would rebuild a state like structure (people running the federations becoming disconnected)

how did kropotkin think society should be structured

kroptokin believe in voluntary small self sufficient communes that would not need large scale co-ordination

what was kropotkins key economic principle ‘quote’

‘ from each according to his ability , to each according to his need’

• no monetary or voucher system, people contribute what they can and take what they need from the communities resources

how does kropotkin justify each according to his ability each according to his need

in his book conquest of bread kropotkin asserts that every product is the work of everyone as everyone relies on the mental and physical labour of those who came before them

• this justifies principles of common ownership

what is kropotkins solidarity principle

the natural state of humans is common cohesion amongst individuals leading to mutually beneficial communities

what was seen as the problem with kropotkins view of society

• emphasis on small self sufficient communities implied a simpler more contained life's style

• was not compatible with modern , industrialised society

why did Anarcho syndicalism emerge

an attempt to implement anarchist principles of mutual aid , solidarity and anti authority into modern technologically advanced societies

what does the name Anarcho syndicalism tell us

• syndicat is French for trade union

• Anarcho syndicalism is a form of revolutionary trade unionism

how does Anarcho syndicalism different from regular trade unionism

• anarcho syndicalism believes in the complete abolition of wage labour and also the abolition of the state

• their ideology is based upon direct action , and revolutionary violence

• Anarcho syndicalists are revolutionary

what group embodied Anarcho syndicalist ideals

• the industrial workers of the world , IWW

who were the IWW

• a union of 150k workers , mostly immigrants who came 19th century usa

• striking workers suppressed brutally at the time

how did the iww different from other trade unions

• the IWW welcomed all workers , including women and African Americans which was not the norm at the time

what was an example of direct action taken by the iww

• after a labour dispute at a single textile factory in a Massachusetts town, textile workers across the whole city went in strike

what does it mean that the iww were practicing pre figurative politics

• prefigurative politics refers to forming the new society within the old

• in iww case it refers to them practicing anarchist principles of mutual aid and co-operation whilst still living in capitalist society

how would an Anarcho syndicalist society be structured

• self governing federations comprised of smaller syndicates (unions) of workers

• carpenters syndicate , bakers syndicate

• these syndicates would promote the well being of its members and create a wider harmonious society

• the various federation would exchange goods or services

who was Emma goldman

emma Goldman was a prominent anarchist thinkers and a leading figure in the American anarchist movement

what was emma goldmans view of human nature

individual liberty is the most vital aspect of human nature

what was emma goldmans view on the state

• saw the state as an oppressive being that needed to be dismantled

• also saw marriage , religion and gender norms as oppressive

was emma Goldman a revolutionary

yes , believed the state was beyond reform

‘ if voting changed anything they'd make it illegal’

what type of society did she envision

one where all were treated individually with a focus on gender , racial and economic equality

why was Emma Goldman against marriage

viewed it a s a patriarchal force that stifled women's indivual freedom

arrested teaching about birth control

what was Emma goldmans main contribution to anarchism

championed the idea that societal change must also include the transfsormaation of societal norms that suppress individuality , especially those based on race gender or sexuality

what is individualist anarchism

individualist anarchism is an ideology that emphasizes negative freedoms and individual autonomy

how does it differ from classic and neo liberalism

• whilst both ideologies support negative freedoms and individual autonomy liberals believe in a small state to maintain law and order and enforce contracts

• individualist anarchists believe said small state is not required

what are the main 2 strands of individualist anarchism

• egoism (stirner)

• anarcho capitalism (murray rothbard)

what is egoism

• the key idea of egoism is that individuals should not be influenced by constructs such as nationality , religion or morality

• its believed getting rid of these constructs emphasises individual autonomy

what was stirners view of human nature

stirner believed that humans were naturally egotistical and self interested , argued all actions even altruistic ones are motivated by self interest

what is stirners view of the state

the state denies people of the right to fuffil their natural egoism and individualism, enforces norms and requires allegiance and sacrifice (taxxx)

what was stirners view of society

stirner believed any sort of society or social construct restrains peoples freedom, to be truly free must break free of all constraints

(class identity , national identity prevent ppl being individuals)

what was stirners economic view

 He argued that the main economic motivation is the accumulation and retention of property, which an individual is entitled to if they can get it ( believed individual entitled to anything they can get) . He was a critic of communism, seeing it as another form of domination that suppresses individual freedom.  (property not private property but what they posses, against state protecting property of people) 

if everyone acted in there self interest how would society remain ordered

• stirner believed as egoism spread unions of egoists would form , people who saw that co-operation was the best way to maximize their self interest

• by forming these unions people can pool resources , share skills and labour to achieve things they couldn't have alone

• these unions would be voluntary and people would stay in as long as it suited their self interest

where is there overlap between stirner (indivudal) and Goldman (collective)

• Emma goldman drew inspiration from stirner due to the egoist belief that an individual's life is to be lived for their own interest 

• Goldman argued that a woman's life is to be lived and her body to be used for her own interest ( her rejection of patriarchy and marriage) 

how does Anarcho capitalism differ from all other forms of anrchism

• all other forms of anarchism are anti capitalist

• in the 1980s Anarcho capitalism emerged out of neo-liberal thought

what ideals of neo liberalism does Anarcho capitalism reflect

• negative freedoms (freedoms from)

• atomistic individualism (society made up of self interested individuals , not a organ)

how do Anarcho capitalist believe the role of the state could be replaced

anarcho capitalists believe private entrepreneurs could replace the state in healthcare, education , public services, policing

• arguing competition will lower cost, expand choice and push for a better standard of service

who was the original Anarcho capitalist

murray rothbard , believed taxation was theft

what was the core principle Murray rothbard developed

• the non coercive axiom

• the principle that it is always wrong to initiate or threaten physical force against another or their property , force only justified in self defence

• murray saw the state as the biggest violater of the non coercive axiom as he saw taxation and regulation as initiated force

why do Anarcho capitalist believe there will be order in their society

• capitalism creates connections its in peoples best interest to preserve (employee - employer, buyer seller )

• competition encourages innovation

whos a modern example of an Anarcho capitalist and what's he done

• javier milei , Argentine president

• sought drastic spending cuts and reduced regulation heavily

• eliminated the ministry for women and the ministry for environment alongside many others

what is meant by utopianism

the envisioniing of an idealized society, the belief that it is possible to make a perfect or near perfect society through reform or revolutionary means

is anarchism utopian (yes arguments)

• collective anarchists believe humans are inherently good overlooking potential for conflict or people acting in self interest

• large scale anarchist societies have failed , Paris , Catalonia

arguments anarchism is not Utopian

• kropotkin bases his principles of real world study's (Siberians , rnli)

• the functioning of the rojova region shows anarchist principles can be realized in practice

where do anarchists agree on the state and where do they disagree

• agree: view the state as a coercive institution that must be removed

• disagree: individualists view collective anarchy's view of societal structure as infringing on liberty

where do anarchists agree and disagree on human nature

• agree: collective and individualistic have a positive view of human nature and believe society can function without a state

• disagree: individualists argue humans are egotisitcal and self interested colelctive anarchists humans are communal and co-operative