Are anarchists leftists?

[cheguvera]

is anarachism a better alternative to left-wing politics? some one told me anarachists are leftists while they are rejecting dictatism?

[Sensible Socialist]

Anarchists oppose capitalism, so yes, anarchists are leftists.

[syndicat]

Anarchism is a form of socialist politics....an anti-hierarchical, anti-statist form.

[piet11111]

They are advocating equality so yes they are leftists.

Do not confuse them with anarcho-capitalists though they are capitalists that want to abolish all legal restraints on capitalism so they can be robber-barons.

[Aspiring Humanist]

Leftist is the only thing an anarchist could be...everyone realizes the state protects private property so anarco-capitalists are just trolling

[redhotpoker]

Unless you use Glenn Becks chart then Anarchists are extreme right wingers :D

[Decolonize The Left]

is anarachism a better alternative to left-wing politics? some one told me anarachists are leftists while they are rejecting dictatism?

I'm not sure what you mean by "dictatism," but anarchists are leftists. Anarchism is a political ideological centered around individual freedom and social equality. It is anti-authoritarian, anti-state, and socialist in nature. There are many different interpretations of anarchism (as there are with all things), so some of them may seem less leftist than others and in many cases this is true. But on the whole anarchists are fully within the revolutionary leftist tradition.

- August

[Commissar Rykov]

Anarchists are obviously right wing militant reactionaries that plan to work us to death in factories...wait that was capitalists.

[Proukunin]

of course anarchists are leftists. they promote a classless, stateless society where the workers control the means of production through direct democracy..how would they not be leftist?

[28350]

the legit ones, at least

[Kornilios Sunshine]

they promote a classless, stateless society where the workers control the means of production through direct democracy
No these are the communists.Or at least anarcho-communists.

[Tim Cornelis]

No these are the communists.Or at least anarcho-communists.

No, all anarchists advocate the abolition of private property and workers' control. Anarcho-communists also want to abolish money and distribute according to needs.

[electro_fan]

of course they fucking are.

next!

[o well this is ok I guess]

even post-left anarchism is left-anarchism.

[Le Socialiste]

Yes, very much so. Anarchists believe in the establishment of a stateless, classless, anti-authoritarian socialist society.

[ColonelCossack]

anarcho-caps and anarcho-prims aren't, but other anarchists (anarcho-syndicalists and anarcho-communists,for example... the clue is in the communism) certainly are... except anarchists that are only anarchists because their favorite bands sing about it. :sneaky:

[human strike]

A more interesting question would be are Autonomists Leftists?

[Luc]

A more interesting question would be are Autonomists Leftists?

What are Autonomists? I haven't heard of these people before.:confused:

[Fopeos]

In the end, Anarchists and Communists want the same thing. The disagreements are over which paths to take to get there.

[nothing but left]

there are certain anarchists who will tell you that anarchists are not leftist because, unlike other leftist, they concentrate on individual and not a group. but this is obviously an anarchoindividualist crap, pardon my french. every class anarchist or social anarchist would consider him/herself leftist, if they know their political position well enough.

[onix]

from my pov anarchists are in the middle, the rational centre, others suffer from more materialist human values, wich positions those 'leftly' at the 'wronger' side of us.:D

[cheguvera]

Anarchism refuses existance of powerful rule or ruler.I feel today politics depend on leadership.That means they always have a leader.Country without a leader would be best idea.It means still we can keep presidents, prime ministers.They should be changed every 6months.party members should rotate their leader frequently.This will diminish one persons influence & his vested interests. ministers, beaurocratic ofiicials also should be temporary.They should be changed frequently as well.

[Magón]

Anarchism refuses existance of powerful rule or ruler.I feel today politics depend on leadership.That means they always have a leader.Country without a leader would be best idea.It means still we can keep presidents, prime ministers.They should be changed every 6months.party members should rotate their leader frequently.This will diminish one persons influence & his vested interests. ministers, beaurocratic ofiicials also should be temporary.They should be changed frequently as well.

Well then if you agree with the idea that party politics should run things, you don't agree with Anarchists on how to run things. Having a President or PM is just pointless to Anarchists, and we don't want to put those type of people into power at all.

[Misanthrope]

"anarcho-capitalists" are far right. Anarchists are leftist and anti-capitalist.

[jake williams]

Anarchists oppose capitalism, so yes, anarchists are leftists.
If this is true then the feudal Church is also leftist. "Opposition to capitalism" was also nominally a part of the Nazi Party. But in the case of the Catholic Church and other religious reactionaries, their opposition to capitalism, as a socially progressive force, is quite real. They actually don't want capitalism, they want a restoration of the feudal order and their own leadership of society. And it's not just talk - the Catholic Church historically fought bitterly and viciously against the development of capitalism and bourgeois democracy in particular. Eventually it learned to take sort of an opportunistic position and carve out what space it could for itself within the new capitalist order, but that took some time, and the Church is still bitter. But the point extends far beyond the Church - the "left" itself is full of pro-feudal elements, especially around the "environmentalist" movement.

As for "anarchists", the story is mixed. Some socialist anarchists are very similar to the Marxist left in terms of goals, concerns and even strategy. Others are right wing individualists, pro-feudal and/or petty bourgeois. There's an explicit antipathy in a lot of cases to clear ideology and thus "anarchism" is tremendously variable.

In general, especially in Europe, people who call themselves anarchists today come out of a specific tradition of socialist, working class anarchism with deep roots in the early labour movement. In the US this might be true as well, but a bit less often. On RevLeft, this is basically all of them.

[cheguvera]

Having a President or PM is just pointless to Anarchists, and we don't want to put those type of people into power at all.
__________________

running a country without a leader or leaders is a progressive idea.I feel it is the idea that should run the country.Communism got fucked up by relying on leaders.most of they were not honest, commited.People started to hate them.Then everything collapsed.I feel leftism should reject leaders.They must come up with alternative system.

[cheguvera]

I dont like leaders because humans are still not trust worthy.Whether they are communists or capitalist, they develop greediness, power hunger, popularity hunger, perks hunger etc.Therefore why would people allow leaders to come up?

Both socialism & capitalism create masters, dictators, leaders.They abuse less privileged class.This must be changed. No more kings, queens,, presidents or prime ministers. Society must be matured enough to understand this level of hell.
People still rely on leaders who in turn deliver them class opression, social injustice.

[cheguvera]

World is a beautiful place when we do not have politicians, bureaucrats , unelected dictators or elected dictators.Even with popular vote, we elect a dictator for 5-6 years.most of the elected dictators are same as non elected dictators.Only different is elected dictator may quit after few years.But actions & damage are same.This is more common in third world.Definitley we need a good system.

[Tim Cornelis]

I'm sorry cheguvera, but some of what you say sounds a lil' incoherent:


World is a beautiful place when we do not have politicians, bureaucrats , unelected dictators or elected dictators.Even with popular vote, we elect a dictator for 5-6 years.most of the elected dictators are same as non elected dictators.Only different is elected dictator may quit after few years.But actions & damage are same.This is more common in third world.Definitley we need a good system.
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All social decisions should be taken by all people on a participatory basis. We know for a fact that this is possible. IF all decisions are made by the people, there is no need for ministers and bureaucrats.

[W1N5T0N]

Are anarchists leftists? Let me rephrase that question if you are still in doubt:
Would they actually be represented on a leftist revolutionary forum (hence the name) if they weren't?

Now, i hope i didn't sound too much like an ass there.

Cheers ;)

[cheguvera]

Are anarchists leftists? Let me rephrase that question if you are still in doubt:
Would they actually be represented on a leftist revolutionary forum (hence the name) if they weren't?

Now, i hope i didn't sound too much like an ass there.

Cheers ;)
anarchists may not like communism as we can see strong governments, high powered beaurocrats, powerful leaders, politicians in countries like china, cuba ,russia etc.These countries produce masters, leaders, politicians.

[W1N5T0N]

Yes, you can actually see a struggle of left vs. right on a leftist forum. with everybody calling themselves leftist. the challenge: find the fascists (sometimes in the guise of clever, clever stalinists).

[Magón]

anarchists may not like communism as we can see strong governments, high powered beaurocrats, powerful leaders, politicians in countries like china, cuba ,russia etc.These countries produce masters, leaders, politicians.

1st. Anarchist's like Communism just fine, that's why many Anarchists fight for a Communist society.

2nd. None of those countries are Communist, never have been, and for many, not even Socialist. Especially when you're talking about what Anarchists view.

[W1N5T0N]

Anarchists fighting for a communist society?

lol.

[Scrounger]

Anarchists fighting for a communist society?

lol.

It's true. Many anarchists strive for a stateless, classless society with the idea from each according to his ability to each according to his needs. The only difference is that they do not believe that a transitional phase is required.

[W1N5T0N]

Yes, that doesn't mean they are fighting for a "communist" society. First of all, on several accounts anarchists and communists have been fighting each other. Secondly, for anarchists, there are no means to an end, whereas many communists believe everything can be done for "some kind of glorious end-goal". Of course, there are also many different views of communism, some nearer, some further away from anarchist values, principles and tactics. So, no, i don't think striving for something that somebody else strives for automatically unites you with them on all accounts.
:star:

[cheguvera]

freedom without socialism is priviledge & injustice
socialism without freedom is slavery & brutality

[W1N5T0N]

good ol' bakunin. :thumbup1:

[EvilRedGuy]

meh. Peter Kropotkin kicks his ass.

[W1N5T0N]

That may very well be :D