Ideologies: Anarchism Flashcards
Origins of anarchism: philosophical anarchism
-Rousseau + Godwin were critical of existing power and authority—} R suggested that mankind is ‘born free but is everywhere in chains’
-links with liberal ideas in the Enlightenment era as they believed in natural rights + had an optimistic view of human nature (Godwin argued that every individual could achieve moral perfection)
Origins of anarchism: anarcho-communism
-communism emerged in the 19th century
-Marxists + anarcho-communists(ACs) both wanted a stateless, self governing communist society
-ACs wanted immediate abolition of the state as opposed to Marxists who imagined a workers’ state replacing capitalism in the short term
Origins of anarchism: Collectivist anarchism
-reaction to industrial development and the plight of the working class; links with socialism and known as ‘socialism without a state’
-Bakunin is a key figure in this movement
Origins of anarchism: Individualist anarchism
-Thoreau(1800s) represented American individualist anarchism—} encouraged people to withdraw from the state + be self supporting
-European thinkers i.e Stirner urged people to revolt against + attempt to destroy the state
Key thinker: Max Stirner(1806-56)
-wrote ‘The Ego and His Own’ where he developed the idea of egoism - thought that the key to understanding people’s actions was recognising that everyone behaves in a self interested way, even when doing ‘altruistic’ actions: “I am everything to myself and I do everything on my account” (pessimistic view of human nature)
-urged others to “..make yourselves the central point and the main thing altogether”
-described anything that threatened a person’s ability of pursuing self-interest i.e religion or ideology as a ‘spook’(illusion that appears to promote individual liberty but actually suppresses it)
-egoists would form ‘unions of egoism’ that would replace the state: groups of people co-operating with each other to maximise self-interest
-saw violence/revolution as an acceptable means to bring down the state + influenced later philosophers i.e George Sorel, who believed in outraging public morality as a step to achieving liberty of the mind
Key thinker: Peter Kropotkin(1842-1921)
-challenged social Darwinism(idea of survival of the fittest in capitalism, so inequality was natural) as he believed in co-operation + mutual aid rather than competition
-wrote that “survival of the fittest is not the survival of the individual , but of the group..” in ‘Mutual Aid: a Factor of Evolution’ (optimistic view of human nature)
-promoted natural communities where people would be free to join any group they wished–} less scarcity = less competition + less inequality
-in an ideal society everyone shares the same sense of justice + natural law, so no need for enforcement of law
-saw violence/revolution as okay if necessary to overthrow the state: “a frightful storm is needed to sweep away all this rottenness”
Key thinker: Mikhail Bakunin
-close ideas with Marxism i.e saw capitalism and private property as oppressive and wanted abolition of capitalism BUT workers’ state as he saw this as temporary
-influenced by Paris Commune in 1871 that revolted against French state and replaced it with a commune that promoted idea of direct democracy + economic equality–} Bakunin described it as an example of ‘propaganda by deed’ (example for others to follow)
-believed in revolution to overthrow state: “we must not teach the people but lead them to revolt”
-wrote in his book ‘God and the State’ that freedom is achieved when a person DECIDES to obey the laws of nature* freely rather than forced
*empathy for each other, equality and respect for one another’s freedom
-had a vision of federalism (naturally forming voluntary communities with common ownership of property + equal distribution of rewards)–} replace capitalist market system with free negotiation and trade based on true value of goods + service
Key thinker: Proudhon(1809-65)
-claimed that “property is nothing but theft” in his 1840 book ‘What is Property?’
-opposed property that was used to oppress workers/promote inequality
-accepted that workers needed to manage their own production with ‘possessions’ but disagreed with large amounts of property that couldn’t have been acquired by honest means
-saw govt as a symbol of restriction: “to be spied on, watched over, inspected, controlled..”
-seen as a bridge between anarchism + socialism (‘libertarian socialist’): agreed that means of production should be under common ownership + wanted abolition of capitalism but also wanted abolition of any govt as it would be oppressive(wanted co-operative communities of workers)
-supported a ‘people’s bank’ in federalist communes(collectivist idea) but also supported individualist idea of mutual contracts to exchange labour + goods: “a man bargains with the aim of securing his liberty and his revenue at the same time”
-opposed violence(revolution should be evolutionary)
-aspects of his mutualism can be seen in the commune movement of the 60s and 70s as well as ‘fair trade’ movement(producers in developing countries receive the just reward for their goods)
Key thinker: Emma Goldman
-involved in a number of social causes i.e emancipation of women, tolerance of homosexuality
-often seen as first anarcho-feminist: “I see no physical, psychological nor mental reasons why woman should not have the equal right to vote with man”
-involved in funding anarchist communes during Spanish civil war in 1930s
-promoted ‘propaganda of deed’(best way to sell anarchism was to engage in acts of violence against the state)
-saw capitalism as exploitative + saw revolution as necessary and justifiable (preached that assassination was a valid tactic)
-wrote in ‘Living My Life’(1931) that no good can come from state or capitalism and they are both used to keep workers weak + oppressive
-promoted individual liberty + raged against anything that limited it(including Marxism, religion etc)
Anarchism’s view on human nature: egotistical
-Stirner suggested that to be true to themselves, people should pursue the aim of acquiring all they want (didn’t think it would lead to selfish behaviour where they refuse to help others)
-envisaged ‘unions of egoism’
Anarchism’s view of human nature: the blank slate
-Bakunin took the view that the only impulse we have when born is towards moral justice
-we understand the difference between good + evil but nothing compels us to act in a particular way(depends on our experience of life)
Anarchism’s view of human nature: positive view of human nature
-Godwin was an advocate of the idea that people are capable of moral perfection(aligns with liberal idea that people are naturally good when born)
-each individual is sovereign + entitled to their own liberty away from laws restricting them
-Kropotkin suggested that mankind was naturally sociable + would find freedom within voluntary social groups—} when asked ‘are bees in a hive free’ he answered yes because they choose to live as part of a collective
Anarchist view of the state: unnecessary
-argued by anarcho-communists and some philosophical anarchists i.e Godwin
-Kropotkin argued that small communes were the best form of voluntary associations of one kind to replace the state whereas Bakunin preferred idea of large workers’ federations
-preserves individual liberty as people had freely chosen to live as a collective
Anarchist view of the state: evil
-Bakunin thought the state was evil, corrupting + oppressive so they should be destroyed
-in ‘God and the State’(1970), he wrote that even the most moral + upright man couldn’t escape the corrupting influence of the state
-Proudhon criticised how the state restricts + limits the individual
-suggests that all states are led by people without the skills/morals needed to govern well
Anarchist view of the state: rejection of govt by consent
-argue that individuals are sovereign + would never freely surrender any of their power
-states erode people’s rights and nobody would consent to such a situation
-when one generation allows for the existence of a state, they set a precedent which tends to be followed unthinkingly by future generations—} leads to be people stopping questioning the legitimacy of the state
Anarchist view of the state: rejection of representative democracy
-democracies divide people into artificially constructed nations with no natural loyalties as opposed to natural, self governing communities
-allow for tyranny of the majority (minority view constrained)
-democracies promote + defend capitalism which oppresses workers and worsens inequality
-wary of welfare states as they may lead to inflicted bureaucracies + infringe on individual freedom by requiring citizens to be registered + share personal info with state(should be replaced with mutual aid)
Anarchist view of the state: rejection of direct democracy
-Anarchists accepted Rousseau’s view that people would tend to vote out of other self-interest rather than for collective interests of community
-inspired Kropotkin’s support of small, independent self governing communities in which all individuals understood what would be the interests of all
Anarchist view of the state: rejection of the socialist state
-argue that the govt officials who run the machinery of the state become the elite within socialist states + are corrupted in which they work
-individual anarchists feel that socialists states undermine individual responsibility by allowing people to rely on state aid when they should be falling back on their own resources
-collectivist anarchists object to socialist states as they undermine local communities + the mutual aid they provide
Anarchist view of the state: rejection of organised religion
-most typical view is that organised religion is an unnecessary source of authority in society
-see it as constructed by mankind as a way of controlling the masses—} religious officials encouraged the poor to put up with terrible living conditions by promising a comfortable afterlife
-Bakunin wrote in God and the State: “if God really existed, it would be necessary to abolish him”
Anarchist view of society: order
-most anarchists want social order as it promotes freedom + security
-see private property as threat to social order as it promotes inequality—} promote common ownership of property + equal distribution
-individualist anarchists hope order will allow free individuals to co-operate in a mutually beneficial way
-order must emerge naturally: Bakunin thought in large-scale communities whereas Kropotkin stressed need for smaller-scale communities
-anarcho-capitalists i.e Rothbard and Friedman proposed that capitalism could operate in an ordered way without regulation from the state
Anarchist view of society: utopianism
-possible to create a society in which social harmony reigns + there is no conflicts
-anarcho-communists + collectivist anarchists propose new social system to replace capitalism + state (based on mutual aid, common ownership of property + economic equality)
-individualist anarchists want abolition of the state and all formal forms of
organisation
-anarcho-capitalists want abolition of the state but maintenance of capitalism + private property—} everyone will receive what they are entitled to as long is it is honestly obtained by their labour
Are anarchists utopian?
Yes :
Yes
-collectivist anarchists have an over-optimistic view of human nature
-anarchists don’t generally explain how to create the societies they want or give specific ideas about how these societies will operate
-has never been a successful, established anarchist society
No :
-individualist anarchists have a realistic view of human nature
-people only think anarchism is unobtainable because they are conditioned to believe a state is essential to the smooth functioning of society
-anarchism is based on an evaluation of the problems of modern states, including the failures of democracy and the corrupting nature of power
Anarchist view of the economy: collectivism + economic freedom
-collectivist anarchists want to see labour being paid at its true value and goods exchanged according to how much work goes into making them instead of market value
-Proudhon suggested mutualism + a voucher system to indicate the ‘real’ value of goods
-also suggested national bank to provide interest-free loans to peasants + workers
-influenced Kropotkin who believed in cooperation + communal living to avoid competition for resources
Anarchist view of the economy: individualist anarchism
-Goldman campaigned for abolition of capitalism as nobody could be free within it
-Thoreau and Warren(19th century thinkers in the US) thought that people should obtain their freedom from both the state + economic system—} Warren created system where goods could be sold at a price that reflected amount of labour that had gone into it(unsuccessful)
Anarchist view of the economy: anarcho-capitalism
-Rothman + Friedman argued for a world in which free market capitalism can flourish without any regulation by the state
-believe that economic freedom can exist only in the context of free competition
-see inequality as natural + think human beings should be entitled to retain anything they earn from their own labour
“capitalism is the fullest expression of anarchism.. you can’t have one without the other”(Rothbard)
Is anarchism socialism without a state?
Yes :
-collectivist anarchism + socialism are both highly critical of capitalism + seek its abolition
-collectivist anarchists + socialists share a positive view of human nature(caring and co-operative)
-collectivist anarchists + socialists propose economic equality + common ownership of property
No :
-key aim for socialists is the creation
of equality in society whereas anarchists are more concerned with ensuring the individual has the max possible freedom
-individualist anarchists are supportive of capitalism and believe in the importance of private property
-some individualist anarchists encourage people to withdraw from society and achieve self-reliance but socialists, prefer a wider community which is crucial to human flourishing
Anarchism in action: Animal Liberation Front
-is a non-hierarchical group using direct action to oppose animal cruelty.
-targets industries like butchery, fur trade, and animal testing.
-the group promotes non-violence, though some activists have engaged in violent acts i.e Donald Currie who was convicted for placing bombs outside the homes of those linked to animal testing organisation
Anarchism in action: Empty Cages collective
-informal group that opposes prison expansion and the detention of migrants. It organises protests and direct actions, such as blockades, against prison construction in Liverpool, London etc
-long term goal is the abolition of prisons, viewing them as exacerbating social problems rather than solving them
Anarchism in action: Food not Bombs
-international anarchist movement providing free vegan and vegetarian meals, opposing food scarcity and waste, + supporting communities like Hurricane Katrina victims, and Occupy Wall Street
-operates through consensus decision-making worldwide
-goal is to promote cooperation and solidarity without hierarchy
Anarchism in action: Class war
-anarchist group known for its radical actions in the 80s like the ‘Bash the Rich’ march in wealthy London areas.
-from 2010-2015
-group calls for the abolition of systems supporting inequality, such as ending private school admissions to universities
Anarcho-communism and mutualism
-anarcho-communists view people to be naturally empathetic and sociable i.e Kropotkin likened human society to the animal kingdom(most species live in social groups)
-believe that people are capable of self-govt(Kropotkin’s mutual aid)—} would lead to greater sense of collective consciousness
-mutual aid would replace the state(trust + interdependence over law + coercion)
-favour debate/discussion on issues until collective agreement over direct or rep democracy
-oppose capitalism as it perpetuates competitive struggle and creates equality by ensuring resources are collectively owned + produce shared(organised by small, natural communities)
-“Don’t compete!..you have plenty if resources to avoid it!”(Kropotkin)
-shares Marxist view that capitalism places too low value on labour and goods produced
Anarcho-syndicalism
-workers have natural tendency to form groups with each other to resist the occupation caused by capitalism i.e trade unions
-championed by George Sorel who supported worker strikes alongside demonstrations + violence to destroy the state’s desire to power
-state could be replaced by groups of trade unions that would exchange labour + goods between them whilst promoting wellbeing of members
-US philosopher Noam Chomsky shared anarchist view of democratic workers’ councils to allow them to take charge of their own workplaces
-similar view to collectivists on human nature i.e see people as ‘social animals’ and natural communities but with more stress on social solidarity—} see work as key to human condition and an expression of creativity
-socialist syndicalists want capitalist state to be replaced with one workers’ state whereas anarcho-capitalists want a co-operative arrangement of self-governing workers’ unions
-in a syndicalist economy, workers would become the owners of their own means of production, trade would be on competitive, free market base + price of goods and services would be determined by real value of the labour
Egoism
-associated with Stirner who suggested that the ego(desire for self-realisation) dictates what each individual does
-argued that people only act to satisfy their own wants + needs and only fear of disapproval from wider society restrains people’s behaviour: ”We are men in the sense of others.. human only in the judgment of others”
-rejected co-operative communities + promoted unions of egoists(held together by self-interest)
-pessimistic view on human nature, few positive ideas on replacement of state or economy(only individual trade + accumulation of property)
-in line with nihilism (extreme individualist anarchists that oppose all forms of social organisation + want society of free individuals)
Anarcho-capitalism
-emerged in the 70s/80s + links with libertarianism(belief in minimal govt associated with Nozick)
-he sought abolition of most laws to increase degree of freedom whereas Rothbard & Friedman(anarcho-capitalists) entirely rejected state control
-Rothbard suggested that power of the state attacks political + economic freedom i.e tax which is a form of institutionalised theft
-Friedman supported free-market economics(aka unregulated capitalism) as people have a justified sense of entitlement to anything they have worked to gain
-idea of society is in line with social Darwinism: only the fittest prosper(no welfare state), people are driven by competition in a free-market system
-state replaced by individuals/private firms that supply the demand for service
Do individualist and collectivist anarchists have a shared vision of the future?
Yes :
-both want to maximise individual freedom
-both seek abolition of state + don’t believe it is necessary for a peaceful future
-both predict that people will co-operate in anarchist societies
No :
-individualists support capitalism + collectivists want to abolish it
-individualists see humans as self-interested and self serving whereas collectivists see them as more caring + empathetic to wider society
-individualists downplay importance of communities due to self interest whereas collectivists think people are naturally social + want to form communities
Anarchism today
-inspired Freetown Christiania = Danish commune movement in the 70s that aimed to create self-governing society + creation of their own rules i.e banned theft, dangerous weapons + class A drugs
-refused to pay taxes as they didn’t recognise state as legitimate BUT began paying tax in the 90s and paying for their land in 2012
-Occupy Wall Street(2011) protested against power of big corporations + unequal distribution of resources in society—} no leaders(decisions on consensus basis), views modern states as responsible for inequality
-COVID-19 led to creation of more groups i.e DC Mutual Aid Network(encouraged people to volunteer to support their community) + Mutual Aid UK(puts groups of local people in touch with those willing to assist them to strengthen bonds of community)—} both don’t need state to direct/organise them
