An Introduction to the Anarchist Movement

By Brian Crabtree

What is anarchism? How does it work? Who are its most important thinkers?

 

An introduction to anarchism for anyone interested in this increasingly obscure political philosophy in the 21st century.

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brian Crabtree
• Release date: Aug 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393355014

Book preview

Contents:

1.  Introduction

2.  Anarchist Principles

2.1  Anarchist Ideals

3.  Anarchist Society

3.1  A Model of an Anarchist Community?

3.2  Technology and Anarchy

4.  The Case For Anarchism

4.1  The Problem Exists

4.2  The Problem Is Inherent

4.3  Anarchy Will Solve the Problem

5.  The History of Anarchism

5.1  Proudhon and the Mutualists

5.2  Bakunin and Collectivism

5.3  Peter Kropotkin

5.4  The Anarchist Movement

6.  Anarchy As a Way of Life

6.1  Civil Disobedience

6.2  D-I-Y

7.  Modern Anarchist Activism

7.1  Direct Action

7.2  Propaganda

7.3  Anarchist Networking

7.31  The Zine Network

7.32  Electronic Networking

8.  Conclusion

9.  Appendices: Getting Connected

9.1  Anarchist Periodicals

9.2  Anarchist Organizations

9.3  Anarchist Publishing and Distribution

9.4  Anarchist Electronic Contacts

9.5  Sources For Further Information About Anarchism

9.6  Contacting the Author

þ Introduction þ

What comes to mind when you hear the word anarchy?  Chaos and

disorder?  Bomb throwers and assassins?  Wearing black clothes and combat

boots?  None of these popular conceptions adequately describes anarchism or the

anarchist movement.

Over the years, there have probably been more nonsense and

misconceptions about anarchism than about any other political theory or

ideology.  To this very day, if you look up anarchism in the Reader's Guide

to Periodical Literature, you will be told to See also: Terrorism.  Anarchism

is not terrorism, nor is it a fad or style of dress, nor is it necessarily

chaotic or violent.  Anarchy is a viable system of non-hierarchical

organization - a method of voluntary human interaction.  The words anarchy,

anarchism, and anarchist should be used to refer to this, not to be used as

a catch-all term for people and ideas that the government doesn't like.

Dissenters have always been persecuted by the majority.  In this book I

will attempt to resolve some of the fears, misconceptions, and outright lies

that have been propagated about anarchism.  This is in no way an attempt to

speak for all anarchists.  It has been said that there as many definitions of

anarchy as there are anarchists, and I want this book to reflect that.  As you

read this, be careful not to fall into the trap of classifying people with

labels.  Everyone has their own ideas and morals, and will behave differently.

The purpose of this book is to promote a better understanding of anarchism.

þ Anarchist Principles þ

Government is an evil and unnecessary institution.  The utilization of

government as a control device for the population of an area is immoral and

inefficient.  Anarchy is the alternative to this artificially imposed order.

Anarchists envision a libertarian and egalitarian society in which

participation is voluntary and mutual aid replaces coercion as the binding

force between individuals.  Everyone must be allowed to judge for themselves

wwhat is right and wrong, and act according to reason and ethics instead of

laws and pre-packaged morality.  Whose ethics?  Each person's conscience.  My

ethics are:  If what you do infringes the rights of someone else, then it is

wrong.  Anything else is acceptable.

Some anarchists believe that anarchy is not disorderly - that it is a

much more complex form of organization than the simple hierarchical structure

imposed on us by government.  Still others view organization as just another

tool used my the state to control us.

- Anarchist Ideals -

Liberty.  Freedom.  Freedom of conscience, or as Thomas Jefferson said

it, the right to the persuit of happiness, is said to be the basis for all

other freedoms; freedom is the highest ideal of anarchists.  With liberty comes

equality.  Liberty does not truly exist unless it exists for everyone,

regardless of race, age, gender, sexual preference, or ideology.  All people

are born equal, it is existing society that forces us into groups and classes.

Government takes away rights.  If it did any less it would not be

government.  Our government takes away our right to bear arms, our right to

persue happiness in whatever form we find it, our freedom of expression, and

our freedom to choose what is best for ourselves.  Government takes away