Anarchism: New Flashcards:
Key word:
What does the state mean
The authority that is set up via a series of institutions such as the executive, legislative and judiciary to make laws and enforce order.
How do anarchists view the state (brief)
Anarchist argue that the state uses its powers to to deny individuals their liberty
How do anarchists view power (brief)
Anarchists argue that the exercise of power by one person is unacceptable
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What does power mean
The state uses its position to exploit people and this should be resisted
Anarchists believe people should be free to exercise power over themselves
How do anarchists view authority (brief)
Anarchists view the authority exercised as manipulative as individuals should be free to exercise authority over themselves
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What does authority mean
Authority is the right to exercise the power granted to the state and government and carry outs its duties.
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What does government mean
The name of the body that controls the state.
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What does dictatorship mean
A form of government who hold governmental powers with few to no limitations.
How do anarchists view government (brief)
Anarchists view all forms of government as corrupt, and believe that governing corrupts those who govern
Government denies individual autonomy
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What does individual autonomy mean
The capacity to be one’s own person.
(Think for themselves, do things for themselves, have no restrictions)
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What does autonomy mean
Represents the absence of artificial external constraints (government) though not the absence of internal restraints (moral code)
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How do anarchists view autonomy (brief)
All anarchists believe that humankind should be able to exercise autonomy
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What does nihilistic mean
Rejecting all religious and moral rules in the belief that life is meaningless
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What does propaganda by deed mean
A tactic advocated by most radical and revolutionary anarchists.
When they challenge the state via general strikes or violent acts of protest, the state will show its true nature by forceful oppression.
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What does insurrection mean
A violent uprising against an authority or government.
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What does direct action mean?
The use of strikes, violence, or protests as a way of trying to get what you want, instead of talking
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What does altruistic mean?
Focused on part of human nature that leads people to care for others and act in their interests.
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What does anomie mean?
If isolated from society, humans will feel intense loneliness and experience feelings of emotional disassociation (detaching from one’s thoughts, emotions or surroundings).
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What does collectivisation mean?
The organisation of peasants into large production units where there is no private property.
Individuals produce goods collectively and equally share the rewards of their labour.
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What does mutual aid mean?
The idea that communities should cooperate with each other largely in terms of trade, on mutually beneficial terms rather than through a free-market mechanism (so it benefits both parties) - leads to equal amounts of power
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What does free-market mechanism mean?
An economic systems where prices for goods and services are determined by supply and demand (how much they are needed by how much they have) without significant government intervention.
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What does direct democracy mean?
A system of government where the people make decisions for themselves e.g. referendums
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What does mutualism mean? (use anarchist)
Associated with Proudhon - the concept of an independent association of workers cooperating and trading with each other on mutually beneficial terms (so it benefits both parties).
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What does syndicalism mean?
A revolutionary version of trade unionism that proposes a stateless society where workers are grouped into syndicates (organisations) based on industrial occupation which cooperate freely with each other for mutual benefit (so it benefits both parties)
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What is trade unionism mean?
Trade unionism refers to the association of workers in a particular trade, industry, or company
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What does utopianism mean?
An idealised and perfect society that people will inhabit in the future.
Utopianism can also be used in a critical sense to refer to something as being impractical and not rational
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What is natural law?
A system of right or justice held to be common to all humans and comes from nature rather than from the rules of society e.g. circle of life.
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What is federalism?
A system of national government in which power is divided between a central authority and a number of regions with self-governing authority.
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What are collectivist anarchists mean and what do they believe?
Meaning: Advocates for a stateless society with collective ownership and democratic control of production, rejecting both the state and private property.
Beliefs: It emphasises mutual aid and solidarity, aiming for a classless society achieved through direct action and revolutionary change.
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What does individualist anarchist mean and what do they believe?
Meaning: Advocates for the abolition of the state and social hierarchies, emphasizing personal freedom, autonomy, and voluntary association.
Beliefs: Believes individual self-reliance, freedom of choice, and the rejection of external authority, promoting a society where individuals freely cooperate without coercion or control.
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What does anarcho-communism mean and what do they believe?
Meaning: Calls for the abolition of the state, capitalism, and private property ,a classless/stateless society based on communal ownership of resources.
Beliefs: It emphasises collective decision-making, shared resources, and voluntary cooperation through a decentralized, stateless society.
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What does mutualist mean and what do they believe?
Meaning: Advocates for a society based on mutual aid, voluntary cooperation where individuals and communities freely trade without state or capitalist control.
Beliefs: Advocate to abolish capitalist private property, supporting possession-based property, and aim for a decentralised economy with equal access to resources through mutual cooperation.
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What does anarcho-syndicalism mean and what do they believe?
Meaning: Focuses on workers’ self-management through direct action and revolutionary trade unions (syndicates) to dismantle capitalism and the state.
Beliefs: Advocate for workers organizing into unions to manage production, abolish capitalism and have stateless society based on mutual aid and solidarity.
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What does egoism mean and what do they believe?
Meaning: The belief that individuals should act based on their own self-interest, rejecting external moral or social obligations.
Beliefs: Prioritise personal autonomy and freedom, advocating for a society where individuals pursue their desires freely, without conforming to imposed laws or moral systems.
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What does anarcho-capitalist mean and what do they believe?
Meaning: Advocates for a stateless society where private property and free markets operate without government intervention.
Beliefs: Believe in private, competitive markets for all goods and services arguing that a free-market economy based on property rights is the most just and efficient system.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of collectivist anarchism e.g. abolition of the state (use key thinker)
Bakunin believed the state was a tool of oppression that created inequality and served the ruling class.
He argued that abolishing the state was necessary for true freedom and equality.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of collectivist anarchism e.g. collective ownership of means of production (use key thinker)
Bakunin’s collectivism calls for workers and communities to collectively own and manage production, replacing both state and capitalist control with democratic, cooperative structures.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of collectivist anarchism e.g. worker’s self-management (use key thinker)
Bakunin advocated for workers to own and democratically manage their workplaces, replacing hierarchies and giving them control over their labour and conditions.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of collectivist anarchism e.g. direct action (use key thinker)
Bakunin believed the overthrow of the state and capitalism required revolutionary action e.g. strikes.
He rejected gradual reform and electoral politics in favour of an immediate, radical transformation led by the working class.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of collectivist anarchism e.g. decentralisation (use key thinker)
Bakunin supported collective ownership and a system of self-managed communes, linked by voluntary federation to share resources and decisions while keeping their independence.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of anarcho-communism (use key thinkers) e.g. abolition of the state
Kropotkin: Believed the state was an oppressive tool that enforced class divisions and protected the ruling class, and must be abolished for true freedom.
Goldman: Advocated for the abolition of the state, seeing it as a means of control and repression that allows inequality.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of anarcho-communism e.g. collective ownership (use key thinkers)
Kropotkin: Advocated for the collective ownership of production, rejecting capitalism and private property in favour of resources being managed and shared by communities through cooperation.
Goldman: Supported the collective control of resources and labour, believing capitalism exploited workers and led to inequality, and she backed communal living and cooperative efforts.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of anarcho-communism e.g. classless society (use key thinkers)
Kropotkin: Advocated for a classless society based on mutual aid and cooperation, where wealth is shared and there is no ruling class.
Goldman: Supported a classless society where the working class is free from exploitation, believing that equality would lead to greater freedom for all.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of anarcho-communism e.g. direct democracy and voluntary cooperation (use key thinkers)
Kropotkin: Supported direct democracy through local councils with decisions made collectively and guided by mutual aid.
Goldman: Advocated for direct democracy through face-to-face meetings - emphasising voluntary cooperation, mutual aid, and personal autonomy.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of anarcho-communism e.g. distribution based on need (use key thinkers)
Kropotkin: Supported distributing goods based on need, not profit, to eliminate exploitation and ensure everyone has what they need to live well.
Goldman: Believed in distribution based on need, opposing profit-driven capitalism, and saw mutual aid as a way to meet needs and promote solidarity, valuing people for their humanity.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of mutualism e.g. mutual exchange (use key thinker)
Proudhon supported a system where people and communities exchange goods and services for mutual benefit, without seeking profit.
This would replace capitalism, where one party often exploits the other for money.
Features of anarchism:
What are the key features of mutualism e.g. worker control (use key thinker)
Proudhon believed workers should directly manage production. In a mutualist society, they would collectively own and run businesses.
This ensures they benefit from their labour instead of capitalists or the state.