A.1 What is Anarchism?

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 01:59:15 +0100

Anarchism is a political theory which aims to create anarchy, “the absence of a master/sovereign”, to create a society within which individuals co-operate freely as equals. Anarchism opposes all forms of hierarchical control (state/capitalist) as harmful for the individual and as unnecessary.

Anarchism is a much more subtle and nuanced tradition than simple opposition against government power, despite popular thought. Anarchists oppose the idea that power and domination are necessary for society, and instead advocate more co-operative, anti-hierarchical forms of social, political and economic organization.

Popular thought has it that anarchists want to create social chaos and return to the “law of the jungle”. This process of misrepresentation is not without historical parallel. Monarchists have used words as “republic” and “democracy” to imply disorder and confusion. People with interests in keeping the status quo wish to imply that only the current system works, and that any other way of organizing society will lead to chaos. Because of the idea that government is necessary in society, anarchy inevitably means chaos.

Anarchists seek to change this popular idea about anarchism, so people will see government and other hierarchical social relationships are harmful and unnecessary. They want anarchy for everyone to mean: complete freedom within complete solidarity.

This FAQ is part of the process of changing popular ideas about anarchism/anarchy. Besides that, it also wants to combat distortions made by the political and social anomies of anarchism. As the enemy of all bigots, oppressors, exploiters etc., we are also the most hated and persecuted of all. When you finish reading AFAQ, you’ll probably understand why the people in power spent much time attacking anarchism, the only idea that ensues liberty for all without someone having power over the masses.

You can read the full answer to the question here.

Section A - What is Anarchism? (Introduction)

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:47:00 +0100

Modern society faces three potential catastrophic crises:

1) social breakdown: greater poverty, violence & all sorts of abuse, and deterioration of community structures of self-help and mutual aid

2) destruction of the planet’s ecosystems

3) proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

Conventional thinking regards these issues as separable, each with its own causes and thus in need of a separate policy. These separate approaches clearly aren’t working and if we don’t take another route soon, we might be heading for disaster.

Anarchism traces these problems to a coherent cause: hierarchal authority, which underlies the major institutions of all “civilized” societies, whether capitalist or “communist”. Anarchist analysis starts from the fact that all of our major institutions are in the form of hierarchies, and shows how the authoritarian relations inherent to such hierarchies negatively affect individuals, their society, and culture. In sections A to E, AFAQ examines these negative effects in greater detail.

Besides a critique of modern society, anarchism is also a proposal for a free society. The question hereby is how to be one’s self in oneness with the others; realising the greatest potential for each individual, but not at the expense of others. A society in which the affairs of humanity will be managed by individuals or voluntary associations. In Sections I and J, AFAQ will examine the proposals anarchism makes on how to organize this society (although some of the core of these proposals will be seen even in earlier sections). This “positive core” can even be seen as a critique on other solutions to the social question, such as Marxism and right-wing “libertarianism”.

Due to their desire to maximise individual and therefore social freedom, anarchists seek to abolish institutions, whose repressive nature stems directly from their hierarchical form.

Anarchism is a socio-economic and political theory, but not an ideology. The difference is very important. Theory means you have ideas, ideology means ideas have you. Anarchism is a body of ideas, flexible and constantly adapting to the evolving society. An ideology, in contrast, is a set of “fixed” ideas, which people believe dogmatically, usually reality ignoring. Such fixed ideas are authoritarian and the source of contradiction, in an attempt to make everyone follow the doctrine, and usually serving the interest of some ruling elite. This goes for any ideology, be it Leninism, Objectivism or “Libertarianism”. Ideology provides us with a set of rules and answers, which relieve us from the burden of thinking for ourselves.

Therefore, AFAQ is not a set of “correct” answers, or a new rulebook. It’s not the final word on anarchism. Many anarchists will disagree with much that is written here, but this is to be expected when people think for themselves. All the writers wish to do is indicate the basic ideas of anarchism and give their analysis of certain topics based on how they understand and apply these ideas. They are sure, however, that all anarchists will agree with the core ideas they present, even if they may disagree with their application of them here and there.

You can read the full introduction here.

Although I agree with the core on “ideology”, I do believe many “followers” of such an ideology can, and will, think for themselves. Many issues regarding the modern world are not treated in dogmatic precepts, but the communists and such I debated with, could adept their theories to the current society.

An Anarchist FAQ

A.1 What is Anarchism?

Section A - What is Anarchism? (Introduction)