Greek meaning absence of authority or without rulers
Get rid of state = NO state
Protest against state and
global governing bodies; State
is harmful, undesirable, and
unnecessary
Human nature is good
= no state needed
Argues for
affirmation of the
decency of persons,
desire for
individual freedom
and rejection of
domination
A Social Movement
Emerge with struggles against feudal system
Individual Anarchism VS. Social Anarchism
Individual Anarchist: emphasizes
negative liberty and its opposition to
state control over individual (Libertarian
ideology)
Social Anarchist: emphasizes positive
liberty, there are more collectivists
(focus on community), reject private
property (Marxist Ideology)
Believe in using violence as a means
Diggers Vs. Levellers
Diggers- 1600s in England
Communist farmers
Wanted economic equality,
creating small independent
farming communities on common
land.
Everything
including
finances goes
into communal
pot
Social Anarchists
Reclaiming freedom, creating
classless society
Levellers- 1600s in England
want equality and suffrage (of ALL men) and religious
tolerance (private matter not states)
Natural Rights: God made me
this way, I have ability to be
what I am/want
Secular government, freedom of religion
Early
Socialism
Godwin 1756-1836
Argued government was corrupting force in society, perpetuating
dependency and ignorance; allows state to tell people what to
believe, think, and act
Wanted to decentralize society with minimal authority; wanted a
sharing of goods
Municipal state idea
With a state, power is in hands of a few, taking away our independence leading to
oppression, war and conflict, and the taking away of education system
state and institutions have heavy influence; education is important because it
shapes our nature, opinions and actions
Argued against social contract; only helps white property owning males
State existed as an instrument to protect private property
This is a
problem
because once
one owns
something,
they protect it,
and create laws
= needed state
(WRONG)
Private property = polarization of wealth and
goods
Marriage is evil, filled with delusions, unrealistic expectations, and allows for the oppression of women (cage)
Free Love Movement
Rejects
marriage =
social
bondage
Do not want state to control sexual matters: marriage, birth
control, abortion, adultery and prostitution
This is concern for self and individual
Bakunin 1814-1876
activist anarchist
believe in egalitarian
society without social
classes and
government
Revolutional change should stem from lumpenproletariat; bring
insight as they are previously uncontrolled by Capitalism
Issues with State
modern state = aggressive military state
can't replace state with worker state
One needs complete freedom
Progres is made with an experience and thought
Collectivist
Anarchism
Believed in equal
means, support,
education and
opportunity for
every child in order
to create own well
being by own labour
Spoke against religion;
if God existed, it would
be necessary to abolish
him
Goldman 1869-1940
rejects business, church and state
Capitalism dehumanized workers, advocated strikes, and direct action
Religion: enemies of the people
Advocated targeted violence (assassination of rulers)
Believed voting is useless; illusion of participation
while making the true structures of decision making
Promoted free love, birth control, approval of homosexuality
Goodman
Critical of American society = heavily managed and centralized society; decay
of community and destruction of American life.
If someone is always planning life, American Dream and freedom is broken
Looked at state control with education system, and how state tells us to live (roads, planning etc).
Said education is being taught incorrectly
Should be hands on, not lecturing but discussion to explore issues, move beyond
educators and compulsory attendance
If teachers are good, absence would be eliminated
Relativist view of Anarchism
Goldman wanted women to be liberated and free. She wanted the state to give up power over women
(e.g. the right to birth control). She wants women to have equality but sees the state as a barrier to this
equality. She did not believe in voting so the first wave feminists would have issue with this idea.
Goldman didn't think women gaining the vote would give them the freedom they were fighting for.
This is directly against the goal of the first wave (suffrage).
Goodman talked
about the problems
with the state and
city planning. He
talks about the
control of the state
in our everyday lives
and why this is a
problem. We give up
too much power to
the state.