25 markers

Question 1

With reference to the anarchist thinkers you have studied, analyse and evaluate the anarchist position on the use of violence to further political ends. (25)

(Do they believe violence should be used to further political ends)

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Answer 1

1. Yes, some collectivist anarchists support the use of violence to achieve political ends
   E.g. Pierre Joseph Proudhon supported the use of violence against the state, in order to provoke a violent counter-reaction to expose the violent nature of the state

No, some anarchists do not favour the use of violence because they support the use of propaganda to change public opinion in their favour
E.g. Kropotkin favoured the use of propaganda in Russia to convince the Russian people of the benefits of an anarchist revolution

2. Yes, some anarchists believe that violence is necessary for a peaceful society to emerge
   E.g. Michael Bakunin supported a violent revolution that would result in ‘spontaneous order’, involving the voluntary cooperation of individuals
   (leading to the collapse of the state since citizens recognise the benefits of anarchism)

No, some anarchists believe that anarchism can be achieved peacefully
E.g. individualist anarchists, mostly in the American tradition, such as Thoreau, Spooner and Warren believe that individuals should peacefully withdraw from society
(leading to individuals dealing with their affairs autonomously, causing the state to wither and die since it no longer has a purpose)

3. No, some anarchists do not favour a peaceful or violent revolution, instead believing that direct action is the best way of achieving an anarchist state
   E.g. the Occupy movement, whereby Wall Street was physically occupied
   (allowing them to grind the American economy to a halt leading to the state collapsing)
   (Such group-based political action suggests anarchists are not purely selfish individuals but are willing to work together to achieve their aims)

Question 2

‘Anarchists differ over the means to achieve their goals.’

Answer 2

1. Yes, some anarchists believe that violence is necessary to achieve an anarchist state
   E.g. Pierre Joseph Proudhon supported the use of violence against the state, in order to provoke a violent counter-reaction
   (thus exposing the violent nature of the state and growing public support for revolution)

No, some anarchists do not favour any use of violence because they support the use of propaganda to change public opinion in their favour
E.g. Kropotkin favoured the use of propaganda in Russia to convince the Russian people of the benefits of an anarchism

1.5. Yes, some anarchists do not favour a peaceful or violent revolution, instead believing that direct action is the best way of achieving an anarchist state
E.g. the Occupy movement, whereby Wall Street was physically occupied
(allowing them to grind the American economy to a halt leading to the state collapsing)
(Such group-based political action suggests anarchists are not purely selfish individuals but are willing to work together to achieve their aims)

2. Yes, some anarchists believe that violence is necessary for a peaceful society to emerge
   E.g. Michael Bakunin supported a violent revolution that would result in ‘spontaneous order’, involving the voluntary cooperation of individuals
   (leading to the collapse of the state since citizens recognise the benefits of anarchism)

No, some anarchists agree that anarchism can be achieved peacefully
E.g. individualist anarchists, mostly in the American tradition, such as Thoreau, Spooner and Warren believe that individuals should peacefully withdraw from society
(leading to individuals dealing with their affairs autonomously, causing the state to wither and die since it no longer has a purpose)

Question 3

‘All anarchists are socialists’

Answer 3

1. Yes, most anarchists, in line with socialism, reject private property in favour of collective ownership. They have faith in a stateless society where equality and freedom for all will lead to a natural order.
   E.g. ???

No, anarcho-capitalists like support private property
E.g. Rothbard argued that private property is desirable is as long as it is legally gained and earned support
(as it is the best tool to create freedom and social order)

2. Yes, thinkers from the collective tradition agree that a revolution is necessary
   E.g. Pierre Joseph Proudhon shared the Marxist view that the use of violence against the state is needed to provoke a violent counter-reaction
   (thus exposing the violent nature of the state and growing public support for revolution)

No, individualist anarchists disagree with Marx that revolution is needed
E.g. individualist anarchists, mostly in the American tradition, such as Thoreau, Spooner and Warren believe that individuals should peacefully withdraw from society
(leading to individuals dealing with their affairs autonomously, causing the state to wither and die since it no longer has a purpose)

3. No, Socialists also have a different view on society than individualist anarchists.
   E.g. Egoists, such as Stirner believe that people are motivated purely by self interest, and “we have only one relation to each other, that of usability, of utility, of use”.
   (direct contrast to socialists who believe that humans are social animals and will work cooperatively for the common good)

SYNOPTIC LINK:
4. Many collectivist anarchists, such as anarcho-syndicalists, also believe in mass organisation, primarily via direct action such as strikes, to bring down the state.
E.g. anarchism has motivated elements of direct action by pressure groups such as the Occupy movement.
(Such group-based political action suggests anarchists are not purely selfish individuals but are willing to work together to achieve their aims)