Anarchism

Question 1

Main origins of the anarchist tradition​

Answer 1

• Philosophical anarchism​
• Communism​ anarchism
• Collectivist anarchism​
• Individualist anarchism

Question 2

Philosophical anarchism​

Answer 2

Enlightenment​/18th Century
- Humans rational/moral – can govern themselves
- Liberty is natural; society/government are restrictive

Question 3

Communist anarchism

Answer 3

19th Century
- Stateless, self-governing communist society
- Reaction to industrial brutality – immediate state abolition
- Kropotkin

Question 4

Collectivist anarchism​

Answer 4

Late 19th / Early 20th Century
- Group > individual, workers unite in self-managed associations
- Decentralised socialism – cooperation without the state
- Bakunin

Question 5

Individualist anarchism

Answer 5

20th Century
- Individual autonomy, revolt or withdraw from the state
- Extreme libertarianism
Stirner

Question 6

Key thinkers: Max Stirner (1806–1856)

Answer 6

Individualist/egoist anarchist
Human Nature
- Self-interested egoists
State
- Denies people the right to fulfil their egoism
Society
- Society of any kind restrains people, must be self reliant
Economy
- Accumulation/retention of property is our main economic motivation

Question 7

Key thinkers: Peter Kropotkin​ (1842–1921)

Answer 7

Collectivist anarchist/anarcho-communist
Human Nature
- Naturally cooperative, prefer collective activity
State
- Must be destroyed by revolution, replaced by voluntary self-governing communities
Society
- Small communes should be basis of society
Economy
- Capitalism replaced by the communist system of small economic unit

Question 8

Key thinkers: Mikhail Bakunin​ (1814–1876)

Answer 8

Collectivist anarchist
Human Nature
- Cooperative but corrupted by institutions
State
- State is servant of capitalism. Both must be destroyed by revolution
Society
- Decentralized federations of workers
Economy
- Market exchange system abolished, replaced by exchange based on true value of labour/goods.

Question 9

Key thinkers: Pierre-Joseph Proudhon​​ (1809–1865)

Answer 9

Collectivist/Mutualist anarchist
Human Nature
- Rational, self-interested, but cooperative when left free
State
- The state must be abolished by peace or by force
Society
- Mutualism is the basis of a strong society
Economy
- People trading with each other on a mutually beneficial basis

Question 10

Key thinkers: Emma Goldman (1869–1940)

Answer 10

Individualist/Collectivist
Human Nature
- Inherently good, individual liberty must be upheld
State
- State is only source of oppression
Society
- Non-hierarchical, built on voluntary association
Economy
- Liberty is more important than economic justice, but communism is preferable to other systems

Question 11

Anarchism now

Answer 11

• Christiania in Denmark
• Utopia, Ohio​