ANARCHISM

1
ANARCHISM

• POSC 150
• Braunwarth

2
Anarchism

• From Greek an archo (no rule/no govt)
• Abolish the State
• Replace coercive force of the state with
  voluntary cooperation among freely consenting
  adults

3
Who here is Free?

• We generally think of ourselves as free
• In reality, we are highly controlled
• By the state, by religion, by greed
• We dont recognize the degree to which we are
  trapped (like the Matrix)
• Anarchism argues we need to throw off these
  shackles in order to achieve our full potential

4
Government

• Government is, by its own nature, immoral and
  evil
• All governments engage inimmoral, coercive
  actions
• Causes all ills in society
• Forces people to do things they do not want to do
  (pay taxes, fight wars)
• Could argue is a necessary evil Anarchists would
  argue is not necessary, just evil

5
Emma Goldman (1869-1940)

• Red Emma
• Anarchism was great liberator
• from Religion, State and Property
• Early feminist
• (p. 255)

6
Philosophical Basis

• Freedom Centrally Important
• Human Nature Emphasis on the Individual who is
  basically good and idealistic
• Split either
• Fiercely Independent and Individualistic
  (occasionally capitalistic and competitive)
• Which of our Readings?
• Thoreau, Godwin, Sterner
• Inherently communal
• Which of our Readings?
• Bakunin, Kroptokin, etc.

7
Individual Orientation

• Oppressed by coercive force of government
• Either
• Live according to higher individual goals
• or
• Are a part of a free community where everyone
  cooperates and need not be repressed by government

8
Thoreau

• That government which governs best governs not
  at all
• Incensed about Spanish-American war and slavery
• People unfortunately favor stability gt justice
  (p. 4)
• Obligation to resist (pp. 6, 8)

9
Political Program

• How should we abolish government?
• Another split, either
• Advocate violent overthrow of the State or
• Advocate a peaceful path that can lead to a
  cooperative society
• Basically, replace government with a consensual
  and cooperative society where people can live
  according to higher individual or communal ideals

10
Leo Tolstoy

• Wrote War and Peace
• Devout Pacifist
• State exists to commit violence
• Must peacefully be abolished

11
Anarcho-Communism

• Played important role in socialist movement
• Marxs main rivals
• Some made strong moral case pacifism and
  non-violence
• Others criticized need for a transitional
  proletarian government

12
Bakunin (1814-1876)

• Advocated violence to overthrow the state
• Destruction of oppressor (state) would liberate
  the people (p. 251)
• Split with Marx
• Wanted no dictatorship of proletariat