anarchism and communism

[CELMX]

haha, i kind of keep my friends updated with my political views ;) so, i keep jumping back and forth between anarchism and communism (NOT the kind with the leaders - not sure what it is called)
they tell me I am fucking variable and that those are two totally different, diametrically opposed ideas.
I'm like, what the fuck?!, anarchism and communism are pretty damn similar. They both call for the abolition of a wage system, abolition of classes, and various other things.

Are there any more responses (for a normal, non-marxist person) that I can use other than *facepalm* ?!?

thx:)

[Mälli]

Call yourself a libertarian communist, maby? Help me out comrades.

[*Viva La Revolucion*]

There are so many varieties of anarchism. Some types such as anarcho-capitalism are nothing like communism, so I find it better to think of anarchism as a series of ideologies which can't be classed as either left-wing or right-wing.

Perhaps you could just call yourself an anarcho-communist and then you wouldn't have to switch backwards and forwards between ideologies! Then you could explain the similarities of the basic beliefs - the things that you listed, for example. Or maybe direct them to a Wikipedia article which lists anarchism as being related to communism?

[revolution inaction]

haha, i kind of keep my friends updated with my political views ;) so, i keep jumping back and forth between anarchism and communism (NOT the kind with the leaders - not sure what it is called)

maybe your an anarchist communist?



they tell me I am fucking variable and that those are two totally different, diametrically opposed ideas.
I'm like, what the fuck?!, anarchism and communism are pretty damn similar. They both call for the abolition of a wage system, abolition of classes, and various other things.

Are there any more responses (for a normal, non-marxist person) that I can use other than *facepalm* ?!?


You could try explain what it is you think with out initially giving it a label, people still recognise what your saying as anarchism/communism but it takes longer and they can't simply dismiss things without listening the way they tend to when they hear anarchism or communism.
Also find out why your friends think there is a contradiction between anarchism and communism. I'm sure you know this but lots of people associate anachism with chaos and no rules and communism with the ussr and dictatorships. Maybe the anarchist faq could help you come up with counter arguments for the anarchism equals chaos side of things? for the communims equals the ussr/dictatorship then you can point out what communims really is, and also how the ussr was quickly recognised as operating a form of capitalism by communists, and even its own supporters don't think it was communist.
And don't expect anything you say to suddenly change someone's mind, peoples idea's are quite resistant to change, people often need to think things through them selves before they will change there point of view.

[revolution inaction]

There are so many varieties of anarchism. Some types such as anarcho-capitalism are nothing like communism, so I find it better to think of anarchism as a series of ideologies which can't be classed as either left-wing or right-wing.

anarcho capitalism is not a kind of anarchism, it has no connection with the anarchist tradition which has always been socialist, the anarchist faq deals with this quite extensively.
I would also say that although there are non communist forms of anarchism like mutualism or collectivism that they are horribly out of date, are inefficient and would most likely revert to capitalism.
I don't really disagree that anarchism is neither left nor right though, but i would apply this to communism also, with let and right being the disagreement over how capitalism should be managed.




Perhaps you could just call yourself an anarcho-communist and then you wouldn't have to switch backwards and forwards between ideologies! Then you could explain the similarities of the basic beliefs - the things that you listed, for example. Or maybe direct them to a Wikipedia article which lists anarchism as being related to communism?

I'm not sure if directing people to wikopedia isa good idea, it tends to be vary inaccurate for any thing over which there is the least bit of controversy.

[*Viva La Revolucion*]

I'm not sure if directing people to wikopedia isa good idea, it tends to be vary inaccurate for any thing over which there is the least bit of controversy.

True, but most people trust it as a source and therefore if CELMX showed his or her friends an article which grouped communism and socialism along with anarchism as related ideologies I thought maybe it would seem more ''official''.

[StoneFrog]

Both Anarchism and Communism are fighting for the same thing, they just go about it in different ways. Marxism seems to look for a type of government structure to be implemented to help workers in their struggle, and after the revolution the government will be there to help keep order. Eventually the Government will slowly dissolve until there is a small government or no government. At least thats what I've gotten from reading Marx.
Anarchism goes more for power straight to the people, and not being controlled by any party. Anarchism is more about the working class banding together to fight, rather than being spearheaded by a party.

I am also in the similar area of thought as you, some place between communism and anarchism, i just call myself a Libertarian-Marxist. I guess if i believed in the use of unions more id be more an anarchist, but im more a councilist. I do try not to say i am something, but i think Libertarian-Marxist can cover a wide range. I still follow the things Marx said but in a more power directly to the people sense.

[Comrade Anarchist]

They are similar if you are talking about "pure communism" and collectivest anarchism. Just tell them that they are confusing communism and marxism, then tell them to fucking read a book. Thats what i say when asked about anarchism.