Political Question

[Internationale]

I believe in a stateless, classless, moneyless society, in which we collectively own the means of production, but, I also believe that there should be a leader, not a ruler, to basically to give advice and such to the society. Question, if I am not an anarchist, because anarchists believe in a leaderless society, then what am I? Also, I do not believe in the dictatorship of the proletariat thing and all.

[Jimmie Higgins]

I believe in a stateless, classless, moneyless society, in which we collectively own the means of production, but, I also believe that there should be a leader, not a ruler, to basically to give advice and such to the society. Question, if I am not an anarchist, because anarchists believe in a leaderless society, then what am I? Also, I do not believe in the dictatorship of the proletariat thing and all.

Well I wouldn't worry so much about labels, I think that should really be secondary to just seeing what makes sense to you and is workable.

That being said it would be pretty unusual for an anarchist or a small-c communist to desire a post-capitalist society with any sort of official leader, so I guess I'm just curious why you think there would need to be such a role. In a society where people don't hold power over others, wouldn't any advice to society just be taken based on its own merritt, not from the person it's coming from? Personally I think there still might be some organically respected people both locally known and respected but maybe even widly known and respected, but I think authority coming from a person or one position would seem alien to people in such a society and any out of the ordinary respect someone might have would just be due to people trusting or valuing their experience or opinions.

[Internationale]

Oh, I got what your saying now, thanks man. I always think of this, communism and anarchism being the similar, but communism has a leader, but anarchism doesn't. Thanks again for clearing up some stuff.

[Blake's Baby]

Why do we need a 'leader' to give advice to society? We have to live in society, who knows about it more than we do?

I'm not an anarchist either.

[helot]

I believe in a stateless, classless, moneyless society, in which we collectively own the means of production, but, I also believe that there should be a leader, not a ruler, to basically to give advice and such to the society. Question, if I am not an anarchist, because anarchists believe in a leaderless society, then what am I? Also, I do not believe in the dictatorship of the proletariat thing and all.

All comes down to what you mean by the word 'leader'. If a leader is someone involved in centralised decision-making then of course anarchists oppose them as should all genuine communists. If a leader is just someone who is respected by others and offers advise that's inevitable. Anarchists don't oppose the existence of respecting people's knowledge on a subject and defering to them. To quote Bakunin:

Does it follow that I reject all authority? Far from me such a thought. In the matter of boots, I refer to the authority of the bootmaker; concerning houses, canals, or railroads, I consult that of the architect or engineer. For such or such special knowledge I apply to such or such a savant. But I allow neither the bootmaker nor the architect nor the savant to impose his authority upon me. I listen to them freely and with all the respect merited by their intelligence, their character, their knowledge, reserving always my incontestable right of criticism censure.

Although we should adamantly support skill-sharing.Knowledge should not be reserved for the few.

[Blake's Baby]

Oh, I got what your saying now, thanks man. I always think of this, communism and anarchism being the similar, but communism has a leader, but anarchism doesn't...

No it doesn't.

I'm sorry, but you really don't know what you're talking about.

Why do you think 'communism' needs a leader?

[Internationale]

I am just confused that's all, because anarchism comes from the word anarchos meaning, without rulers, so my initial thought was that communism has a leader, but follows the same principles as anarchism.

[adipocere]

No it doesn't.

I'm sorry, but you really don't know what you're talking about.

Why do you think 'communism' needs a leader?

That's why it's posted in "Learning". No need to be rude.

[helot]

I am just confused that's all, because anarchism comes from the word anarchos meaning, without rulers, so my initial thought was that communism has a leader, but follows the same principles as anarchism.


The ultimate aims of communism is a form of anarchy. There are various things that distinguish anarchists from atleast some communists, one being tradition and thus terminology (even though most anarchists have read and have been influenced by Marx) and the other things being current practice and notions on the transitory period between the capitalism of today and the free society of tomorrow.


Most anarchists are communists with only a few that aren't but their presense within the anarchist movement is incredibly small so small in fact that i've not met an anarchist who isn't also a communist. The primary divide within the anarchist movement is over syndicalism imo.

[Blake's Baby]

I'm not being rude. 'I'm sorry, but you really don't know what you're talking about' is polite. 'Why are you talking shite you stupid bastard?' is rude. And I didn't say that, so that's OK.

To the OP: Anarchism (at least, the kind of Anarchism you get here, that can be called 'class struggle Anarchism') and Marxism are both schools of socialism (or communism if you prefer). Both aim for the same goal, a classless communal society. But there are differences about how to get to that goal.