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ANARCHISM

ANARCHISM. POSC 150 Braunwarth. Anarchism. From Greek: an archo (no rule/no gov’t) Abolish the State Replace coercive force of the state with voluntary cooperation among freely consenting adults. Who here is Free?. We generally think of ourselves as free

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ANARCHISM

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  1. ANARCHISM POSC 150 Braunwarth

  2. Anarchism • From Greek: an archo (no rule/no gov’t) • 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 don’t 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 > 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 • Marx’s 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

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