ANARCHISM AND SOCIETY Flashcards
Areas of agreement over society in terms of natural order
Society without the state will lead to natural, spontaneous harmony. This emerges from the anarchist view of human nature
Areas of agreement over society in terms of the existing society
The existing society is coercive and existing political, economic and social institutions must be replaced to gain freedom for all
Areas of agreement over society in terms of individuals
Society exists for man, not man for society. Society exists to serve the interests of humanity and to allow the individual the widest possible freedom
Areas of agreement over society in terms of freedom
Freedom and equality are the basis of the new society but there is no clear blueprint for the anarchist society as this will develop and evolve naturally
How do individualist anarchists view the state in terms of power
Individualists fear the power of the collective over the individual
How do individualist anarchists view the state in terms of uniformity
Goldman saw uniformity - through habits, tastes and thoughts - as a key threat to individuals
How do individualist anarchists view the state in terms of possesions
Proudhon made the case for possession as a key defence for the individual versus the collective
How do individualist anarchists view the state in terms of unions
Stirner saw the new society as the Union of Egoists
How do collectivist anarchists view the state in terms of the existing state
The state and existing institutions promote the domination of humans by humans so must be removed
How do collectivist anarchists view the state in terms of natural order
Natural order will emerge due to the social nature of humanity, where individuals can only achieve their full liberty through cooperation with others
How do collectivist anarchists view the state in terms of a new society
The new society needs to be based on self-managing communes, organised together voluntarily in a relationship of mutual aid and cooperation
How do collectivist anarchists view the state in terms of how people will be ordered
Society will be ordered from the bottom up, not top down
