Anarchy

The Palgrave Handbook of Anarchism, ed. Matthew S. Adams and Carl Levy, 2018

The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements, 2013

Anarchism refers to a tradition of social and political thought that in the 1860s emerged as an organized political force. Since then, anarchism has inspired protests, organizations and movements, mainly in Europe, Russia and the Americas, but also in other parts of the world. While it may be difficult to talk of ‘one’ anarchist movement, a distinct anarchist current within the history of the labor movement can be identified as well as anarchist tendencies and groups within other social movements. The term ‘anarchy’ comes from the Greek an-arkhos, meaning ‘without a leader or ruler’. It was first used in a positive sense, being identified as the ideal form of government, in Pierre- Joseph Proudhon’s (1809-1865) What Is Property? (1840). Proudhon, Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876) and Pyotr Kropotkin (1842-1921) pioneered a broad tradition which has developed in a variety of forms. These range from varying interpretations of how to organize society in economic terms to the more basic distinction between social anarchism and currents farther removed from collective action (e.g. philosophical, individualist, and spiritual anarchism) as well as more specific variations around forms of organization, of action, the use of violence, and so on. In spite of this rich variety, anarchism can be identified by its strong commitment to individual freedom and sovereignty, the opposition to any form of oppression, domination and authority, the promotion of voluntary, decentralized and non-hierarchical associations, and the use of forms of direct action that prefigure a freer society with more solidarity and respect for individual self government.

2018

Anarchism is by far the least broadly understood ideology and the least studied academically. Though highly influential, both historically and in terms of recent social movements, anarchism is regularly dismissed. Anarchism: A Conceptual Approach is a welcome addition to this growing field, which is widely debated but poorly understood. Occupying a distinctive position in the study of anarchist ideology, this volumeauthored by a handpicked group of established and rising scholarsinvestigates how anarchists often seek to sharpen their message and struggle to determine what ideas and actions are central to their identity. Moving beyond defining anarchism as simply an ideology or political theory, this book examines the meanings of its key concepts, which have been divided into three categories: Core, Adjacent, and Peripheral concepts. Each chapter focuses on one important concept, shows how anarchists have understood the concept, and highlights its relationships to other concepts. Although anarchism is often thought of as a political topic, the interdisciplinary nature of Anarchism: A Conceptual Approach makes it of interest to students and scholars across the social sciences, liberal arts, and the humanities.

West Kootenay Anarchists, 2019

The Kootenay Anarchists of BC are active agitators for social change in the communities in and around the Kootenay Lake region of BC. We seek to build the elements of a free society that are autonomous from governing authority. Some of our current projects include a free FM radio station we call Spontaneous Autonomy Radio (SAR) and we are working toward the formation of an anarchist Eco-village. The numerous communities in the Kootenays make for a diversified social experience which is naturally decentralized. Social diversity and the dependence on cooperative economics make life style alternatives viable possibilities. Community controlled economic enterprise and cooperative work are becoming ever increasing presence here. With local economies that are failing due to government ineptitude and corporate irresponsibility people are coming together to create their own economy. Small businesses, craft fairs and farmer's markets, market gardens, community forests and other societies and cooperatives are building a new self reliance among the people. With growing political, economic and environmental disarray our society is floundering and we need more than a quick fix, we must question the basis of the state which controls, through corporate and government organization, the lives of millions for the wealth and privilege of a few. We must seek to break away from the taxation and control over our lives. Together we can form cooperative communities, Eco-villages and even share our creative work without paying homage to the powers of finance, political leaders who turn against us. Money Money is an instrument of authority, and essential to the existence of the state. It may be useful for merchants, but it is not necessary because barter in kind is a skill all merchants are acquainted with. Money is minted by the state because it serves the state, it is the means by which the state is able to finance its demonic activities and maintain an entourage of governing functionaries, agents and gendarme. Money was created as a mechanism of taxation. By getting people to work for money the state was then able to appropriate the value that people created for its own purpose though taxation. The Romans built a long lasting and powerful empire because they learned very well how to use money to run their system of social authority. Barter, trade in kind and shared resources all strengthen the people and sever the bondage to the money/taxation system. Our solidarity, with each other in community, is something that cannot be taxed away. The way forward is to share what we create, money does not create fair exchange, we are better with the concepts of social contribution ans sharing.

Anarchism and Moral Philosophy, 2010

This chapter is concerned with three specific questions. First, has there ever been a distinctive and independent ‘anarchist’ political philosophy, or is anarchism better viewed as a minor sect of another political philosophy — for example, socialism or liberalism — which cannot claim any critical and conceptual resources of its own? Second, if there has been such a distinctive and independent philosophy, what are its defining characteristics? Third, whether there is a distinctive and independent anarchist political philosophy or not, should there be?