Question 2 What are the differences between individual anarchism and social anarchism? How does this link to the distinctions between the Diggers and the Levellers?

Question 1

What are the differences between individual anarchism and social anarchism?

Answer 1

The primary differences between individual anarchism and social anarchism lie in their focus on the individual versus the community and their views on property. Individual anarchism centers on opposition to state control over the individual. It prioritizes individual liberty and autonomy, asserting that the state should not dictate personal choices. Individual anarchists emphasize the right to liberty from the state as paramount.

Question 2

Social anarchism

Answer 2

while also opposing the state, recognizes the importance of equality of entitlement and adopts a more collectivist approach, emphasizing the significance of community. Social anarchists often oppose private property ownership, viewing it as a source of inequality and oppression. They envision a society where resources are shared and managed collectively.
This distinction directly links to the historical differences between the Diggers and the Levellers in 17th century England. The Diggers were communist farmers who advocated for economic equality and established small, independent farming communities on common land. Their actions and beliefs align closely with social anarchism. Their focus on communal land ownership and the creation of egalitarian communities reflect the collectivist principles and opposition to private property central to social anarchism. Godwin, a social anarchist, also envisioned an egalitarian society.

Question 3

The Levellers

Answer 3

The Levellers, on the other hand, sought broader equality, suffrage, and religious tolerance, emphasizing natural rights and advocating for a secular government. While they advocated for greater individual freedoms and a more representative government, they did not necessarily call for the abolition of the state or the end of private property in the same way the Diggers did. Their focus on individual rights and freedoms from governmental and religious oppression resonates more with the principles of individual anarchism. Individual anarchism opposes state control over the individual, mirroring the Levellers’ fight for individual liberties against the established powers.