Anarchism

what are the two broad types of anarchism?

Collectivist anarchism - common ownership and a belief that human nature is rational, altruistic and cooperative

individualist anarchism - individuals are self interested and free to make judgements that they feel are in their best interests.

Core beliefs - rejection of the state
do all anarchists dislike the state?

All anarchists loath a governing state.
-democracy gives an illusion of freedom, as the people give up their sovereignty to a ruling elite via elections.

Core beliefs - rejection of the state
what did emma goldman think of elections?

“if voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal” (emma goldman)

Core beliefs - rejection of the state
what was the anarchist definition of the state?

The state is an authority set up via institutions such as a legislature and judiciary to make laws and enforce control.
-it uses coercion to reduce individual liberty.

Core beliefs - rejection of the state
how do anarchists view power?

All anarchists agree that the exercise of power by one person over another is morally wrong.

-the state uses its power to exploit individuals.
-individuals must regain sovereignty over themselves.

Core beliefs - rejection of the state
what did Pierre Joseph Proudhon say about hte state?

to be governed is to be “commanded all by creatures that have neither the right, nor the wisdom, nor the virtue” (Pierre Joseph Proudhon”

Core beliefs - rejection of the state
what did Mikhail Bakunin say about the state?

“every command slaps liberty in the face” (Mikhail Bakunin)

Core beliefs - rejection of the state
what did Max Stirner say about the state?

“we two, the state and I, are enemies” (Max Stirner)

Core beliefs - rejection of the state
what did Peter Kropotkin say about hte state?

advocated for “No ruling authorities […] no government of man by man”” (Peter Kropotkin)

Core beliefs - rejection of the state
what do all these quotes therefore show?

all anarchists agree that the removal of the state is a prerequisite for human society to thrive.

Core beliefs - human nature
what is the broad, anarchist view of human nature?

anarchists have a broadly positive view of human nature, but the state and power have a corrupting effect on indvididuals.
-”the best of men, the most intelligent, unselfish, generous and pure, will always inevitably be corrupted” (Bakunin)

Core beliefs - liberty
what is the core anarchist belief of liberty?

-All anarchists believe that liberty can only be achieved via abolishing the state

-however, collectivists and individualists disagree on what liberty actually is.

Core beliefs - liberty
how do individualist anarchists view liberty?

individualist/egoists anarchists such as 19th century max stirner, and 20th century anarcho capitlists argue that liberty is defined as freedom of the individual from state inteference.

what is the egoist branch of individualist anarchism?

Max Stirner argued that all individuals are self interested ‘egoists’
-liberty is achieved via individual autonomy
-individuals are sovereign - liberty can only exist if individuals are free from external influence/obligation.

what is the anarcho capitlist branch of individualist anarchism?

Anarcho capitlsists sucha s murray rothbard and david freidman argue that liberty can only be expierenced via an atomistic society with an abolished state.

-the states key functions, such as law/order and welfare would be carried out by an unregulated freemarket.

Core beliefs
what is the core belief on insurrection?

Insurrection is anarchist direct actionl. can be violent or passive resistance
-also involves the removal of individuals from the systems and norms of the state.

Max Stirner (1806-56)
what was stirners view of the ego?

ideologies an concepts such as the state, society and religion are articial constructs that act like “wheels in the head” and lead individuals to misunderstand reality. this are enforced by the staet.

-individuals must see through the deceit and realise that their self interested is at the centre of the moral universe.

Max Stirner (1806-56)
what is stirners view of the union of egoists?

-state must be abolished to ensure individual sovereingty
-this would be achieved when people gain their personal “ownness” and realise the states manipulations.

-this will form the ‘union of egoists’

Max Stirner (1806-56)
what were stirners means?

Stirners egoism was the most individaulistic and nihilistic strand of anarchism. he rejects religious and moral principlles.

-insurrection via withdrawal of labour, so the staet withers and dies.

Core beliefs - liberty
how did collectivist anarchists view liberty?

collectivist anarchism views liberty/freedom very much as a communal phenonmon, but there are several collectivist versions of liberty.

similarities and differences on anarcho-collectivist views of liberty
what was the mutualism/proudhon view of liberty? (1)

Proudhons mutulaism argued that humans are capable of rational thought, and have an innate sense of justice. this is however suppressed by the state and religion.

-liberty is a mix of socialism/individualism. socialist aspect sees altruistic society in which individuals unite to form working communities. the individualist aspect saw workers freely enter into contracts for goods.

similarities and differences on anarcho-collectivist views of liberty
what was the mutualism/proudhon view of liberty? (2)

Proudhon added a nationlistic aspect to anarchism as he argued that native citizens should receive preference to foreigners.
-the idea of liberty was also male centric - women described to be inferior to men.

similarities and differences on anarcho-collectivist views of liberty
what was collectivist anarchist/bakunin view of liberty? (1)

-Bakunins collectivist anarchism argued that individuals are all born will equal intelligence and moral thought. however, like proudhon, he argued that individuals are moulded by the enviroment. the state therefore threatens human nature.

-human nature is grounded in communalism. argued that society is the “tree of freedom and liberty is its fruit".society would therefore choose to be collective, as humans who dont will suffer “anomie” - emotional disolocation.

similarities and differences on anarcho-collectivist views of liberty
what was collectivist anarchist/bakunin view of liberty? (2)

Bakunins views on human nature led him to advocate complete collectivisation - a removal of private property.
-effectively socialism without a state.

similarities and differences on anarcho-collectivist views of liberty
what was mutual aid/anarcho communist/kropotkin view of liberty? (1)

like Bakunin, kropotkin argued that human nature is positive and naturally inclined to cooperationa and mutual aid.

-the state should be replaced by an anarcho communist society of voluntary associations.

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-65)
what are the key ideas of proudhon?

Unlike other collectiivsts, Proudhon distinguished between property, which is exploited, and the possessions of ordinary people.

-libertarian socialism. he advocated for contractual system of mutualism which balanced individual liberty with the rights of the commune. he opposed the collectivisation of bakunin.

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-65)
what are proudhons views on how the state should be overthrown?

Unlike other key tthinkers, Proudhon advocated for a peaceful transition to a new society rather than violent revolution.

his mutualist society would also exist in the shell of the old state. new temporary institutions to be established like a peoples bank/federation of communities.

Emma Goldman (1869-1940
what are the key ideas of goldman?

Emma goldman argued that the state is a cold monster which uses militarism/patriotism to control people.

-militarism includes state use of police to oppress those who question the law. soldiers are indoctrinated killers.

-patriotism fuels militarism, which leads to war. this should be replaced by universal brother/sisterhood.

Emma Goldman (1869-1940)
what are hte key ideas on how the state should be overthrown?

-all political participation by the stae is corrupting. soviet communism was therefore “compulsory state communism.”

-lack of liberty exists in western democracies.

-goldman advocated violence / civil disobedeince, along with industrial sabotage and strikes. state cannot be reformed.

Anarchy is Order
what is the idea that ‘anarchy is order’?

all anarchists agree that anarchist soicety shall be stateless (or in proudhons case, existing in the “shell of the state”)

-anarchist society can organise itself in a more orderly and superior way to as state.

Anarchy is Order
how does max stirner view the idea that ‘anarchy is order’

once free of the state, individuals would assert rational individualism. self realisation based on self interest.

Anarchy is Order
how does proudhon view the idea that ‘anarchy is order’

humans have an innate sense of justice and are inclined to cooperate
-mutualism allows individuals top opt out if they wish, however this would be an irregular occurance nad society would order itself through a ‘collective force’

Anarchy is Order
how does Bakunin view the idea that ‘anarchy is order’

humans are naturally social beings, whould would expeirence communal individaulity in a federation of communes that were decentraalised no one had too much power - collectivisation

Anarchy is Order
how does Emma Goldman view the idea that ‘anarchy is order’

Goldman never planned her anarchist soicety, but her ideas were consistent with Kropotkin and proudhon strands of anrcho communism

Anarchy is Order
how does Kropotkin view the idea that ‘anarchy is order’

mutual aid communes would be drawn to each other by similar interests, becoming an “interwoven network, composed of an infinite variety of groups”

economic freedom - collectivist anarchism
how do collectivist anarchists view the economy?

-proudhon argued that “property is theft”
-concept of property is a social construct to exploit the masses
-collective anarchists seek to abolish private property for communal ownership.

economic freedom - collectivist anarchism
how did proudho envison his economy?

mutualism, in which all the means of production are owned colelctivley and economy would be organised within small communities.

economic freedom - collectivist anarchism
how did kropotkin envision the economy?

kropotkin argued for mutual aid, which although subtly different from mutalism, required common ownership and a federation of communities.

economic freedom - collectivist anarchism
how did bakunin envision the economy?

econmic freedom via collecitivsation (which limited individaual freedom too mcuh for proudhon and kropotkin to agree with him)

economic freedom - collectivist anarchism
how did anarcho syndicalism view the economy?

Anaracho syndicalism argues that hte means of production should be controlled by different ‘syndicates’ (trade unions) rather than individuls.

Mikhail Bakunin (1814-76)
what were Bakunins ideas of ‘propoganda by the deed’

-’propoganda by the deed’ would bring revolution. direct action would take the form of general strikes, non payment of taxes an rent, as well as violent acts.

Mikhail Bakunin (1814-76)
what were bakunins ideas of human sociability?

-humans are naturally socialble. society should be abolsiehd and collecttivised communes should be given economic equality

-after man made law is abolished, a concpet of stateless natural law would take over

-system of federalism in which workers and peasants band together

-communes trade with eachother based on labour value fo goods rather than market value.

economic freedom - Individaulist anarchism
what is the individaulist idea of egoism?

Max Stirner’s egoism argues that individauls hold a sovereingty akin to a nation state.

-individuals are materialists who wish to satisfy their needs. they are free from the exploitation of teh state, and can reorganise the economy fairly to fit their self interest.

economic freedom - Individaulist anarchism
what is the individaulist idea of anarcho capitlism?

anarcho capitalism, unlike collectivist anarchism, favours both private property and free market economics to ensure atomistic economic freedom.

businessmen are more competent than teh incompetent state. goods and services, and infastructure would therefore be much better.

what are the substrands of collectivist anarchism?

anarcho communism - kropotkin

mutualism - Proudhon

anarcho syndicalism - Georges Sorel

what are the sub strands of individaulist anarchism?

egoism - max stirner

anarcho capitlism - murray rothbard/david friedman

Collectivist anarchism
what are the key ideas of collectivist anarchism?

comitted to common economic ownership, in which altruistic and cooperative nature of humans are harnessed and repaired after damage by the opressive state.

end ‘surplus value’ capitalism.

free market is associated with capatislim and the opressive state. free market determines the value of labour in form of wages, and fails to recognise the value of individual labour.

Collectivist anarchism - Anarcho Communsim
Kropotkin is the anarcho communist. What were his views on private property?

Kropotkin opposed private property and viewed communism as the most natural form of economic society.
-wealth results from a collective effort.

he said “all belongs to all” and “anarchy leads to communism and communism leads to anarchy”

Collectivist anarchism - Anarcho Communsim
how did anarcho communist Peter kropotkin use sceince to back his points?

Kropotkins anthropoligical expertise informed his ideas.
-he made scientificically driven parellels between teh state and natural world.

he argued against Darwins ‘survival of the fittest’, instead arguing that species thrived when they cooperated, rather than competed.

Collectivist anarchism - Anarcho Communsim
what was kropotkins theory of ‘mutual aid’

Kropotkin dubbed cooperatin ‘mutual aid’ he argued that this form of existance occured both in ancient greece and the city states of medieval europe before capitlism corrupted human nature.

-if both the state and capitlism dissapeared, humans would revert to the natural state of altruistic mutual aid and communal solidarity.

Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921)
what are the key ideas of kropotkin? (1)

-used science to back his points. animals survive when they cooperate - rejected darwininsm

-state was beyond gradual reform - revolution would transform scoiety

-state should be abolished, anarcho communism of voluntary association willl flourish.

Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921)
what are the key ideas of kropotkin? (2)

-law to be replaced with regulated relationships between communes, in whcih customs and agrements ensure harmony.

-means of production collectivley owned. property/wages abolished

-goods and services freely available and based on individaul need.

Collectivist anarchism - Anarcho Communsim
how do anarcho communists/kropotkin view laws and democracy?

unions of communes to form a network of cooperation to replace the state. laws will be abolished in favour of customs and free agreemnts.

direct democracy would produce unanimous decisions, but if it did not and the minoritiy felt oppressed, they would be free to leave and start a new community.

Collectivist anarchism - Anarcho Communsim
what is the anarcho communist/ kropotkin view of goods and services ?

goods and services to be freely avaialble for all. no cumpulsion to work, however mutual aid and feeling of community would make such free riding unlikely.

Collectivist anarchism - Mutualism
what is proudhons theory of mutualism in realtion to kropotkins ideas?

a different form of communist society. like kropotkins anarcho communism of mutual aid, society and teh economy will not be organised by the state but by small communities

-proudhon however distinguished between property, which the state used to exploit others, and possessions, which were not exploitative.

Collectivist anarchism - Mutualism
how does proudhons mutualism work?

goods and service would be exachanged via a voucher system that reflected the value of labour inherent within each product.

-pay is not based on supply and demand. it ias based on a workers contribution.

proudhon wanted a peoples bank to oversee such system. this contractual system would protect an individual liberty the individuals rights would be restricted only so that they dont restrict the rights of the community.

Collectivist anarchism - Mutualism
how did proudhon imagine economy to organise itself in mutualism?

a series of contracts. the economy would be a “brotherhood” of small collective organisations exchanging goods and services, which would eradicate poverty as the system would provide enough for all.

Collectivist anarchism - Mutualism
how did bakunin differ in terms of mutualism?

Bakunin argued that individuals were only free if they lived in groups. however, his vision was more socialist than kropotkin and proudhon, who concieved the economy through collectivistion

Collectivist anarchism - Anarcho-Syndicalism
what is anarcho syndicalism?

revolutionary form of collectivist anarchism which drew upon socialist trade unionism.
-believe in a stateless society based on syndicates (trade unions) that cooperate freely with each other for mutual benefit.

Collectivist anarchism - Anarcho-Syndicalism
who is the important (non key) thiknker for anarcho syndicalism? what were his/her thoughts?

Georges Sorel is the important thinker of anarcho syndacalism. sorel argued that working class solidtarity would find meaningful expression through trade unionism.

advocated direct action, and propoganda by the deed, which would involve non payment of taxes, bills and rents and also violence and spontaneous insurrection via a general strike to triggger social revolution.

Collectivist anarchism - Anarcho-Syndicalism
once the state falls, how would anarcho syndicalism run the economy ?

once capitlism/state is abolished, syndicates will become owners of their particular means of production.
-like anarcho communism, goods and service trade ebtween syndicates would be priced at true labour value, rather than market value.

Individualist anarchism
what does individualist anarchism value?

value negative freedom and individual autonomy.
a more extreme form of classical and neo liberalism.

Individualist anarchism - Egoism
why does Egoism/ Stirner reject the state?

each individual is akin to a sovereign state, possessing an ownness/ autonomy. the state is therefore pointless.

Individualist anarchism - Egoism
why does egoism/stirner reject collectivism?

Stirner feared collectivist anarchism, as he feared ones individualism could be compromised by collective expectations.

Individualist anarchism - Egoism
how do egoists/stirner aim to remove the state?

Stirner rejects the idea that state and soicety would cease to exist via revolutio. he instead proposes spontaneous insurrection as individuals become conscious egoists and remove themselves from the false values of state and soicety.

therefore, the “wheels of the mind” that distoirt reality would turn to see the world as reality.

also argued for propoganda by the deed.

Individualist anarchism - Egoism
why do egoists/ stirner reject capitlism?

stirner rejected conventional capitalism, arguing that work should be useful and fulfilling to the individual and aspects of capitalism such as factory work were akin to slavery.

Individualist anarchism - Egoism
how did stirner/egoism envision society would be ran?

society and the economy should be based on voluntary agreements that are non binding. a union of egoists would form and cooperate only to the extent that is satisfied by their individualism.

Individualist anarchism - Egoism
how did stirner and egoists view cooperation?

Stirner argued that it is logical for conscious egoists to make peaceful contracts.
he argued “they care best for their welfare is they united with other”

altruism therefore only exists if it is in the individuals best interest.

Individualist anarchism - Egoism
how does egoism/stirner view human nature?

humans are selfish, but in appealing to their selfishnesss it would be in everyones interest to avoid conflict.

Individualist anarchism - Anarcho-Capitalism
what is anarcho capitalism? who are associated with these ideas?

Murray Rothbard and David Friedman
-argue for negative freedom and atomistic individualism
-dismantling of the state and tax. the market shall be totally free.

Individualist anarchism - Anarcho-Capitalism
how do anarcho capitalists view the state?

taxation is theft and exploitatitve. it harms poltiical and eocnomic freedom. the fall of the state will bring the fall of tax, creating a totally free market.

Individualist anarchism - Anarcho-Capitalism
how do anarcho capitalists view society should be ran?

Murray Rothbard and David Friedman argued that the persuit of self interest gives capitalism dynamism
-entrepenours are more capable at fulfilling states functions as they are fueled by competittion.

-this will create lower ocsts.

Individualist anarchism - Anarcho-Capitalism
how do anarcho capitalists view human nature?

the unregulated free market is the perfect habitat for the rational self interested individual. society does not need a overarching state, as rational self interested individuals will ensure a “balance of interests” to maintain order.