Anarchism: the definition, meaning and examples
Anarchism: this article explains the concept of anarchism in a practical way. The article begins with the definition and general explanation of this concept, followed by an explanation of the ideals of this political movement and examples. Enjoy reading!
What is anarchism?
Anarchism is a political movement and philosophy that is skeptical of authority. It seeks to abolish institutions that perpetuate unnecessary coercion and hierarchy, including governments, nation states and capitalism.
Anarchism advocates the replacement of the state with stateless societies and voluntary free associations. Anarchism is typically placed on the far left of the political spectrum and is referred to as libertarian socialism.
Before the societies we know today arose, people lived in societies without hierarchies of organized bodies for a long time. As institutions began to organize, skepticism of authority increased.
Traces of anarchism can be found throughout history, but current ideas stem from the Age of Enlightenment.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the anarchist movement flourished in many parts of the world and played a major role in the workers’ struggle for emancipation. During this period, different movements emerged.
Anarchists have actively participated in, for example:
- The Paris Commune
- The Russian Civil War
- The Spanish Civil War
There are several approaches to anarchism: evolutionary strategies and revolutionary strategies. The evolutionary approach tries to envision what a society might look like, but the revolutionary approach proposes a violent turn to overthrow the state.
Origin and evolution of anarchism
The origins of anarchism are complex, mainly due to the different interpretations of the concept itself. Scholars have struggled to define anarchism and agree on its meaning, making it difficult to trace its history.
Some view anarchism as a well-defined movement of the 19th and 20th century, while others see anarchist features in prehistoric societies with informal hierarchies.
The first traces of anarchist thought can be found in ancient Greece and China, where philosophers questioned the necessity of the state and advocated individual freedom.
During the Middle Ages, certain religious sects embraced libertarian ideas, and the Age of Enlightenment and the rise of rationalism gave rise to the modern anarchist movement.
In the late 19th century, modern anarchism became an important part of the labor movement, alongside Marxism.
Anarchists and Marxists grew apart and formally split at the Fifth Congress of the First International in 1872. Anarchists initially took part in the Russian Revolution, but were later harshly suppressed by the Bolsheviks.
In the 1960s, anarchism re-emerged as a global political and cultural force, in line with the New Left and post-left movements.
It has influenced social movements that valued personal autonomy and direct democracy, contributing to causes such as the anti-globalization movement, the Zapatista Revolution, and the Rojava Revolution.
The ideals of anarchism
Anarchists believe that society exists to expand individuals’ options, which is the basis of their ideology.
They reject the idea that society arose out of a deliberate agreement, but rather see it as arising from social instincts aimed at broadening individual choices.
Anarchists strive for an efficient society that offers the widest range of choices to individuals.
They criticize any social relationship in which one party dominates the other through threats, as it limits the dominated party’s choices.
Government authority
Anarchism opposes all forms of government authority, including states, armies, slavery, wage systems and more. It strives to abolish coercive institutions and emphasizes the broadening of individual choices.
Anarchy, the ideal of anarchism, depicts a society in which individuals can act freely as long as they do not hinder the ability of others to do the same.
Anarchists believe that such a society is achievable, despite acknowledging human shortcomings.
Anarchists do not provide specific blueprints for a free society, but argue that any society without coercive institutions conforms to its aims.
While anarchy does not promise complete freedom, it advocates the absence of government and coercive structures. Anarchists think it’s worth striving for, in spite of the uncertainty about its practical implementation.
The term anarchy is sometimes incorrectly used to describe social disorder, leading to confusion.
Anarchists have tried alternative names such as autonomists or libertarians, but this only created more ambiguity.
Anarchists strongly oppose terrorism, although some misguided images associate them with violence. The stereotype of the anarchist bomber has little basis in reality.
The majority of anarchists have always rejected terrorism as immoral and ineffective. They understand that social relationships cannot be destroyed by force.
Examples of anarchism in practice
The feasibility and success of anarchism in practice is difficult to determine. The ideology mainly suffers from practical objections when it comes to its implementation. Below you can read about 2 situations in which anarchism was applied.
Positive example
Revolutionary Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) is often cited as a positive example of anarchism in action.
During this period, various anarchist groups, along with other leftist forces, took control of large parts of Catalonia.
They founded a society based on anarchist principles, emphasizing decentralization, self-government and worker control of industries.
During this time, workers and peasants collectivized the land and industries, practicing anarcho-syndicalist principles.
Factories, farms and other resources were collectively managed, with decisions made through direct democratic processes.
This social experiment led to increased productivity and improved living conditions for many, as workers were directly involved in decision-making and shared the fruits of their labor.
Negative example
The Ukrainian Free Territory, also known as the Makhnovshchina, provides an example of anarchism that faced challenges and was ultimately defeated.
The Free Territory was created during the Russian Revolution, under the leadership of Nestor Makhno, an anarchist military commander.
Based in Ukraine, the Free Territory aimed to create an anarchist society based on principles of decentralization and anti-authoritarianism.
It sought to abolish both Bolshevik and White Army control, and to build a society in which peasants and workers could govern themselves. Initially, the Free Territory enjoyed some success, with popular support and the implementation of agrarian reforms.
The movement was under pressure from both the Red Army and the White Army, leading to armed conflict. The lack of strong centralized authority and the decentralized nature of the anarchist forces made it difficult to defend the area effectively.
The Makhnovshchina was finally defeated and crushed by the Red Army in 1921.
Police and military organization
In an anarchist society, there might not be a conventional, centralized police force as we know it today.
Instead, community-based security measures would be put in place.
Communities would work together to address public safety and dispute resolution issues through local, directly democratic decision-making processes.
Anarchism is inherently anti-militaristic, as it rejects the notion of aggressive warfare and conquest.
In an anarchist society there would be no permanent armies or professional soldiers. Instead, the emphasis would be on self-defense and voluntary defense associations.
In the face of external threat, communities could form voluntary defense forces, where individuals choose to participate in the defense of their community.
These defense forces would be decentralized and organized at community or regional level.
Decisions about military action would be made through democratic processes, with a focus on collective defense rather than offensive military campaigns.
Now it’s your turn
What do you think? Do you recognize the explanation about anarchism? What do you think about anarchist societies? Do you think creating such a society is feasible? What advantages and disadvantages do you see in its application? Do you have other tips or comments?
Share your experience and knowledge in the comments box below.
More information
- Miller, D. (1984). Anarchism. London: JM Dent.
- Guerin, D. (1970). Anarchism: From theory to practice (Vol. 175). NYU Press.
- Goldman, E. (1969). Anarchism: and other essays. Courier Corporation.
- Bookchin, M. (1995). Social anarchism or lifestyle anarchism. An Unbridgeable Chasm, Edinburgh (online: http://raforum. apinc. org/article. php3.
How to cite this article:
Janse, B. (2024). Anarchism. Retrieved [insert date] from Toolshero: https://www.toolshero.com/sociology/anarchism/
Original publication date: 10/21/2024 | Last update: 10/21/2024
Add a link to this page on your website:
<a href=” https://www.toolshero.com/sociology/anarchism/”> Toolshero: Anarchism</a>
Ben Janse
Ben Janse is a young professional working at ToolsHero as Content Manager. He is also an International Business student at Rotterdam Business School where he focusses on analyzing and developing management models. Thanks to his theoretical and practical knowledge, he knows how to distinguish main- and side issues and to make the essence of each article clearly visible.
