1 Anarchism: core ideas and principles Flashcards
KEY TERMINOLOGY - rejection of the state
the state is immoral as it rules by
physical coercion and deceit, unjust in its defence of economic
inequality and must be rejected due to its impact on human
nature − to cover the arguments against the state, power and
political participation and how the state can be overthrown
KEY TERMINOLOGY - liberty
is incompatible with any form of political authority in
the state, society or the economy and is critical to human
nature – to cover the differing views of liberty and human
nature within anarchism
KEY TERMINOLOGY - anarchy is order
to cover how social order occurs naturally
and spontaneously, emerging from human nature, and is the
key to the belief in a peaceful, stable, stateless society
KEY TERMINOLOGY - economic freedom
the economy should be a space where free
individuals can manage their own affairs without state
ownership or regulation – to cover the different criticisms of
existing economic systems and different ways economic
freedom can be achieved
KEY TERMINOLOGY - utopian
to cover the operation and benefits of an idealised
society in order to develop a critique of existing society and the
criticisms levelled against anarchism as unachievable and
unrealistic.
KEY TERMINOLOGY - Power
The means or instruments – such as the law, the police and the use of
ideology – by which the state and other social institutions secure their authority.
KEY TERMINOLOGY - Authority
the idea that people in higher positions in society
are best able to make decisions on behalf of other people or society as a whole; authority comes naturally from above and rests on an accepted obligation from below to obey.
KEY TERMINOLOGY - Government
A system of rule, from monarchism to dictatorship to liberal democracy, where a group of representatives run a country on behalf of its citizens.
KEY TERMINOLOGY - State
A sovereign body that exerts total authority over all individuals and groups living within its defined geographical limits.
KEY TERMINOLOGY - Altruism
Concern for the interest and welfare of others based on a belief that humans are social beings with a capacity for social solidarity.
KEY TERMINOLOGY - Autonomy
A form of self-government involving a combination of freedom and
responsibility, in which the individual is not subject to the will of the state or any other person.
KEY TERMINOLOGY - Direct Action
A range of political actions, both non-violent and violent, that are
taken outside the legal and constitutional framework.
