Are all anarchists are socialists? Flashcards
Intro
Yes:
-Both anarchists and socialists want to replace the state
No:
-However socialists want the state to be replaced by a “dictatorship of the proletariat”. Anarchists do not support this.
-Individualist anarchists (such as Stirner and Thoreau) have less in common with socialists than collectivist anarchists such as Bakunin but differences still remain.
Para 1
(NO)
Socialism is a doctrine of social solidarity whereas anarchists wish to restore individual liberty via the removal of the state. Anarcho-capitalists, such as Rothbard and Friedman have a very different view of capitalism than the fundamentalist socialists.
E.g. Fundamentalist socialists, such as Marx view capitalism as exploitative; capitalism results in a hierarchy, and this inequality is unfair.
E.g. However, anarcho-capitalists see the state as corrupting the free market system of capitalism.
Anarcho collectivists, such as Kropotkin have much more in common with the socialists in their view on society
E.g. Kropotkin argued in “Mutual Aid” (1902) that humans, like in the animal kingdom, would form groups and work together for mutual benefit which is much more similar to the socialist’s view of society
Para 2
(NO)
Unlike socialists, some anarchists have a respect for private property.
E.g. Anarcho-capitalists advocate private property rights, whereas socialists such as Luxemburg advocate the common ownership of the factors of production. Even Proudhon admitted that some people may need “possessions”.
Another difference between socialists and anarchists is their views on human nature - this is effectively why Bakunin fell out with the Marxist brigade.
E.g. Even collectivists, such as Bakunin argued that the “dictatorship of the proletariat” would lead to a “red bureaucracy” that would become oppressive. Anarchists saw no need for this centralised power, even though Marx claimed the state would “wither away and die”
Although anarchists and socialists both advocate the establishment of small communes, anarchists argue that these must be voluntary for them to work - socialists think they should be organised by a centralised power
Para 3
Yes, although these differences do exist, there are many similarities between anarchists and socialists. Some strands of socialism have lots in common with some strands of anarchism.
E.g. Both Giddens and Rothbard believed that their ideas could suffice under capitalism, however for Rothbard, capitalism was part of his ideology but Giddens believed that people would eventually reject it.
Yes, both collectivist anarchists and socialists have a positive view of human nature - that it is naturally altruistic and cooperative.
E.g. Kropotkin urged people to “Practise mutual aid! That is the surest means for giving to each and to all the greatest safety”
Yes, on the economy, socialists and anarchists also have similarities. Apart from anarcho-capitalists, anarchists advocate the exchange of goods based on the value of labour that has been put into them.
E.g. Proudhon developed an economic system, where tokens would be granted based on the amount of labour one completes, goods can then be bought with these tokens. Later anarchists such as Kropotkin slightly adapted this, but had similar ideas.
(Socialists would agree with this kind of system, because both anarchists and socialists believe that the capitalist system is corrupting and exploitative)
Para 4
Yes, anarchists (with the exception of a few such as Proudhon) agreed with the fundamentalist socialists in that the state needed to be overthrown by revolution. E.g. Anarcho-syndicalism is most associated with direct action and insurrection because of its emphasis on trade unionism. Marx envisioned that the ruling class would “tremble at a communistic revolution”. (The main difference lies within what the state should be replaced with once overthrown)