Anarchism

Question 1

Who are the 5 Anarchist key thinkers?

Answer 1

• Max Stirner
• Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
• Mikhail Bakunin
• Peter Kropotkin
• Emma Goldman

Question 2

Power

Answer 2

From the anarchist pov, power is 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.

Question 3

Authority

Answer 3

From the anarchist pov, authority is the right of one person or institution to influence the behaviour of others and is seen as commanding, controlling and corrupting.

Question 4

Government

Answer 4

From an anarchist pov, government is a particular system of rule, from monarchism to dictatorship to liberal democracy, based on deceit and violence.

Question 5

State

Answer 5

From an anarchist Pov, the state is seen as a sovereign body that exerts total authority over all individuals and groups living within its defined geographical limits.

Question 6

Altruism

Answer 6

Concern for the interest and welfare of others based on rational self-interest or a belief that humans are social beings with a capacity for social solidarity.

Question 7

Autonomy

Answer 7

A form of self-government or legislation, a combination of freedom and responsibility, in which the individual is not subject to the will of the state or any other person.

Question 8

Direct Action

Answer 8

A whole range of political actions from non-violent to violent actions taken outside the legal and constitutional framework.

Question 9

Syndicalism

Answer 9

Revolutionary trade unionism that used direct action and the mass strike as an expression of working class power to inspire popular revolt.

Question 10

Direct democracy

Answer 10

From an anarchist Pov, citizens making law and policy decisions in person rather than through elected representatives in a form of popular, self-government.

Question 11

Solidarity

Answer 11

From an anarchist Pov, a relationship with sympathy, co-operation and harmony between people, which means that they have no need to be regulated by the state and any regulation makes solidarity impossible.

Question 12

Mutualism

Answer 12

A system of equitable exchange between self-governing producers, organised individually or in association and small scale private property based on use or possession.

Question 13

Collectivisation

Answer 13

The abolition of private property and its replacement by as system of common ownership.

Question 14

Mutual Aid

Answer 14

The most successful species are those that employ solidarity and co-operation rather than individualistic competition.

Question 15

Insurrection

Answer 15

It is not synonymous with evolution but is rather egoistic, not a political or social act, that allows individuals to elevate themselves above the established institutions, leaving the establishment to decay and die.

Question 16

What is anarchist’s criticism of the state?

Answer 16

Democratic states offer only an illusion of freedom; the people are not sovereign as political sovereignty lies with the ruling elite.

Question 17

What did Bakunin say about the state?

Answer 17

That the state enslaves the governed and ‘every command slaps liberty in the face’.

Question 18

What did Stirner say about the state?

Answer 18

‘We two, the state and I, are enemies’

Question 19

Why do anarchists reject authority?

Answer 19

It is an offence against the principles of freedom and equality.
Authority is based on political inequality and the alleged right of one person to influence the behaviour of others.
It therefore corrupts both those who are subject to authority and those in authority.

Question 20

Why have anarchists adopted direct action as a political tactic?

Answer 20

They reject party politics and refuse to work within hierarchical bureaucratic institutions.

Question 21

What is the anarchist view of human nature?

Answer 21

Complex - rival potentialities reside in the human soul.
The human ‘core’ is morally and intellectually enlightened, there’s is also a capacity for corruption in every individual.

Question 22

What effect does the state have on human nature?

Answer 22

Humans can either be ‘good’ or ‘evil’ depending on the political and social circumstances in which they live.
People who would naturally be sympathetic and co-operative will become oppressive tyrants when raised above others by power or wealth.

Question 23

According to William Godwin, why is the state unnecessary?

Answer 23

Humans are rational creatures and so have a natural propensity to organise their own lives in a harmonious and peaceful fashion.

Question 24

What 2 things did Proudhon say about property?

Answer 24

‘Property is theft’
‘Property is freedom’

Question 25

How do collectivists view private property and the market?

Answer 25

- the entire concept of private property is a social construct to exploit the masses - seek to abolish it for communal ownership - communal ownership would allow economic freedom to flourish as goods and labour would be priced at their true labour value not their market value

Question 26

What was individualists view on private property and the market?

Answer 26

- individuals are materialists who wish to satisfy their needs - without the state individuals will reorganise the economy fairly in their self-interest - anarchist-capitalists favour private property and the free market as they believe it will ensure atomistic economic freedom

Question 27

What is anarcho-communism?

Answer 27

- A belief that social solidarity leads in the direction of collectivism and full communism - Sociable and gregarious humans should lead a shared and communal existence - People work in common with fellow humans so the wealth they produce should be owned in common by the community

Question 28

What is anarcho-syndicalism?

Answer 28

A revolutionary form of anarchism that drew upon the trade unionism found in socialism. Believe in a stateless society based on syndicates (trade unions) that cooperate freely with each other for mutual benefit.

Question 29

What was Bakunin’s ‘propaganda by deed’?

Answer 29

Direct action taking form of general strikes, not paying taxes/rent and violent acts.

Question 30

What is the main aim of anarcho-capitalism?

Answer 30

To dismantle the state and with it the exploitative use of taxation. They view the world purely in free market terms and argue that competition and pursuit of individual self-interest gives capitalism its dynamism.

Question 31

What is Stirner’s view of egoism?

Answer 31

A philosophy that places the individual at the centre of the moral universe. The individual should simply act as they choose, without any consideration for laws, social convention, and religious or moral principles.

Question 32

What was Stirner’s idea of insurrection?

Answer 32

Insurrection via withdrawal of labour, so that the state would wither and die.

Question 33

What was Stirner’s view of capitalism?

Answer 33

Rejected conventional capitalism - argued that work should be useful and fulfilling and that aspects of capitalism (e.g. factory system) were akin to slavery. Society and the economy should be formed on voluntary agreements that are non-binding.

Question 34

What was Stirner’s view of human nature?

Answer 34

Individuals are driven to obtain possessions and property.

Question 35

Why would Stirner’s union of egoists produce harmony?

Answer 35

The union of egoists would organise their atomistic society in such a way that everyone had enough and poverty would be eradicated. This would be done by conscious egoist bargaining not collective bargaining.

Question 36

Why did Stirner reject altruism?

Answer 36

Individuals are selfish