Anarchism is a political philosophy that advocates complete freedom from the state and social hierarchy. Anarchists desire a society organized around voluntary and non-hierarchical lines, drawing ideas of legality and economics from anti-authoritarian interpretations of communism, collectivism, syndicalism, mutualism, and participatory economics.
History
Main Article: History of Anarchism
Key Concepts
Anarchy
The word "anarchy" is from the Greek, prefix an (or a), meaning "not," "the want of," "the absence of," or "the lack of", plus archos, meaning "a ruler," "director", "chief," "person in charge," or "authority".
Anarchy refers to a society, entity, group of people, or a single person that rejects hierarchy.
Anarchist theories have a fundamental critique of government, a vision of a society without government, and a proposed method of reaching such a society. The details of the political, economic, and social organization of an anarchist society vary among different branches of anarchist political thought, as do the proposed means to achieve a society organized along those lines. However, there are certain principles shared by all anarchists, most notably the basic principle of non-hierarchy (in an anarchist society there cannot be any kind of social hierarchy) and its derivatives, such as the principle of equal decision-making power (all people must have equal decision-making power in an anarchist society; if some have more power than others, then a hierarchy is formed).
Anarchy is the state of having no government. It is distinguished in political science from anarchism, the belief that anarchy, defined by them as the absence of major hierarchies such as class and the state, with power flowing from the bottom up, is the best possible system for humanity to live under. This causes confusion when self-declared anarchists protest against government cuts in public spending. Surely, as believers in the absense of the state, they'd be campaigning for government cuts in public spending. Another ideology exists, called 'anarcho-capitalism', however, some more left-leaning anarchists would consider this an oxymoron.
Many political philosophers consider anarchy the original "base state" of humanity. Some then go on to say that we are much better without it.[1] Others consider the natural state to be great but impossible to return to.[2]
Anarchy is also the word used to describe a state of chaos, lawlessness and disorder, frequently seemingly brought about by the lack of government. However it is important, or at least useful, to decide at any particular time which definition is being used. Otherwise all discussion and dialogue will descend into ... anarchy. Anarchists are generally careful to note that, "No rulers does not mean no rules," as 'no ruler' is the origin of the word 'anarchy'. Subsequently, many people believe that anarchy is just the removal of the current government, and not absence of all law.
Direct Action
Direct Action refers to actions and forms of organising that are unmediated by authority.
Mutual Aid
Mutual Aid refers to the voluntary cooperation and giving of resources to others without an expectation of a reward.
Tendencies
- Anarcha-Feminism
- Anarchism Without Adjectives
- Anarcho-Pacifism
- Anarcho-Transhumanism
- Anationalism
- Crypto-Anarchism
- Epistemological Anarchism
- Green/Eco-Anarchism
- Individualist Anarchism*
- Insurrectionary Anarchism
- Mystical Anarchism
- Onthological Anarchism
- Panarchism
- Platformism
- Post-Anarchism
- Post-Colonial Anarchism
- Post-Left Anarchism
- Queer Anarchism
- Religious Anarchism
- Social Anarchism
*An additional subdivision within individualist anarchism may be the difference between its early American and European branches. Most American individualist anarchists advocated for mutualism, while European individualist anarchists were pluralists who advocated for anarchism without adjectives and synthesis anarchism, ranging from anarcho-communist to mutualist economic types.
Internal Debates and Issues
Anarchism is NOT a unified movement, and perspectives within anarchism can be so conflicting that is often leads to heated arguments and occasionally violence.